Demis Roussos, Greek, and Udaipur, travel destination, brought to mind a visit to Athens in 2014 and the delightful boat trip to three islands in Saronic Gulf. I had written about it in a piece published in Outlook magazine which I am posting here for those interested and who might not have read it earlier.
SARONIC ISLANDS
During a trip to Athens this summer, my wife and I decided to take a day’s cruise to the picturesque Saronic Islands that one had heard so much about.
Our yacht departed from the port town of Piraeus at 8.30 a.m. and set course for our first destination, the island of Hydra or Idhra as the Greeks call it. We were soon into the Saronic Gulf which was blue, serene and calm and the weather was clear with the sun bright but not too hot. A cap and sunglasses were nevertheless desirable. The passage to Hydra was about two and a half hours which passed very quickly as apart from taking in the beautiful scenery all around us, there was a two man combo on the upper deck playing and singing nostalgic old songs including the ever popular and appropriate Zorba the Greek!
All too soon we entered Hydra harbor which is shaped like an amphitheatre or a crescent moon. Greystone mansions are constructed on the slope of a hill dating back to the 17th and 18th century. Hydra has been a favourite resort of the international jet set since the 1950s when it was popularized by Henry Miller’s Colliseus of Marousi. Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd have all rubbed shoulders with the average tourist here. The Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary with a marine museum is right on the waterfront as you disembark from your boat. Hydra permits no automobiles on the island but boasts of over 500 donkeys which help the locals transport heavy loads. The waterside is full of busy cafes and boutique hotels and shops selling souvenirs, clothing, silverware and other handicrafts. You can venture inside the meandering, narrow cobblestone paved lanes for better bargains.
It was time to embark and proceed to the second and the smallest of our three islands, Poros. This was a shorter passage of about an hour. Somewhat like Venice, the town of Poros is on a little strip uniting two minor bays with a small canal separating it from the rest of the island. In ancient times, Poros was actually two islands, Spheria and Kalavria, till the explosion of a volcano in 273 B.C. gave Poros its present shape. It has a distinct appearance with its white houses and red tiled roofs. On a hill is a prominent clocktower inviting tourists to climb up for a breathtaking panoramic view. Poros is famous for its seafood and the yummy gelato which we could have only two of as the time on the island was restricted to 45 minutes!
Back on board and heading for our third island, the Aegina, which is towards Athens, it was time for a sumptuous buffet lunch. It was a mix of Greek and Continental food with rich desserts accompanied by live music. A sip of coffee and we were at Aegina which has a neoclassical and modern look. Due to time constraint, we were given the option to take a drive around the island or go for a swim on one of its famous beaches. We opted for the island trip.
Close to the harbor is the ancient temple of Aphaia dating back to 480 B.C. We were shown the house where Nikos Kazantzakis wrote Zorba the Greek. A brief stopover was made at the majestic Church of Agios Nikolaos, the saint protector of fishermen and sailors. But Aegina is most famous for its pistachios. My wife and I had never seen a pistachio tree but here we saw them in thousands as they are abundant all over the island. The harbor is full of shops selling pistachios and we bought a lot for family and friends.
By now, it was 7 p.m. and time to sail back to Piraeus, a 75 minute ride. Durimg this passage, a memorable song and dance session was organised with full audience participation. We were literally pulled out of our chairs by the performers inviting us to join in the Greek dances including the Zorba once again! A great time was had by one and all and the cruise was by far the high point of our summer tour.
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