To and Fro

Boats

On an island water transport is a big part of life

Water taxis which will take you the few hundred yards across to the mainland for 1 euro

'Socrates' - my son-in-laws taxi boat

And here is is on the right, Captain Kyriakos with the Captain of the taxi boat 'Konstantinos'

One of the car ferries which takes cars and passengers to and fro across the strait from the island to the mainland

It costs us 7 euros one way for our car, driver and one passenger

The 3-Island cruise boat which comes in every day all through the year calling at Poros for one hour and then going on to the nearby islands of Aegina and Hydra

Flotillas of yachts which carry tourists on a weeks island-hopping holiday.  They come in a bunch at a time, tie up together, drink, eat, partake in the nightlife and next morning groggily up-anchor and sail off to the next island

One of the little fishing boats which come in early in the morning to sell fish on the jetty

A luxury yacht, one of many, which come in for days of Greek island life

We've had Prime Ministers and Presidents, Saudis and Russian millionaires

A private yacht, often sailed by an elderly couple enjoying their retirement sailing the med, wintering on Malta or another safe port

The Flying Catamaran which comes in twice a day bringing tourists and locals from Athens and Piraeus to the closer islands in the Saronic Gulf

The big car ferry which brings cars and passengers from Athens and Piraeus to the Saronic Islands and mainland ports.  This is a 2 1/2 hour journey but half the price of the Catamaran and you can enjoy a brief sight of the other ports as it offloads car and people

All these boats weave in and out of the harbour traffic, the visiting yachts often causing the small car ferry to hoot in indignation. 

We used to love watching evening shipping manoeuvres from our roof terrace. 

  Living so near the harbour did have its disadvantages.  Now our daughter and her family hear the endless engine noise from the big car ferry once it has pulled in for the evening.  It doesn't completely shut down its engines all night and at 6am very noisely pulls up anchor.  The little car ferries used to make a very loud chug-chug-noise which grated on the night air but the newer ferries are much quieter and the ferries stop working around 11.

All part of island life