My excitement of being inside the Blue Cave was probably heightened due to the fact that as I set out on the path that led me there, I had never heard of the cave and had no idea of the pure beauty of Mother Nature that I was about to witness with my very own eyes. My story of how I ended up in the Blue Cave has to start with my journey to the Greek island of Meis and my chance meeting with Kostos the Greek.
Meeting Kostos
I had just departed from the ferry boat that took me to the colorful island of Meis (also known as Kastelorizo) and was wondering around the harbor front, deciding where to go and what to see. Walking past a seafood restaurant, my path was suddenly blocked by a middle aged couple.
They were speaking so fast and in a language that I did not understand. I had no choice but to shrug my shoulders in a statement that reflected such. Their need was obviously great as they attempted broken English to explain. “Please – you come Blue Cave”
I still had no idea of what they were talking about and the hand signals and broken English that followed did not enlighten me any further. Then Kostos the Greek interrupted. “They want to go to the Blue Cave but there is only two of them and I won’t leave until there are five people in my boat” He pointed to a small speed boat that was bobbing up and down in the crystal blue water of the harbor.
I could tell from the body language of Kostos, that he was well adapted to the laid-back Mediterranean lifestyle that was evident all over Meis. He was a typical weathered sea man who seemed to have no concept of time and could quite happily wait all day for the small boat to fill up.
After finding out the trip would only take an hour and cost just ten euros, I figured I had nothing to lose and waited patiently in the small fishing boat. It all soon filled up to capacity and we sailed slowly and peacefully out of the harbor with Kostos at the helm.
Where were the life jackets?
My mistake to think that it was going to be a pleasant sail around the coastline because as soon as we left the harbor, Kostos kicked up the reeves and as we accelerated speed, my eyes began to sting with the salt from the sea water splashing in my face.
The high speed forced the front end of the boat to keep lifting into the air and coming back to land on the water with a thud. I was desperately clinging on for dear life and kicking myself for getting into a boat with a crazy Greek man! A fleeting glance at every one else revealed that they were possibly thinking the same. I really should have asked if Kostos believed in storing life jackets.
With great relief, the boat suddenly came to a stop. Kostos instructed us all to lie on the bottom of the small speed boat and we slowly started moving towards the rocks where there was a small entrance.
As I lay on the bottom of the boat, staring up at the rock face ceiling which was now just a couple of feet away from my face, I wondered if this was going to be the moment that I discovered the meaning of claustrophobia.
How long would I have to lie here, where was I going and more importantly how could Kostos the captain see where he was going when he was crouched over to prevent his back scrapping along the ceiling of the rock?
Entering the Blue Cave of Meis / Kastelorizo
My concerns were soon to be forgotten and replaced by amazement of which I have no words to describe the intensity. All of a sudden Kostos instructed us to sit up and proudly smiled when he saw the looks on all our faces.
The very small entrance had led way to a beautiful sea cave of which the walls were a sparkling blue and the water was crystal clear. The blue walls were a reflection from the water and once our eyes had adjusted to the lack of light, we could see the stag mites and just how big the cave really was. I imagined pirates storing their loot here in years gone by.
On the journey back from the Blue cave, I did not care how much Kostos was pushing his small boat to the limit or the fact that I could be thrown overboard at any minute. I had seen something so beautiful and powerful that will take a lot to ever be matched.
Once we were back on Meis, I paid Kostos his money and he took his seat ready to wait for the next boat of tourists that would see a unique display of Mother Nature at her best. Kostos does this every day of the week; I hope he still appreciates the beauty of the Blue cave which is right on his doorstep.
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