Exodus

 Security screening at JTY is intense, no doubt about it. I think the agents take it as a point of pride to find something that violates the rules. This time for me it was a hair clip, and they didn't like Andrea's Birkenstocks because of the metal buckle. Astypaleans always get caught trying to smuggle their prized honey off the island. 

So, it takes a fair amount of time to search 40 people. Once completed, we trudge across the tarmac to board our prop plane to Athens.

This time we are seated in row 1, the exit row. In order to sit in this row you must be able to handle opening the heavy doors of the aircraft and you must speak English. Evacuation orders from the flight crew will be given in English. 

There is usually a tussle between the flight attendants and non English speaking Greeks who want to sit in this row for the extra leg room. Notice how the signage is actually in English and French, the only Greek word in sight is exodus or exit. I admit, every time I see this sign I break out singing the Bob Marley tune.

This time the process went smoothly because two of the four people in the row spoke English.

However, when we arrived at JTY it was a different story. 

The flight attendant had four cranky, argumentative older Greeks who did not care about the rules. They fought amongst themselves about the door, and if they could perform the task. I don't know if the question of English competency ever came up. Finally the flight attendant shouted at them, telling them to concentrate and comply with the order, or they would be reseated. More shouting. Finally they agreed that they could perform the task.

Andrea and I were in the second row at this point and we quickly formulated a plan about how to  react in the event of an emergency water landing. My job was to take out the most combative Greek man first, shoving him clear of the door. Andrea would then operate the door while I kept the remaining octogenarian passengers clear of the door.  Seems crazy, but an emergency water landing is not out of the question here.

Our flight to Athens, even though delayed by three hours, was smooth as silk.  

More soon.