The Greek Islands

If I could time travel, I would go back exactly a year ago today. This was the day that we took a ferry across the Agean Sea to the beautiful Saronic Islands of Hydra, Poros, and Aegina. This was an optional excursion that most of the adults took, but Catie was the only student who opted to take it. The other students loved the idea of having a whole day of free time in Athens. I gave Catie the choice and she chose the cruise. Thank goodness!! I can't imagine being in Greece and not taking the opportunity to visit some of the islands. What a shame that would have been. I was so glad that Catie is so mature and understood the opportunity that she had.

I think she agrees with me; the islands of Greece are not to be missed if you ever travel there. The beauty that abounds in this area is breathtaking. The people that live there are friendly and welcoming. I even met a seventy-seven year old man that had traveled to Wilmington, NC when he was only seventeen. We had a nice conversation about sights in that area that we had both seen. Isn't it a very small world?

The first views of the islands were from the ferry. Although the ferry ride was a treat in itself, we couldn't wait to get off and explore.



Aren't the churches in Greece beautiful?



Hydra was my favorite. It didn't allow motor vehicles, so donkeys, bikes, and walking are the only form of transportation. The islands were very steep and donkeys carried both people and things up the hills. The men with the donkeys kept trying to talk Catie into letting them take her up the hill. Funny thing, none of them tried to take me up the hill. We laughed about that. We even saw one donkey carrying a flat screen TV up the hill. Too funny!



This island of Aegina is famous for its pistachios. That is one of their main exports. Catie and Greenie enjoyed Catie's favorite: baklava made with pistachios.



I just had to get a picture of the blue water. Isn't it beautiful?



I'm sure you can see why I would go back in time to this particular day. I came home and told John that I wanted to live on one of these islands. I don't think we are moving any time soon, but maybe one day!