Upon arriving at the port, Tuula and I split ways as she headed into town to stay at a hotel, while I made my way to the bus stop to catch bus X96 to Protosi Kalamaki. This is an express bus with final destination to the airport, and enroutes to Konstantinos’ place along the way.
I boarded the bus and made my way in to put my luggage, before requesting to buy
a ticket from the driver. By this time, the bus has already pulled away from the bus stop and continued on its route.
As the bus driver took out the ticket, we had a dialogue that left me puzzled.
Me : Is the ticket the same price to Protosi Kalamaki?
Bus Driver : (a big sigh and then in broken Greek English) Bus go direct to airport, no getting off, only get on.
Me : Can I get off here then?
Bus Driver : Next stop
I went to get my luggage while the bus pulled into the next bus stop. As I was about to get off..
Bus Driver : You wait here. Here no bus to Protosi Kalamaki. I stop you further to take bus. Wait.
The bus continued on its journey, and as I was concerned that I would not be able to take the bus to the airport on Monday when I leave (the most direct way from where I was going to be the morning of my departure), I asked the driver
Me: On Monday morning, I go to airport from Protosi Kalamaki. Can I take this bus from Protosi Kalamaki to airport?
Bus Driver : Yes, bus go Protosi Kalamaki to airport (and he pulled into another bus stop and open the doors). You take 101, A1 or B1 from here, will take you to Protosi Kalamaki.
So I got off the bus feeling really puzzled, wondering why the driver can’t drive me all the way to Protosi Kalamaki instead, since he is going on the same route!
Told the story to Konstantinos when I arrived at his place and he was equally baffled, and said this is Greek surrealism (Konstantinos, I still don’t get the 2nd meaning of surrealism in this context!).
Apparently things like this happens in Greece often!
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