20 May 2009: On to Bodrum

0:30 – We were supposed to stop for 20 minutes at Santorini – but we were half an hour late. Not a problem, even if I would arrive 30 minutes late in Kos, I would still have plenty of time before boarding the next boat. Not too much to see of Santorini at this time of night – but I will have some time to spend here when I will return to Romania.

4:30 – Note to self: when I will have more money to spend when traveling by ferry, I shall not book an economy class seat, but a berth. Some other people were more inspired, and brought some bed sheets with them. I had no idea until now that I traveled next to the mummy of Pharaoh Ramses!

5:00 – We arrive in Kos, birth place of Hippocrates, father of medical science. I head to the port, which is much smaller than Piraeus. The only ting open at this time of the morning is a cafeteria serving Greek pastries and coffee. Next to it, there are several booths for ferry tickets to Bodrum.

6:00 – The first salesman arrives – a mustached Greek. I was told before that there are two departure times for Bodrum: 9 AM and 4:30 PM. I buy a one-way ticket for Bodrum from him, on the “Maria Star”, a ship that carries both regular passenger as well as tourists that wish to visit Turkey for a day. When the salesman sees my passport, he sarts talking to me in Romanian – turns out that in the 1970s, he was married to a Romanian lady in Constanta! He then gives me a medical questionnaire from the Turkish authorities – authorities are scared of the Swine Flu epidemics (Nea Gripi, or the New Flu, as it is called in Greece).

6:20 – Morning has broken (as in the song), birds are singing (really!), and the port of Kos is a beauty at this time. Apart from some boat passengers, the birds and some snails, nobody else is awake.

6:27 – Wake-up time for cats. As we are in Hippocrates’ town, and ancient medicine had as a symbol two snakes climbing a cup, the cats behave in a similar way – in Kos, they come in pairs and sit on cup-like flower pots.

6:40 – Bed (chair …) time for me. Next to me there is a pair of young Koreans who tour the world. After Bodrum, they are headed to Istanbul. Pitty they did not stop in Santorini or another Greek island.

9:30 – After the border formalities, we board the “Maria Star” and in 70 minutes we cross to Turkey. I first have to buy myself a visa from a kiosk in the immigration office, and then I head to Karia Princess, not before being informed from a poster, in four languages, including Romanian, that I can call for free 157, a hot line, when in danger.

11:30 – I finally arrive to the hotel, meeting place of the Property and Freedom Society. The shower – first thing I hit when going in the room - transforms me from a backpacker into a posh gentleman. Then, the bed invites me to have a proper rest …

19:30: Dinner time – I meet several like-minded paleo-libertarians, and we chat about the gold standard and some other politically incorrect topics. Now, this is music to my ears …