Greek Island - Poros 22 Sept
We concurred with Fred's suggestion that we should go and 'do' the islands of the Saronic Gulf; Aegina, Poros, Hydra (Idra) and Spetze. We rose and packed everything into the 'Wave' or Brian's rucksack. The weather was cloudy and threatening rain. First we took a bus into Athens and went to the Central Post Office, poste restante, then to Omonia Tube Station and thence to Piraeus on one of the old wooden trains (having rejected the first one to come in as being too modern). I was conned into buying ticket to Aegina, having been told there were no more boats to Spetze that day (turns out there were).
As we got to Aegina we decided we didn't like the look of it but went ashore to a café, where no one took a blind bit of notice of us, so we caught the next ferry to Poros. (Bought yoghurt in mistake for goat's cheese!) As we came into sight of Poros town (Poros = Strait) we were astonished to see the former flagship of the Royal Hellenic Navy, the 1910 cruiser Georgios Averof, which proved to be part of the naval school there. In 1952, she was decommissioned and moved to Poros, where she was berthed from 1956 to 1983. She underwent major maintenance in 2017.
When we landed Brian took photos of a thing with two masts (schooner) which looked a bit like an Arab dhow. Went off to look for camp site (a map would have been helpful). After walking round the island of Poros proper (as opposed to Kalavria) we ended up back at the cruiser. At this stage the threatened rain began. We retired to the café. Then we went round the very pleasant town on the hill (no traffic, clean) looking for a restaurant. Finished up with 2 souvlaki and patates then an ouzo. Finally it stopped raining and we went across the stone bridge onto Kalavria and along the shore till we found a suitable level patch of beach to sleep. Lay down at about 10pm. Woke at 11:15 and felt a few spots of rain - nothing - slept on.
Poros is composed of two islands; Sphairia (also known as Poros) which is the small southern island, including the town of Poros which is joined by a bridge to Kalaureia (Greek: Καλαυρία) also known as Kalavria or Calauria (meaning 'gentle breeze'). The town of Poros is in the southwest corner of Poros (or Sphairia) opposite Galatas on the Peloponnese mainland.
Arose about 8am. Here the traditional breakfast became apples, grapes and dry bread. Then we headed off to look for the town of Kalavria, marked on the map. We arrived at the monastery mentioned in the guidebook and found Kalavria town doesn't exist. Had a drink while it rained, then walked into the interior of the island, noticed resin draining from pines, until we could almost see the sea on the other side, but it seemed rather a long way so back to the monastery café (via the monastery itself where there was a fantastic gilt screen) for moussaka lunch. Then down onto beach for swim and Frisbee. Also explored "restricted area" belonging to the navy. Back up to café where we meet Tony and Sue. We were all going to eat there but they closed the place, so we all go down to Poros and take the ferry (1.5 Drax) across to Galatas and the Galatia Hotel café. Very good moussaka with minestrone and stuffed tomato, defeats Brian but I eat his to avoid waste (suffered a little afterwards) to the amazement of Tony and Sue. Thence back to original sleeping site for good night's rest, though it blows very strongly during the night.
Again we rise at about 8am and go to Poros for breakfast of fruit and Nescafé. Weather windy with broken cloud and possibility of sun. Do we go to Hydra (Idra) or back to Piraeus? Toss coin - Piraeus. Ouzo and postcard writing - miss morning boats and get one at 2pm. Windy crossing with spray, but not rough, it was a head wind.
