European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 25, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Stuck on an Island for several Days. In major ports like Piraeus Island. Hoppers face a wide and bewildering array of choices. Along the waterfront destinations and sailing times Are chalked on blackboards in front of scores of shipping agents. Beware that your average shipping agent will Only give information that is in his or her Best interest and will lie about competitors sailings. Trust none of them and go from agent to agent until you be gotten the straight Skinny on which ships sail where and when. There is one totally reliable source of information and that is the port police office located in every port and open around the clock. Make it a firm practice to Check ferry schedules immediately after arriving at a new port. Ferry fares Are set by Law and Are an amazing bargain. How cheap Are they Check out these fares for one Way deck passage from Piraeus to the following islands Siros a $10.50 Tings a $12 my Konos and paros a $10.50 Sifneos �?$11.50 Samos a $16 Kos a $21 rhodes�?$23 Khania Crete �?$15.70 and Iraklion Crete $16.80.some of these trips the ones to Crete for example Are voyages tasting about 12 hours. While the ferries Are fairly Quick the 96-nautical-mile trip from Piraeus to my Konos takes 4v2 hour strips aboard hydrofoils known As flying dolphins Are much faster and Cost about twice As much. Greek ferries come in All Ages and si2es. The biggest and fanciest of them rival modest cruise liners with their amenities staterooms swimming pools casinos and piano bars and can carry 3,000 passengers plus 1,300 vehicles. If you disembark at an Island late at night have Little fear except in july and August of finding accommodations. They will find you in the form of would be landlords. Carrying signs advertising their lodgings they swarm in As the ship docks. There s nothing wrong with taking the first room offered but make it Clear that it is just for one night. You Are normally expected to look Over several places before choosing and nobody gets upset if you compare what s available. Don t be afraid to bargain. Expect to pay about $20 per single with Bath in a no frills mom and pop establishment. Doubles Cost Only a few Bucks More. Prices can Rise significantly in july and August when every room on an Island is booked Don t despair. Many owners of modest inns rent out roof space for a couple of Bucks per night to backpackers and the truly desperate. Island food is Fine provided you eat greek food. Expensive restaurants on some popular islands May manage to provide what passes for International cuisine but on the whole it is Wiser and so much cheaper to let Island Cooks do their own thing ticket off ices and signs advertising trips pack a Street near the Piraeus Harbor. A amps photos by Michael Abrams at left a whitewashed Church rises from the rocks of los. Below fishermen sell the catch of the Day in Poros. May 25, 1994 travel 94 7