Greek Yacht Charters - Saronic Gulf
#1.
Introduction by Captain Andrew Buys.
Dear
Passionate Traveler and friends,
This month we are featuring vacationing in
the Saronic Gulf aboard a private yacht in Greece.
We are showing a sample itinerary. These are just some of the
many islands and anchorages that you may like to see while on your Greek Island hopping
vacation.
Greece
is the birthplace of modern civilization, where you will enjoy
gentle people, wonderful cuisine, magnificent wine and dancing.
The example itinerary you find below is hardly set in stone;
and is intended to provide information for you to guide you in
determining where to go and what to do while exploring the wonderful
Greek Islands. Call the staff at Barrington-Hall as
we know many of the islands and will gladly share ideas with you and guide you
regarding what to do and where to go.
We want to give you pertinent and up to date information so you'll be sure and visit the islands
you most want to see. It is you who tells the captain where you want to
go. Remember, your captain will also be speaking to you well in advance
of your charter, so gather as much information as you'd like.
Expect to enjoy vegetables you have never
seen before. Greece has its own special secrets and surprises;
only you and I can open its treasures.
A private yacht vacation is the very best way to enjoy Greece and all its wonders.
Imagine visiting an island that has no motor cars, no mopeds,
no scooters; the only forms of transport are bicycles and
donkey carts. This is one of the reasons to go on vacation: to see the wonder places
in the world.
TO SEE GREECE AND HER SISTER ISLANDS IS TO FALL
HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE WITH GREECE.
The 7 night itinerary of the Saronic Gulf
On your arrival by air in Athens, our Greek agent
Julie has a taxi meet you and your party at the airport. You
normally arrive at 3pm at the airport, and there is a 45-60
minute drive to your hotel. The next day, the same taxi driver
picks you up at the hotel and takes you to your yacht, where
Julie will be waiting to introduce you to your captain and crew
team. Cost for the taxi is taken from the advanced provisioning
amount, so you do not need to worry about taxi costs, and you
are on board without thinking. You wave goodbye to Julie as
your yacht moves out of the marina.
Aegina:
Your wonderful adventure commences at 12 noon right in Athens.
You have met your captain and crew team and discussed your itinerary
with your captain; off you go to Aegina, your first stop for
the night. Your captain reverses your yacht so that the rear
of your yacht faces the main esplanade, and a walkway leads
you to firm land to explore.
Aegina has numerous seaside villages; the normal esplanade
is where most of the business takes place. A lovely rich varied
landscape of the island with her archaeological site, combined
with the beauty of the town, is what draws visitors to Aegina.
A good number of white soft sand beaches with calm blue water
have a nightlife which will not disappoint guests. This island
that produces the famous Pistachios knows how to take good
care of visitors.
Poros:
Aah, my all-time favorite Greek island. Note the one picture
with all the Greek charter boats parked around her; it is an
aerial shot, another milestone of Greek hospitality with traditional
small houses, narrow streets, quaint coastline dotted with soft
white beaches. So much to do in Poros: 2 lovely clubs for dancing,
both normally opening at midnight. Dancing runs through until
4 am; this is what happy Greeks do. Your yacht will be rear
facing the busy esplanade, so there is lots to see while you
enjoy lunch on deck under the shaded cockpit. Go ashore, visit
the marketplace, look at their little lively shops, purchase
Greek honey; it is far more exotic than ours. A taxi tour around
Poros is suggested, or a taverna at which to enjoy lunch instead
of on board.
Spetses: Here
is an island which is steeped in Greek history, with centenarian
trees, beautiful beaches and crystal-clear water. Spetses
offers visitors non-stop nightlife.
What a lively atmosphere you have on one island. Many monuments
adorn Spetses, which is proof of the island’s role and
of the residents during the reign of the Ottoman Empire. Here
natural bays and beaches are all open to happy holiday makers,
also inviting new experiences for the vacationer.
Nafplion:
Guests can elect to head back to Athens via Hydra at a slower
pace if this is what they wish to do, or head to Nafplion. Nafplion
was the first capital of independent Greece. Today we know it
is Athens, which is more internationally placed. Nafplion is
dominated by the Venetian citadel Palmidi, which is a perfect
example of Venetian military architecture with shops, tavernas
and narrow streets; ideal for the excited vacationer.
Hydra:
On the way back, you can stop at Fokiakis Beach or carry on
traveling back to Hydra, which we elected to miss on our way
past her. The homes of Hydra are built around the beautiful
major marina, which is typical of most marinas worldwide; they
include 17th and 18th-century buildings. There is not one motor
car or one motorcycle, no scooters; the only forms of travel
on Hydra are bicycles or donkey carts, which take all of us
back 100 years in time. Again, this is why we visit these different
places of the world, to see and enjoy different cultures. To
the passionate traveler who wishes to see a dreamlike setting
in combination of peace, fun and charming people, the island
of Hydra is a must-see little island in paradise. Make sure
you purchase wine from the islands of Greece and take some home;
this is a favorite among charter guests.
Now we head back to Athens, possibly staying at
a lagoon close to Aegina, so that we are set to get back to
Piraeus Marina (Athens) and ready for the noon drop-off on the
8th day.
Greece is very different from the French and Italian Rivieras,
where the rich and famous play. Yet I prefer Greece and her
humble way of life, with her super charming people. One of our
guests described eating octopus in Greece as “biting into
a soft tasty cloud. Andrew, I never eat octopus here at home
in the USA because it is like biting a car tire, but in Greece
they do know how to make it so soft.”
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