Athens, cont. from FB
The cruise yesterday was intense. It was only 1 day & we went to Hydra, Poros, & Aegina. We got about an hour on each island. I've never seen the Mediterranean, it was so blue! Like sparkling indigo. So pretty!
Hydra is a town of 2,000 and was once was a fishing village but now it is devoted entirely to tourism. We saw many of the famous Hydra cats, some donkeys, and I thought it would be a good idea to swim. Forgot how salty oceans can be! Spent the rest of our time looking for a shower, found one a hotel let me use for 5 euro.
Once back on the ship, we were served lunch in a great big dining hall in the lower deck. As we ate, we sailed on to Poros which was a town of 5,000. The port was lovely as were the shops but some were not interested in haggling so we didn't buy anything.
Finally was the island of Aegina. We splurged on an extra bus tour to take us up to the Temple of Aphea, the most well preserved temple from the 5th century BC which forms the sacred triangle between The Acropolis and the Temple of Poseidon. We ate pistachio ice cream from the shop up there, which was a demonstration of the versatility of the uses of Aegina's main export, the pistachio nut. (Aegina is the largest exporter in the world.)
We boarded the ship once again and sailed back for Athens. Though I have slept, I still feel the rocking of the ship and it's a little disconcerting. I am hoping that walking around on our own today will help me alleviate the vertigo/nausea.
Today is our last day at Central Hotel and it's been really nice here. Tomorrow we hope on a bus and take a 4 day ride around all of Greece: Olympia, Delphi, Kalampakos, Meteora, and Thermopylae. We'll be spending the night in hotels in 3 of those towns. We are excited!
Hydra is a town of 2,000 and was once was a fishing village but now it is devoted entirely to tourism. We saw many of the famous Hydra cats, some donkeys, and I thought it would be a good idea to swim. Forgot how salty oceans can be! Spent the rest of our time looking for a shower, found one a hotel let me use for 5 euro.
Once back on the ship, we were served lunch in a great big dining hall in the lower deck. As we ate, we sailed on to Poros which was a town of 5,000. The port was lovely as were the shops but some were not interested in haggling so we didn't buy anything.
Finally was the island of Aegina. We splurged on an extra bus tour to take us up to the Temple of Aphea, the most well preserved temple from the 5th century BC which forms the sacred triangle between The Acropolis and the Temple of Poseidon. We ate pistachio ice cream from the shop up there, which was a demonstration of the versatility of the uses of Aegina's main export, the pistachio nut. (Aegina is the largest exporter in the world.)
We boarded the ship once again and sailed back for Athens. Though I have slept, I still feel the rocking of the ship and it's a little disconcerting. I am hoping that walking around on our own today will help me alleviate the vertigo/nausea.
Today is our last day at Central Hotel and it's been really nice here. Tomorrow we hope on a bus and take a 4 day ride around all of Greece: Olympia, Delphi, Kalampakos, Meteora, and Thermopylae. We'll be spending the night in hotels in 3 of those towns. We are excited!