A small fishing boat (trata) returns with its early morning catch
Pumping out the bilges after two days of very heavy rain
A couple of yachties return to their boat by sail
I caught this couple as they set sail to return to their beautiful wooden sailing boat parked out in the bay.
K's fishing boat has been taken out of the water again this spring to have it's bottom scraped and painted.
The big car ferry leaves for Piraeus. An old photo. The big passenger ferry used to leave twice a day carrying passengers from the port of Piraeus to Aegina, Methana, Poros, Hydra and Spetses. Nowadays there is a passenger ferry two or three times a week in mid summer only and it stops at Poros and returns to Piraeus. Now if you want to reach Athens you can either go by the expensive but faster hydrofoil, across on the car ferry and overland by car or by bus from Galatas.
The roll-on roll-off car ferry from Poros to Galatas on the mainland. The car ferry leaves every half hour and takes trucks, cars, bikes, pedestrians and donkeys if necessary. A one way trip for us costs 7euro for the car, the driver and a passenger. Smaller cars are slightly less.
The service runs from 7am to 10pm. Don't have an emergency after-hours
One of the many water taxis which ply the passage between Poros and the mainland. They take only passengers (and dogs), the cost is 1euro per person and the trip is less than 5 minutes. Cheap enough unless you live on one side and work on the other.
The water taxis go all day and night though after midnight on a cold winter's night there might be one boat on standby and you may have to yell over the waters to get it to come across or call the Harbour Police for help.
The car ferry and the water taxis work all year round and the weather has to be more than gale force before they stop. A good blow from the north will send waves crashing into the wharf , flooding the harbour road and force yachts to untie and dash for the cover of open sea
Quite exciting to be 'cut off' but it is usually only for a matter of hours. The hydrofoils stop in a storm and you have to keep an eye on the weather forecast if you want to travel to Athens in the winter.
We're an island but only just but this gives us the best of all worlds. We have the island culture, the picturesque island scenery, the security of an island and yet the easy access to the rest of the country and all its amenities and rich history .
I'd love to live on an island. Where you have to use a boat to get to the rest of the world.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's in my genes lol
Sounds exciting and I guess it is something very different. Dont know how I would get on if I lived on one of those islands which have a boat a week and are cut off for days or weeks during winter. Youd have to be very hardy and self sufficient.
DeleteLike Angela, the idea of living on a small Greek island, with a small boat tied up in a nearby harbour, sounds like perfection.
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly the dream of every greek island man and probably more than a few city dwellers too. It certainly keeps them busy after retirement. Watching the weather and the moon, checking the boat with rain or wind, taking it out, fixing it up and endless discussions on fishing, boats and of course the endless regulations and paperwork. And the EU and its ridiculous ideas. A few years ago the EU was paying fishermen to burn their boats.
DeleteYour world sounds very idyllic and adventuresome at the same time! I hope our next "big trip" takes us to Greece! -Jenn
ReplyDeleteDo come and experience it all first hand! Just not in July or august, you'll be gasping
DeleteIt all looks and sounds very exciting to this landlubber. A Greek version of Swallows and Amazons forever! That wooden sailing boat looks very nice but, then again, I really like the look of Danah.
ReplyDeleteThe wooden sailing boat was something special. Those two yachties must have made it their home. They looked like very experienced sailors in their little sail boat and they weren't young. Wish my camera would take better close ups.
DeleteI prefer the Danaë but I've been out in that a couple of times.
I have really enjoyed reading back over your blog - I came here via Cro's blog - & look forward to reading more. An interesting, eclectic mixture of posts. If I look back far enough will I find out how you came to be in this place?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. Alas you wont find much more about me by going back to the beginning. Ive been here 40 years. Those first few years are written on a typewriter with carbon paper. I guess I'll have to do a post on my arrival one day.
DeleteI was working in London came out on holiday and stayed the summer, met K and stayed for another 40 years. Our relationship worked out, but I've seen many, mainly english girls, come and go over that time.
Aw thank you!.
ReplyDeleteThe sight of Poros coming closer when on a ferry or flying dolphin is truly one of absolute beauty.
Loved sitting watching the ferry arrive the total chaos of everyone getting off and on . People livestock, supplies, orders ,cars motorbikes.
Water taxis are fab a lovely way to get to other parts
of the island the bus doesn,t reach or beaches on the mainland, Oh I so wan,t to be there now.
Beautiful,beautiful little Poros.
Coming round the cprner past the lighthouse and suddenly having the island in view on the horizon is always exciting. Haven't seen it that way for many years. We always come and go by car now.
DeleteIt was great when the big car ferry came into the middle of town and and as you say there was total chaos. I remember waiting for my husband one evening in midwinter. There had been no boats all day due to bad weather and everyone and their dog had come down to meet the ferry. It was the highlight of the day!
My son in law has a water taxi and now and again I go out with him when he takes a group. Love cruising around. So where are you going on your summer holiday this year?
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ReplyDeleteAt home over summer, but things going well,Athens and a sneaky trip to Poros in October.
DeleteSorry removed previous post, too much rambling on my part. Kirrie
You should have left lol. Bet I ramble more than you. Specially on my tablet where I can hardly see what I've written I lose the thread and waffle on endlessly.
DeleteGoodness, I'd forgotten how much I love the sea, boats and sailing too, ty for your beautiful photos xx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sue. There'll be more coming up now summer is coming
DeleteI have taken the hydrofoil twice from Hydra to Athens. To fly home. Bitter sweet at the end of a fab holiday.
ReplyDeleteI would love K's fishing boats. A spot of fishing, a little sun, quiet on the water if you can get it. lovely
With a boat you can find all sorts of places to stop and anchor or clamber ashore. My problem is clambering back in again. K says he's going to get a special ladder for me this year. Don't much like fishing but do like the travel.
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