by Kate Barba with contributions by Gwyn Barba

Hello friends!  I want to share some of the gorgeous scenery and onboard action of our sailing adventure!  Our second week in Greece was in the islands and peninsulas of the Saronic Gulf.  We chartered a 44ft catamaran from Sunsail Athens and took three generations out onto the water to make some memories.

This area was home to Odysseus and the epic winds have not changed in three thousand years.  The water is clear and a symphony of blue but your better find a safe harbor at night!  Not to worry, Captain Pete and Admiral Peter had a strong and experienced crew; we have previously chartered boats in Belize, Croatia, and the Bahamas.

We weren’t worried, but the crossings to and from Athens had high winds and rough waters so we secured the supplies and stuffed things into the cabinets so the dishes didn’t break from all the bouncing around!  It can be scary when the boat crests a wave and crashes down to meet the ocean once more, but the kids love it!

By Gwyn: When the boat starts rocking it’s my cue to go down to the cabin and take a good nap. It’s easy to fall asleep to the sounds of the waves and the rock of the boat. You have to be careful because if you don’t lock the cabinets they will clash around and wake you up! After I’m done with my nap, Drew and I go down to the forward cabin and jump up and down when the big waves come; it is lots of fun. I’m glad we got to do this bouncy experience.  

Every place we sail has a slightly different way to dock/anchor/moor and in Greece we did a modified Mediterranean mooring where you drop anchor, back into a space and secure the back corners on shore.  This often involves using your neighbor as a bumper, rafting to each other if land-based cleats are in short supply, and/or tying your lines to a rock under water!  Sailors are a friendly bunch though, so helping each other out was a great way to make new friends.  Just don’t drop your anchor on someone else’s chain please!

Pa had planned a new place to stay for each night, but we found that finding a place and getting secure was stressful enough that we wanted to stay put 2 nights if possible.  Flexibility is the key to both relaxing and adventurous travel!

Georgios, Methana

The first location we stayed was a lucky break as it was getting dark after the first five choices were full!  It was perfect though, with friendly cats, a delicious restaurant at the end of the dock and lovely scenery.

Hydra

Our second stop was by far my favorite.  I left my heart in Hydra and I look forward to going back for a week or more!  Hydra is known for its powerful and wealthy merchant fleet that was key to the Greek Revolution.  This explains the beautiful mansions, the many small harbors in the area, and the cannons.  We anchored in a small harbor to the east, but a great path along the coast connected it to the main town.  Tourism has encouraged multitudes of cafes and shops, but the real allure is the rugged scenery; the narrow, steep, and windy streets; and the marble path, buildings and towers.  It’s charming.  We thoroughly enjoyed our two days of shopping and exploring.

Epidavros

Our final stop was Epidavros, the modern coastal village near the inland accent city we visited for the amphitheater.  We were supposed to snorkel over an underwater Roman villa, but the water was too choppy.  Luckily we were able to enjoy water time in other areas!  We also enjoyed local bakeries, gelato, and a lovely family restaurant around the olive and orange groves of town.  Highly recommend!

Travel is awesome

We made some lovely memories this week!  Greek food was enjoyed, naps were had, morning runs were conquered, and another beautiful week on the water came to a close.  Thanks to Peter and Patti for sharing the magic of Greece with us!

Thanks for reading to the end!  Next up: Egypt! Don’t forget to check out our past stories and subscribe for future articles as well.  Find us on Facebook and Instagram for bonus content!  As always, if you are planning a trip to any location we visit we are happy to provide more details and opinions, so feel free to contact us.