Saronic Islands: Hydra, Poros, and Aegina by Ship
September, 2018
Above Left: These were our islands to visit (Hydra, Poros, and Aegina) to tour. The display demonstrates there relative position to Athens and the Saronic Gulf of Greece.
Above Right: This was our ship. We were almost too late to arrive; our Taxi driver had no idea where to take us and our directions more or less said Athens peer. There were about 10k/6mi of peer and access was by highway, so every wrong decision was back out to the highway, drive down the highway, and then drop into a single access point.
Above: Two quick photos of the area at sunrise, just before boarding.
Above Left: We were boarding the Cosmos. How's your Greek? The ship is out of Peiraias, about 50 miles ESE from here, out of the regional area known at Attica (I had to look it up on Google).
Above Right: Slowly departing the port.
Above: It's a Party Boat of Ancient Greek ship design.
Above Left: A nice collection of ships.
Above Right: A view of southern Athens.
Above: This lady was a tour guide of a large group and it was easy to see why she was very popular. Lots of Oom-pahs.
Entering the Port of Ídhra, Hydra Island, Greece
Above Left: Entering the Port of Ídhra.
Above Right: Old Fort and Defense (Plenty of canons).
Above Left: Museum of Hydra.
Above Right: The south side of Ídhra bay.
Above Left: The Marine Academy of Hydra, one of the most prestigious maritime academies in the world. The owners of most of the major shipping companies in the world are often graduates of this academy, send their own sons and daughters here, and select from the graduates here. Onassis is a graduate of the distinguished Marine Academy of Hydra.
Above Right: Masthead of the Marine Academy of Hydra.
Above: We picked-up a walking Tour Guide at this location.
With the two (2) exceptions of a Day-Time Only Ambulance and a Once-Weekly Garbage Truck, No motor vehicles are allowed on Hydra. All supplies are to be carried by human walking, cycling, horse, or donkey carrying (I never saw a bicycle). So, there is a sort of Animal Taxi service on the island.
So, the closer that one lives to the supply ferry docks the higher the property value. All building supplies are to be carried to the building site.
The island is too low to sea-level to have fresh water, all fresh water is brought in by boat.
Hydra Walking Tour
Above: We began our walking tour.
Above: The Pastry Shop was doing well.
Above Left: A view up the road.
Above Right: Only Government buildings can have Blue Shutters, this may be the Mayors House, can't remember.
Above: Only this Historical Building could have Red Shutters, I believe this location housed strategy planning sessions for the Revolution.
Above: A courtyard fight scene was filmed here for the movie Octopussy.
Above: Taxi Service going to the dock for a pick-up.
Above Left: Backside of a Church.
Above Right: Life memorial dates.
Above: Ship ferry drop-off, Mule pick-up.
Above Left: Supply Boat.
Above Right: Supply Train.
Above: Looking at Ídhra from the Fort.
Above: Visiting the Fort.
Above Left: Our Ship.
Above Right: Windmills.
Heading Out to Sea in the Saronic Gulf
Arriving at Poros
Above Left: Peloponnese Peninsula (mainland across from Poros).
Above Right: Poros Docks.
The Island of Aegina
Immediate Visit to The Temple of Aphaia (Sanctuary of Athena)
"The Temple of Aphaia is dedicated to goddess Athena and is located on the island of Aegina, on top of a hill. This is one of the ancient architectural wonders of ancient Greece. It was built in 480 BC and 25 of the original 32 Doric columns still stand due to the skill of the restorers. It is situated in a Sanctuary complex in Aegina about 13 km east of the main port."
"The temple was built over the ruins of an earlier temple built around 570 BC that existed at the very site but was later destroyed in the fire in 510 BC. The remains of this old temple were filled to get a larger flat terrace on which to build a new temple. This led to the ruins of the old temple to be well preserved. Many painted remnants are still found." Source: www.greeka.com.
Above: Looking northeast, I believe that is Athens across the water at the far right.
Above: Most of the structure for an interior room remains.
Above Left: Probably an individual stone ID (Gamma-Chi).
Above Right: Athens zoomed-in (due east).
Above Left: ... Includes some construction method.
Above Right: Lintels, one with a rope loop cutting (see first figure in the bottom-left corner of the adjacent image).
Agios Nektarios Church & Monastery Visit
Above: We were led to believe that we were visiting a Byzantine Church but it was a new church and maybe was built on the grounds that once had a Byzantine Chapel.
Agios Nektarios Church & Monastery: "Agios Nektarios of Aegina (1846-1920), is one of the most widely known Greek Orthodox Saints. He was officially recognized as a saint by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1961. Yearly, thousands of people from all over the world coming to Aegina to visit the tomb of Agios Nektarios for healing reasons, to pray to him or ask for his blessings.
Agios Nektarios was known as a great miracle worker, particularly as a healer of every sort of disease, he was also a prolific writer, theologist, philosopher, moralist, educator, poet, ascetic and mystic. Above all Agios Nektarios was a man of deep prayer, and a hard worker who laboured just as everyone else around him, no work was ever dishonorable to him."
Source: www.aeginagreece.com
Departing Aegina for Athens
Some Greek Folk Culture on the Cruise Back to Athens
Above Left: Greek Beer, good stuff!
Above Right: Greek Flag waves proudly on the fantail.
Above: The ship's entertainment arrived.
Above Left: Greater Athens.
Above Right: The setting sun reflects on Athens widows.
