Our first adventure after the big Greek wedding was to the island of Aegina. LW planned a wonderful trip to this beautiful island. She did so much work and we had a FABULOUS time.
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| This is a photo of the table cover at a restaurant in Aegina. |
YW grew up spending his summers on Aegina, in the town of Agia Marina. We were really looking forward to visiting there with him and LW. According to Wikipedia, Aegina is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece in the Saronic Gulf, 17 miles from Athens. Tradition derives the name from Aegina, the mother of the hero Aeacus, who was born on the island and became its king.
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Here was the view on the top deck of the ferry. There is also good seating below deck. |
There are plenty of islands to explore in Greece. In fact, there are 277 but there are many, many more islets that are uninhabited.
To visit Aegina, we left out of the port of Piraeus which was only a short drive from LW and YW’s home. Traveling from Athens by ferry is a great way to get around the islands unless you are going directly to Crete or Santorini. Those are a bit far from Athens and take a long ferry ride. However, you do get to see many islands when the ferry stops to drop off and pick up passengers. It is a bit wild during that transition to load and off load passengers AND CARS.
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| These were a couple of our stops along the way. |
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| This photo of JU and KU on the deck of the ferry was taken on our return to Athens. |
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| When we arrived in Aegina, drivers returned to their cars and drove them off the ferry. |
We arrived in Aegina at the main port and set off for our first stop at the monastery and church of Agios Nektarios.
This famous Greek cleric 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 labored just as everyone else around him, no work was ever dishonorable to him.
Agios Nektarios was despised by many who mistook his popularity amongst the people as an attempt to become patriarch.
In 1904 at the request of several nuns, he established a monastery for women on Aegina named The Holy Trinity, where he lived for the rest of his life as a monk. He wrote, published, preached, and heard confessions from those who came from near and far to seek out his spiritual insights. In 1920 he died at the age of 74.
The monastery was very interesting and inside the church were some beautiful paintings.
Our next stop on the way to our hotel was for lunch in a lovely hillside home. Did I tell you how great the food was everywhere we went . . . I will probably mention this again. LOL
After settling in at the hotel, we spent some wonderful time on the beach, at the pool and enjoying the small village of Agia Marina.
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The small town was very quaint. Lots of coffee shops and restaurants,.
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Our hotel was high on the hill and had a beautiful view of the sea.
While staying in Agia Marina, one day we ventured by boat to the island of Moni. The small island of Moni is actually an islet close to the southwestern shore of Aegina island. The islet sits between Aegina and Agistri. It contributes to the magnificent sunset scenery that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists to Aegina each year.
As you arrive by boat, the Moni beach bar is the first thing you come across. Sunbeds and umbrellas are scattered all over around the bar, on the sandy beach. on the neighboring rocks and even under the pine trees.
Wild peacocks and deer roam around freely all over the island. The pine trees area starts just behind the bar. You can take the narrow paths to the other side of the islet or to the top of the hill. In the harbor beyond we saw several large yachts anchored.
Moni island belongs to the municipality of Aegina and it is a wild territory with an organized beach like no other in this area.
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| On our way back to Aegina, YW hired a boat to take us all the way around the island of Moni. On the way, we passed these Greek Navy men. LOL (Correction: Hubby D says he talked to them at the bar and they were US Navy and had all purchased Greek swim trunks.) |
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| We also passed this gorgeous light house. |
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| Hubby D managed to fit in some work where ever we were. |
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| He eventually bought a new hat while we were on Aegina. But it did not keep him from slipping in some work while sitting at the pool. |
When we arrived back from Moni, we had a wonderful meal right at the port.
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| I fell in love with this bread basket but I could not convince the owner of the restaurant to sell it to me. |
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| Have I told you how fantastic all the Greek salads were? |
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| Wine was served in many various containers, but always good! |
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Hubby D selected a fish from the catch of the day and they grilled it on the patio outside the restaurant.    We had a special visitor for lunch. |
Another adventure while in Agia Marina was a visit the Temple of Aphaia.
Since prehistoric times (1300 B.C.) it has been a unique place of worship. But it was during the Archaic period that the sanctuary flourished, when three temples were built in succession at the same spot, with the last one still standing today.
One day, Hubby D and I took one of the cars our group had brought to the island, a Smart Car. We drove around the island and explored.
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We visited the fish market n Aegina City. |
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| The second day, we went a bit earlier and had omelets. |
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| On the third day, I took the risk and ordered the local breakfast which came with beans. Oh My! |
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| Their orange juice was the best I have ever had the pleasure to enjoy. |
Our last evening on Aegina, the group gathered for dinner in Aegina City at a picturesque restaurant. Our tables were set up on the cobblestone path outside the restaurant. It was very unique. The group surprised Hubby D and I with an anniversary cake celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary. It was so sweet, and a BIG SURPRISE!
And, another fabulous dinner.
The next day, our ferry ride back to Athens was relaxing. We stood on the deck and watched the islands go by.
After we docked, our group traveled into Athens for dinner at a great restaurant with a FABULOUS view of the Acropolis of Athens. (YW did a "Saudi slide" several times in and out of traffic.)
Hubby D and I, along with some of our group traveled back to Athens the next day. One of the families in the group set up a private guided tour of the Acropolis. It was going to be a FULL day!
More about that in my next segment.
Cheers,
Brenda
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| This is sunset looking out from the Lighthouse of Egina on Aegina. The island was extremely beautiful. |
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