09November 2013 Our Departure from Poros and arrival in Athens

Since the heavy rain the atmosphere once more is crystal clear, the plants, the trees the earth are rejoicing.

We have been receiving good bye gifts (home made marmalade &  trinkets and endless hugs filled
with wishes for our return).



Some last glimpses from some lovely renovated neo classic buildings that overlook at the harbor.

We returned our wheels that served us so very well for all these days.

Said our good buys at the lovely neighborhood we lived in.

We sat by the water having a late breakfast and saying good buy to the passers by that we have
become so familiar with, soon some of them will be joining us for some coffee.

The calm sea was moved by the arrival of the hydrofoil boat that took us to Athens, time to leave.


We spent our last day Sunday in Athens with my sister and Ron walking around the Flea Market of Athens located not far from the oldest settlement of Athens called Plaka.
Very near the Agora of Athens at the foot of the Parthenon.

We started walking along the crowds of the shoppers that were looking for the perfect antique that could be hiding among all the rest of the old and not so old things.

Actually an antique here has to be ver 100years old, so most everything is …old.

The colors of the turning leaves are turning crimson a reminder that it is time to leave behind the endless warm sweet memories as Autumn is upon us

touching us with a promise of more to come.

01-09 November, our last week.

Here we are living through our last week in this gift we have savored each and every day.

The weather with the start of the month reminded us that after all it is November, yet by noon the sun took over and cleared the atmosphere as if it just could not accept  the clouds and the cool air yet!

We have taken more walks and more rides around the island trying to take it all in.

Somehow the familiarity of the little things have become so special to us, the way the light shines on the fishing boat differently each day, how the flag blows by the sea breeze certain mornings.

We anxiously look around in the event we might have missed another special place, sure enough, we notice a tiny little church up on the top of one of the large rocks on the hill near where we live, we missed it before, at one point I thought it was just a small little building, this time we paid more attention with the camera zoom.

One finds little churches in the most remote and highest spots on the land, built and dedicated to a patron Saint, in the name of a loved one.

As we pass by familiar people in town we talk about next year and how lucky we have been with this perfect October.

No matter how hard life is for the local people and how the very near future is still looking so hard
for their families and their businesses, their smile inviting us back for next year never ends. A great number of the inhabitant's livelihood depends on the few months that Tourism starts with the arrival of the sailing boat traffic as well as the summer vacationers that mostly flood the island during August, as most of Europe vacations a that time. Making the late fall through the early spring months very long and hard.
Inevitably the harsh economy has shrank the season and income more than ever this year.

A great number of people have second and third jobs to make ends meet during the off season.

We decided to reverse our road trip around the island on our bike, some how it was a great idea, we discovered more than before and saw the vistas at a different angle it was so much fun.


Once we reach the higher altitude the pine forrest get thicker, it is so marvelous, one feels as if they are receiving the embrace of the soft pines and a warm scent surrounds us.

Bellow we see the fisherries that are growing everyday in Greece and it has become a very important part of the economy and Greece is the leading provider of farm raised fish in Europe and plays a great role in the world wide seafood market. 

On previous rides we had not taken a picture of the bay bellow that has a very obvious heart shape, it is very remote and has a couple of beaches that are so secluded one would think it is their own.
As we were parked to take a picture the pretty substantial yacht pictured below on route back to Athens detoured there
to most likely swim in the beautiful crystal clear waters of the bays.


 

We went back home and enjoyed some quiet time during the last few days of this so special stay.

While a lone windsurfer was taking a few more rides on the autumn sea on the bay bellow us.

What a perfect sight once more, we have been blessed with the perfect sunrise as the sun is continuing it's trip West.

The wind started to change playing games on the surface of the calm sea.

The monastery was receiving the  warm sunlight and appeared from the early morning shadows. 

That night, I met with a few ladies and spent some time enjoying each other's company sharing stories while Ron was watching a very important soccer game between a Greek team and a Portuguese team that

are competing for a  World cup spot.

Something that everyone was watching, each cafe, bar and home in the country.

In this case a wide screen TV was on for everyone to see with their friends over a drink at this bar located by the sea and dock. Thankfully the results were great as the Greek team won 1-0, 

a very tough game indeed.

This morning, as we have been expecting, the front from the East that started hitting hard the UK and the Netherlands came upon us.

Even though we still had around 70F,  the heavy clouds rolling thunder and lightening were a wake up call. Time to start our packing... 

We started breakfast but not before we faced this at the window next to our front door!!!

One of our neighbor's cats was avoiding the rain under the eaves of our porch.

Looking at us wondering if she was invited at our breakfast table!!!

She was adorable,mind you neither of us are cat people, yet we have started enjoying her morning visits

at our terrace. 

After the storm quieted down, we went to the port town and had a coffee and cheese pie 

at one of our favorite coffee shops and worked on our blog.

The streets were quiet, the sun and the heavy clouds were playing games,

one minute pouring rain and the other the sun could appear, marvelous moments of Nature's play. 

And then the piece de resistance, another of nature's wonder.

I could not get enough of the two extremes .

Hope one would agree, nothing like what the rain can do to nature just after it ends. 

28 - 29 October 2013 One of the countries' most important National Holidays.

This beautiful morning was the start of the National Holiday that Greece celebrates the legendary
Ochi Day (Meaning NO DAY) the refusal of the small nation's request by Mussolini
to surrender during WWII.

It is worth reading this article to familiarize yourselves with the brief description of the history. The short version is when Greece said no to Mussolini, the Italians and Germans needed to march into Greece and this delayed Hitler's plan to invade Russia (Barbarosa) by 6 weeks thus giving Russia more preparation time and thus changing the outcome of World War II. Should you read the article listed below, you can see the quotes from all of the World Leaders thanking Greece for their sacrifice and valor.

http://globalgreekworld.blogspot.gr/2010/10/28th-october-1940-day-greece-said-loud.html

We went to town, it was vibrating with anticipation and excitement.

People from Athens had come for the long weekend, boats from every where had flooded the port.
Children were running to school all dressed up for the parade.

The military parade takes place in Northern Greece, while in Athens and the rest of the country including cities, town and villages have parades with schools.

The town was dressed up in Blue and white the National colors of Greece.

We were listening to the national marches and songs from the 1940s as well as the narration of that
incredible day in the Nation's history that helped change the History of Europe.

It was very touching for me as I had not been to Greece for so many years during this Holiday.

As I have mentioned at a different entry the island of Poros is located within 3 minutes by boat from the mainland and the small town of Galatas, therefore as we reached the downtown area of Poros we looked across the water and saw that the parade in Galatas had started already here it is!

On our side in the meantime the navy officers had just finished putting together the

decorations with the flags as well as preparing the marble monument dedicated to the fallen heroes of 1912-22.

The town was looking so so well and we saw a little boy dressed with the uniform of what was called an "Evzon". He looked adorable, it reminded me the time I had found one that fit our son when he was 5 and he looked so good in it, very touching. He was part of his play at the Greek school he attended.

Here is some information on this traditional uniform

The Evzon is the name of several historical elite light infantry and mountain units of the Greek Army. Today, it refers to the members of the Presidential Guard  an elite ceremonial unit that guards the Greek Tomb of the Unknown Soldier , the Presidential Mansion and the gate of Evzones camp in Athens. The Evzones are also known, colloquially, as Tsoliades 

Though the Presidential Guard is a predominantly ceremonial unit, all Evzones are volunteers drawn from the Hellenic Army's Infantry, Artillery and Armoured Corps. Prospective Evzones are usually identified at the Army Recruit Training Centres during Basic Training; there is a minimum height requirement of 1.86 m (6' 1.2") to join.

The unit is famous around the world for its unique traditional uniform, which has evolved from the clothes worn by the klephts who fought the Ottoman occupation of Greece. The most visible item of this uniform is the fustanella, a kilt-like garment. Their proven valour and peculiar dress turned them into a popular image for the Greek soldier.

The schools were at their best, the top of the class was carrying the flag and everyone was so so excited and proud! Their teachers were there ready to direct them as soon as the band struck their first note.

The band started the parade with traditional marches.

And here are the children in all their glory.

Part of the high school was wearing the traditional costumes of the region.

I remember my sparkling white blouse and crisp navy blue skirt, WOW it

was so emotional, bringing back the care free times in my life.

Even this little man was moving the flag back and forth with the beat!

Later in the afternoon, we watched the end of the summer  sailing regatta that had gone to several different islands. They came to the harbor last night, all of 75 sailing boats. The following morning they all gathered in the bay in front of our house and presented us with a phenomenal view of their exercises

 a wonderful finale for all. 

I had to take this not so clearly focused picture from inside the house it looked like a perfect shot.

The morning of October 29th was so glorious that we decided to go swimming maybe for one last time before we come back to the US. We found the perfect spot with no wind and a crystal clear sea.

The view of the open cerulean sky and the sparkling sea was perfect.

We could see the small transparent fish swim in the shallow waters.

I need to show you this amazing picture, this is a perfect shot to notice how the weather changes meaning the direction of the wind one can easily see it on the calm sea, it is almost behind the buoy.

At the edge of the beach there was an incredible rock formation, it was so impressive, as if there were roots of a large tree. 

An absolutely perfect day.

25-27 October More exploring

The night before while walking up into the higher part of the town we came across a restaurant we had passed before.
It's name is " The Garden" it is truly inside a garden and surrounded by citrus, jasmine, basil and a huge white bougainvillea.

It was so tempting, I took a picture of this part of town bellow, it was looking so sleepy and pristine .
One can see the white wash of the sidewalks that goes on in most Greek Islands religiously.
It almost looks like  a movie set doesn't it?

On the way out I was handed a beautiful bouquet of jasmine and basil by a family member of the owner of the restaurant.

We continued the next morning our exploration to this small world that keeps offering us more surprises each time as we climb it's steep steps.

Here are some memories of that walk.

We fell in love with these porches that have such abundance of color , touches of the old world that was and the basic simplicity of life.

The fall roses are still going strong with the endless vistas beyond. .

I love this door it looks as one is looking at a black and white picture, it was a very old building

obviously with such character.

The caper bush is growing on it's feet so simply with no expectations!

Nothing is wasted, one finds the right use for so many things we would have thrown away, had they ceased to be useful.

The beautiful curtains that adorn most all the doors and windows are hand made by the owners of the homes.

Giving them privacy as well as filtering the strong summer  sun from the homes.

Unlike most outdoor white washing this particular home owner additionally painted with black all the rock formations. Pretty unique.

By the way the corner tile that is placed on the tiled roofs comes from the ancient times it is called: acrokeramo.

Here is some more information on it:

 The concept has been that the symbols of the trade are entangled in a traditional Greek ornamental edge tile. The name of which is ''akrokeramon'' and goes as far back as decorating ancient greek temples, to house roofs in later days through out the coutry's architectual history course. Although unknown to most this ornament does stand for a really deep philosophical message. The uplifting of the spirit and soul or on the other hand it's downfall due to each person's life volitions (symbolized in the form of the double counterfacing spires). That can either bring each one of us nearer to God (the escalating petals on the upper part) and if chosen otherwise to the absolute elimination of virtue or any sence of goodness (the lower part of the ''flower'')

When we saw this beautiful boat, we had to stop in awe of it. It was so well kept, with its impeccable teak wood , freshly polished  brass and gorgeous deep blue color! 

A dream indeed.

A closer look of this vessel when it moved back to the port.

Although all of the house walls are made of stone, not all are covered with concrete and white washed. This house was left just with the stone and it stood out form all the white. 

We walked up to the top of this hill, the older homes were proudly reflecting  the afternoon sun against nature's backdrop.

Less is more. No space is wasted as you can see with this orange tree and its protected curb.

One of our favorite beaches which is quite secluded and covered with pine trees. It is called Agape Bay or Love Bay. We have shown it before but every time we go by,  it it looks better and better somehow!
So here it is once more, with it's small Byzantine church by the beautiful grounds of a spectacular home..

This is another beach that is called Russian Bay. You can see the remnants of the old naval station that was built in 1834 to supply their ships of the Aegean Sea. The Russians kept the station until 1900 and since 1989 it has been preserved as a historic and architectural monument.

This is our favorite Taverna in Poros. It is called Gia Mas which means to our health.
 We discovered it 3 years ago on our first trip to Poros and we have been going back ever since. The food is excellent and consists of everything from Pizza to Greek specialties, grilled meats and all types of fresh fish . The owners are Dena and Demetri and all the fish is provided fresh from Demetri's fishing boat every day.

They have almost become family to us and we do spend quite a bit of time talking with Demetri, Dena, their two handsome sons as well as Dena's Mom. A close up of some of Demetri's fish is below.  

Look at how this tree was saved as the wall and house were built around it.
The local stonework is wonderful.

A view from across the Askeli Beach of the houses where we are staying. The sun is so bright one would think that
tons of silver dust has been spread on the sea reflecting it's glorious light.