Day 6, Island Hopping: Poros, Hydra, Aegina

Our Ship, the Hermes

I knew that after three full days in a city as large as Athens that I would need a good break from it. I had reserved a One–Day Island Hopping Cruise through G.O. Tours (this cruise can be booked also through a number of other tour companies). The cruise took us to the nearby islands of Poros, Hydra, and Aegina. The Greek Islands are divided into groups, with Poros, Hydra, and Aegina being part of the Argo–Saronic Islands. This is a photo of our ship, the Hermes, the photo being taken when we were docked at Hydra.

Our Ship, the Hermes

Cruise People

You soon got the idea that there would be some fun on this cruise by the people who saw us off.

Cruise People

More Cruise People

And by our greeters on board. The ship’s passengers were made up of Japanese, French, American, German, Chinese, and Spanish tours groups, among others. Many languages were being spoken in the announcements over the loud speakers.

More Cruise People

Pireaus

Our ship left from the port of Piraeus, which is about a 20–to–45–minute drive (depending on the traffic) from Athens. There were many passenger ships, ferries, and hydrofoils in port. Here we are sailing past the breakwater into the Aegean Sea.

Pireaus

Fishing Boat

Small wooden fishing boat that we passed. I found a deck chair to sit on and greatly enjoyed the sea air except that it was chilly enough that I wished I had brought along one of my winter jackets that I had left home hanging in my closet (who would have guessed how chilly Greece could be).

Fishing Boat

Lighthouse

It took about two hours before we sailed past this lighthouse at the entrance to the harbor of Poros. Poros was the second farthest of the three islands from Athens, but still our first stop.

Lighthouse

Poros

Poros faces the Peloponnese coast and is separated from it by a narrow sea passage. The Peloponnese is a huge peninsula south of Athens. Poros has a population of only 4000 people. This photo is of its 19th century houses on one of its hills.

Poros

Another view of Poros.

Poros

Getting ready to dock. The main attraction in Poros is the clock tower on top of the hill. You reach it via over 100 steps along the white wall in the photo.

Poros

Closer–up view of the waterfront and the pathway up to the clock tower.

Poros

The first steps to climb to reach the 100 plus steps up to the clock tower. Along the steps and at the top of the steps are souvenir stores.

Poros

A large group of fellow passengers made for the steps to the clock tower and I followed them. Not too bad of a climb and I felt good that I had attempted it. The clock tower.

Poros

View of Poros and our ship from the clock tower.

Poros

Another view from the clock tower.

Poros

Steps down from the pathway.

Poros

Hyrdrofoil billboard. A hydrofoil leaving from Piraeus stops here on its way to Hydra and Spetses, another of the Argo–Saronic Islands. I took this hydrofoil after my Trafalgar tour was over.

Poros

It was already time to reboard the Hermes. Definitely not enough time here in Poros. I only could take a quick look at the souvenir shops, but was able to buy some Greek olive oil soap bars decorated with pretty seahorses for gifts. I would have liked some more time to walk around the harbor area. There were two seatings for lunch aboard the ship––my seating was the first. I sat next to a couple from Australia (the only Aussies I met on my whole trip) and across from three American girls on a travel break from a college semester they were taking in Rome. We were served such a large plate of appetizers that we thought this was our meal––two kinds of bread, a pasta–like dish, coleslaw, and more. The main meal was pork slices in gravey, brussel sprouts, carrots, and potatoes. Next, dessert, which was only canned fruit cocktail. Coke or coffee––an extra charge of 2.50 euros.

Poros

Hydra

Our next port of call was the island of Hydra, the farthest away from Athens of the three islands that we visited. Hydra is also spelt Ydra, prounced Edra, which is how we heard it prounced over the loud speaker. Hydra has a population of 3000. It was settled in the 16th century by Orthodox Albanians, who became fishermen. Today, Hydra is one the most exclusive resorts in Greece. Photo: Coming into Hydra.