Lati's Med adventure continues
17 April 2014 | Aegina harbour, Saronic Gulf, Aegean, Greece
It was so good to be greeted by a sea of white buildings as my plane landed in Athens. I’d snatched a couple of hours sleep in the last 24 hours and was like an excited child to be back in Greece reunited with Bill after 3 weeks. Immigration and baggage collection was quick and casual – a great start already arriving in Greece. I heard ‘Linda!’ and there was Christos parked outside the International arrivals. ‘Bill has gone looking for you!’ and after a big friendly hug I saw Bill a few minutes later running across the road. Happy grins and kisses and a few minutes later we were zooming off in Christos’ car through Athens straight to the ferry terminal in Piraeus.
Arriving just in time to catch a big slow ferry to Aegina, we relaxed in the faded velvet lounges with a handful of other passengers. I loved hearing Greek around me and what I noticed most was everyone being nice to each other. I really did feel like I had come ‘home’. Bill said he enjoyed the friendliness of the Greeks when he first arrived as well. The ferry trundled along and about an hour later we arrived in the port of Aigina. The sky was blue and the water clear. Holiday makers were trundling suitcases along the wharf. I guess I looked like one of them with my red bag on wheels and back pack. Aegina looked charming and I flt so happy to be there with Bill. The horses and carriages with tourists trotted past as we passed a few yachts till we got to Lati. She looked sweet and welcoming. I climbed over the bow and saw that Bill had bought new mats and she looked clean and homely.
It was now late in the day and the air felt crisp and cool. As the sun slowly set, we dined in a taverna across from Lati enjoying the local seafood. As the Australian dollar isn’t worth as much these days, we wouldn’t be eating out very much, even if the prices were still cheaper than in Australia. Fruit and veges are sold everywhere at little stalls including the boat lady near us. The juiciest mandarins in the world.
After 2 nights of waking up at funny times due to jetlag, I still felt tired. With a bakery a stones throw away, free wifi and a supermarket 5 minutes walk as well as the low fee of 3.50 euros a day for our spot on the quay, we were happy and comfortable.