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Accompanied by a declining sun on a blushing sky, people flock to the harbour in Parikia to experience Highspeed 4 - either as expensively paying passengers or just to admire the huge catamaran. Parikia is the capital of the Greek island of Paros. Its harbour, the natural centre of the town, is the busiest port in the Cyclades. Although the ships arrive like pearls on a string, each arrival is something special. It confirms the town’s position, and everyone is happy that things went smoothly, bearing in mind what happened in September 2000: the ferry Express Samina sank right before entering Parikia and 82 souls were lost. Early Season Parikia is fresh and refurbished. Judging from the flourishing flowers and trees, the winter and spring were rainy. The thatched old windmill in the middle of the harbour shines whitewashed, like the tiny Agios Nicolaos Church whose dome is glowing bright blue. Paros Corner is well-stocked with beer and soft drinks, and so are the other cafés. Hotel rooms and private rooms have been smartened up, their pictures taken and ready to be used as tourist bait in the harbour, which has been extended, admitting even more and larger ferries than last year. |
Rose in Red Shoes
Since the Piraeus waiting bay is completely packed, travellers are crowding into the roundabout where minibusses still roll in, carefully though, to unload tourists and rucksacks. Those without a ticket are queuing in front of the travel agencies, others get their belongings from the Luggage Deposit, and many pass the waiting time with a coffee or inform friends via mobile phone that they’re en route.
Come stay with me
Hoteliers and owners of private rooms are in place, armed with signs and vividly coloured brochures. A couple of them have come all the way from Naoussa and Antiparos. They’re chatting among themselves, in cliques. Most of them are men, comparatively young, some reserved, others parading swelling muscles and a forceful voice. The rooms market is a free-for-all, and at this time of year, tourists are in great demand, so the owners are constantly inventing new tricks to trap them.
On Time
The very moment the Highspeed appears on the horizon, a joyful restlessness spreads throughout the harbour. The sun has only just time to greet her, and in this romantic light, even the Higspeed is beautiful although her nose seems to have been brutally cut off. Heading direct for Parikia, she lets us see straight through her, between the two keels.
She gradually slows down, then turns round to land with the stern, maneuvring easily despite her dimensions. Actually, she looks the best from the side: blue at the bottom, otherwise white, apart from one single red decorative stripe and a gigantic number 4. A Seajet catamaran arrives simultaneously, demonstrating through her smallness how big and superior the Highspeed is.
With a splash, she drops anchor and approaches the quay, slowly yet noisily and surrounded by white foam. The rear gate, opening in jerks, descends hesitantly onto the cement. Impatient cars start rolling ashore. Two gangways, on either side of the gate, are tilted down. People swarm out, not an overwhelming number, though. The landlords, frenziedly gum chewing, can hardly wait to attack them.
Encore
At long last, the police open the gates. People rush forward; nervous in case the Highspeed should leave without them. The outermost row of cars gets a green light. The driver in the third car, a fossil of a mini truck, is taken by surprise and drives on board with his windscreen wipers on. Everything is done in no time, and after the police blow the final whistle, the Highspeed immediately raises her gate and gangways, mobilizes her horsepower and roars off in a wake of foam.
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