Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Departing from the harbor of Piraeus to the Island of Agistri

Morning Time...Wake up you sleepy heads...We are island hoping Today!

So we finished packing the suitcase...(by the way we are really efficient when coming to that..ha!)

We then headed down stairs, and checked out of the hotel...and began to wander over to the harbor...but it was a ways to walk - so we took a break at a coffee shop and decided to have a morning snack & coffee!
Ah...build up the energy to walk a little bit further!  Got it!  When we got to the Ferry around at the other end of the harbor...we sat to wait
for boarding...another 1+ hour to go!

 The Ferry would first go to Aegina where people would disembark and others would come on board...and then we head to the island of Agistri - the island Babis had recommended us!

Oh how exciting again...there's something so fun about going to islands and enjoying the "atmosphere" at these places...and we so enjoy the "discovery" of new things...right Nick?

 There is our boat....
 If it wasn't for the red written wording we just might be heading towards another island! 

We waited and watched all the activity...by now it was pretty hot again...most likely 85 if not hotter!  And it was only 8:30 am!  We saw so many BIG trucks

backing into the ferry...of course this goes on continually...for the people on the islands rely on their goods being brought to them from the mainland. 
Wow such activity going on...it was a pretty harbor and there was so many many people...yes it was vacation time all right!

We boarded the boat...and thankfully were able to leave our suitcases below where all the cars and trucks parked...because you had to walk up a flight of stairs to the lounge area.  The boat would take 2 hours to get to our island.

 We relaxed & enjoyed the ride! Took LOTS of pictures!
I went up to the top and looked & took in all the views around me!  Oh what fun to depart on a boat again...love it!  Nick too went up on deck - and nosed around as well!


Pictures...Pictures...and more PICTURES!!!

 Cute Tugboat~
 This boat is the Jet boat to the islands...fast a more expensive! 


Oh my the water dark blue...the area was beautiful!!!


Meggie...look what I see?  Even in Greece on a Ferry boat...pretty good huh my friend???

We came to the first island after about 1.40 hrs which was very large indeed...and people got off..& on...and then quickly the boat left again...all within 20 min or so!  Then off again to the island we were going to...Agistri!  Agistri Greece Open Link ~

Another 35 min & we were there!  It was a cute smaller island...with more "green" Babis said....yes he is right...there were trees covered on this one!  Nice! 



We saw a cute little shops & restaurants along the beaches there..but cozy & smaller!  Nick & I agreed it was perfect...and it really was!  (Babis had said no shopping - just a few shops (Ellen thought UGH!) but it is actually nice...because it is just not real crowded here!  We asked several people where our hotel would be...Toxomatie - and they said 300 meters...and we walked...the little paths along the beach area and up along the other bugalow's and then someone said 100 meters...OK Nico we are getting closer now!  Nick said...wait here...with the suitcases and I will walk ahead and see exactly where it is?  OK good idea!  He came back and said it was right around the corner...right next to a Bakery...Nice!

OK...we found it ....yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It was cute...a cozy restaurant downstairs with lots of tables - and then a stairway up to our unit...there was 2 side by side upstairs




and we each had a table & 2 chairs on the deck~  Our room was adorable...small & cozy BUT BUT with a kitchenette...which is so nice to be able to make something even breakfast & snacks!  You just don't eat out 3X a day...that is not wise on a pension budget like us! So we were very pleased with the room - and let them know downstairs we would stay...Nick said 4 days?  Yes let's do it - we need to get rested up since leaving Indonesia...!  Staying put in one place for a while!

Wow...we freshened up and then took a walk to see the beach area.  It was just down the little street way...maybe a small block or two!  And there we have it...a BLUE aqua BLUE ocean..gorgeous and the water clear as can be...and the water felt refreshing...not warm warm...but comfortable cool...easy to get into...and I will!  People and families were already enjoying their time at the beach for the day!  We decided to get some items for our little kitchen so we could snack and have some coffee and get some fruit too!  Everything is in euro's $1.00 = .78 Euro cents.  So if I see something say for 30 Euro I will multiple 30 by 3 = 9.00 and add that to the 30 Euro = $39.00 for the purchase.  Better do that because prices are more expensive for us now that we are in Europe!


We had sticker shock in Israel!  Yes coming from Asia...we were shocked alright!  Having lived all that time in Indonesia...things are back to pricy here!





We dropped off the items at the studio apartment and then headed back along the beach again!  Ah so nice Nico...can't believe we are here in Greece...and then on an island out in the Mediterranean Sea.  Amazing huh?  All these plans and we are actually here now!

Beautiful trees & scrubs - so much color! 


 Oh look at this church building - we remember these scenes from pictures of Greece...now to think we are seeing it with the actual eyes...




A Fishing boat docked for the evening!  This is where the Ferry came in this morning!


The people are warm and friendly and a lively people!  They enjoy being with one another...enjoy their time together eating, drinking with a nice glass of wine...!  We both felt the warmth of the country and its people!  Sweet!  They take time with you...and try to help or explain...very nice!

There are people here again from all over!  Vacationing!  Just had a couple sit down here in the coffee shop that were here on the island for 2 days & going on to Berlin Germany...and they were from Miami Fl!  Fun to talk for a bit!  This couple have friends in Athens and visited there for a few days too!

But then the "islands" would of course draw people from everywhere...there hangs a wonderful atmosphere of relaxing and laid back "life"

The owner Spyros & his wife Vasio work 6 months heree in their hotel/restaurant & then they go back to Sparta area and live there on the mainland for 6 months.  A nice way to do it!

Nick & I have always enjoyed the thought of having a little shop and living in it - and Nick doing all his creative things and I could sell some nick-knacks and small furniture pieces and offer coffee and some goodies - even have just a few bistro sitting areas among the things we would like to sell?  How does that sound you guys????  Could that be a possible??? We will see...what & where the Lord directs our step in the future!!!

We headed back to the room and just sat & relaxing and Nick took a nap.  I went online...and yes we do have wifi in this room...but downloading the pictures on the blog....that seems to be a problem!  Hopefully sitting downstairs it will be better...because I sure want to stay up with logging & blogging! Right?

We got dressed again and took a nice walk along the beach later in the day...and decided to have dinner at a really cute place...which we had seen earlier!  The two guys standing outside the restaurant encouraging you into their eatery - well they do a good job with lots of smiles and friendly encouragement to have you come into their shop...well they convinced us that we would...with their sweet smiles that is!!! Ha!

We enjoyed a simple meal...a Greek salad with a red & green bell pepper filled with rice...everything was so tasty and had much flavor!  We enjoyed a bottle of Amstel beer to go with it!  And with the Dutch soccer team doing so well...well Cheers/Proost to them!  Way to go Dutchies!  You are almost there!

We enjoyed sitting there quite a while...and then we heard that there would be "live" music & dance too...how nice! Hey that would be fun...."But" we heard it was going to happen at 10 pm...?

We actually wanted to take a walk along the beach - so next time for sure!

 So cute to see..everyone was out...families...children's laughter...people sitting out on all the cute terraces in the evening!Lots of activity..when the winds come from the ocean breeze...nice!
We strolled along the beach...and even sat on a lounge chair just taking in the sights...before heading back to the room! 

Wow what a great day we have had...time to sleep!  And we did! ......Ah...............!!!!!!!


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