Day trip from Athens: the islands of Poros, Hydra, and Aegina
It’s August in the ancient city of Athens, where by 9am, the sidewalks are already steaming and adding to the miserable heat that will permeate the city until way after nightfall. We have been in Athens for almost 2 months, doing things we think locals do: partaking in pork souvlakis, avoiding at all costs the need to purchase anything on Mondays (because good luck), and against our better judgement we are drinking copious amounts of nescafe frappes — but we had yet to visit any of the Greek Islands. Then for my birthday/our anniversary which is always on the same week, Abraham surprises me with a day trip to get out of the city. We’re going on a boat, there will be swimming, and it will be an all day excursion. Exciting times 🙂
First stop, Poros
Next Stop, Hydra (Idra Island)
This was a charming and colorful town, perfect for walking and exploring the little alleys. Various shops, cafes, and art galleries line the streets, and there were paths for hikers who have time to head up the hills and explore different parts of the island. We also saw crystal clear water in the beaches and coves making this island a pretty ideal getaway from Athens.
Finally Aegina, home of the “World’s Best Pistachios”
I was most excited about this part, since it afforded us the most free time. We rented a scooter and drove as far as we could to find a beach, and we spent as much time as possible playing in the water. It was perfect.
Back on the boat, Athens-bound
I’d say a good 85% of the passengers on the ship returned to the boat with varying degrees of sunburn, but the mood was festive, and we were grateful for the cold drinks, musicians, and dancers keeping everything lively. The sun was setting as the boat headed back towards Athens, and I was feeling grateful for such a fun and fulfilling day!
Thank you Abraham for a perfect day!