Ancona at the ferry terminal

October 31, 2024

We decide that right after waking up, we will head to the Ancona port for registration. We can have coffee and bread later. We drive through a complete chaos along the coast and are sometimes completely confused about where the road continues...but that’s just how it is in Italy. We find the parking lot immediately to check in with Anek Lines. It goes really smoothly as we seem to be the first ones today. Quickly, we get a sign for the car with Patras and one for camping on board...this is the last chance to board with it as it will be discontinued in 2025. We also receive the tickets and 2 “door openers” for access to the car deck. However, it turned out that these cards did not work and we got a new one. From 9:00 AM, we could drive to Terminal 16 where we were met by a – how should I put it...he probably wasn't awake yet...man who guided us to the right line. Around 1:00 PM, boarding began. We were called as the first vehicle and drove into the huge maw of the ferry, always upward. Upon reaching the top, we were assigned a lane. Someone shouted from behind, waved from the front, someone shouted from behind, I was shown from the front to hold...so what now? Oh, the one in front directed me to the outer right lane right in front of the toilet doors...but it doesn't matter, we stood at the edge and could peek out a bit.

We start exploring the ship and realize...luckily we booked camping on board. First, we were pushed into the elevator by a really strange guy who unfriendly asked us where we wanted to go...no idea...we want to see the ship. A couple in the elevator said reception, and we were prompted to hurry and that it's deck 7...so we got out and honestly...if someone doesn't enjoy their work, they should probably reconsider. Just like the lady we asked how to get to the sun deck. She pointed down and said Uh...whatever that was supposed to mean...we kept searching and finally found it, enjoyed the sun and the departure there. Unfortunately, the sun deck was located in the area of the exhaust fumes (the fire department would say there was no danger for the visitors), so we wisely went back to the Rex....a clever decision. We showered on board the ferry, which was practical but good, and we are clean and can snuggle up comfortably in our own little bed in the evening...

Not much is going to happen today....so good night