Day 1: Flight to Athens, Piraeus and Sifnos Arrival

Sunday, 18th June 2023

An Early Start

The shrill ring of my alarm shattered the silence at 1:30 a.m., dragging me out of a restless sleep. Barely rested but buzzing with excitement, I had a long journey ahead. Our flight was scheduled for 7:30 a.m., but with a 2.5-hour drive to Gatwick—and a detour to pick up Ed—I had to be on the road before 2 a.m. After a final check to ensure my luggage and travel documents were safely stowed in the car, I set off into the dark, quiet night.

Gatwick Flight

The drive felt endless, but at least the roads were clear, a rare luxury that made the trip bearable. Before long, we arrived at Gatwick, and with no hold luggage to slow us down, we breezed through security with only a minor queue. One of the perks of an early flight! By just after 5 a.m., we found ourselves in the departure lounge, absurdly early but better safe than sorry. Naturally, we made a beeline for the Wetherspoons pub—what better way to pass the time than with a full English breakfast and a cheeky pre-flight pint? I’m not one for early-morning drinking, but it’s tradition, and traditions must be upheld!

Thankfully, our flight was right on schedule. We boarded just before 7 a.m. and were airborne shortly after 7:30, bound for Greece—woohoo! Ed and I had separate seats; I had splurged on a front-row spot for the legroom, while Ed, ever frugal, took his chances with a randomly allocated seat further back. Settling in, I lost myself in my Kindle, noise-cancelling headphones firmly in place, drowning out the hum of the plane. It’s a must-have for any flight, in my opinion.

Athens Arrival and Race to Piraeus

Despite the smooth flight, time was against us. Our mission? Catch the 3:50 p.m. ferry from Piraeus to Sifnos. With our plane landing just after 1 p.m., it seemed doable—until reality hit. By the time we’d disembarked, cleared passport control, and navigated the terminal, it was already pushing 2 p.m.

A quick debate ensued: taxi or public transport? A cab would be faster but at a steep price. The metro was budget-friendly, and I was confident we had time. Decision made, we grabbed tickets and boarded the train. At first, everything seemed fine, but as we crept through the city at a frustratingly slow pace, my confidence wavered. Checking my watch and GPS obsessively, I rode the emotional rollercoaster of “we’ll make it” to “we should’ve taken a taxi” and back again.

The train finally pulled into Piraeus at 3:30 p.m. Almost there! With our ferry departing from Gate E10 and a solid 10-15 minute walk ahead of us, we bolted through the crowds. Even so, we couldn’t resist a pit stop for essentials—water, crisps, and, of course, beer for the ferry. As we neared the port entrance, I spotted our ferry, passengers still boarding. We had made it! Relief flooded through me, and I grinned as we joined the queue, our final destination now tantalisingly close.

Ferry to Sifnos

A much-needed restroom break later, we collapsed into our assigned seats for the 2.5-hour journey to Sifnos. I had no window seat and worried about getting travel sick, but the crossing was smooth, and even my second beer didn’t stir any regrets.

Just before 6:30 p.m., we docked. Exhausted yet exhilarated, I breathed in the familiar scent of sea air. Sifnos—my favourite island—felt like home. Walking along the main road from Kamares harbour, I soaked in the sight of the golden sand beach glowing under the setting sun, a perfect welcome back.

A short, breezy walk brought us to Hotel Boulis. Check-in was a cinch, and within minutes, we had our room keys in hand. A cold shower washed away the fatigue of 17 hours of travel, leaving me refreshed and ready for the night ahead. The weather was warm but comfortable, so I threw on jean shorts and a shirt, then knocked on Ed’s door to see if he was ready to go.

Cocktails and Dinner in Kamares

Our first stop: Captain’s Bar, a beachfront gem at the southern corner of the bay. We snagged a prime table by the sand and ordered two cocktails from the happy hour menu—2 for €10, a deal too good to pass up. As we sipped and discussed plans for the week, the second round went down even easier than the first. Sensing we were in danger of skipping dinner altogether, we resisted a third cocktail and ventured onto the street in search of food.

Camaron Italian Restaurant

Just across from Captain’s Bar stood Camaron, my go-to restaurant from my first Sifnos visit in 2020. Though I now favoured Passione Italiana for its slightly superior cuisine, Camaron held a special place in my heart. Besides, I was eager to see if the friendly waitress would remember me from past trips.

As we approached, she stepped out and smiled. Then, recognition dawned. She remembered me! We exchanged warm greetings, language barrier and all, before settling in with our menus. By now, hunger had fully set in—our last real meal had been breakfast, after all!

Despite the cocktails already working their magic, we ordered a liter of house wine, plus some starters. I went with my all-time favorite: Tortellini Camaron. If memory served, it was excellent—but somehow, perhaps thanks to the alcohol, it tasted even better than I remembered.

Content and slightly tipsy, we strolled (or rather, staggered) back toward the hotel. Ed, ever the optimist, floated the idea of a nightcap at Captain’s Bar, but I was spent. A good night’s sleep was calling, and even he had to admit—our first full day in Sifnos deserved to be enjoyed hangover-free.