After looking around to find a booth that sold ferry tickets (it was still a holiday), we ended up being about half an hour for the early ferry, so we went into a cafe, got some pastries, and chilled at the ferry gate. I got a big donut, which was breadier than the ones in the U.S. David got this donut that looked like a cactus and was covered in syrup. It was one of those things that you eat, but the whole time you're eating it you're like, "why am I still eating this?"
We finally got on the ferry around 9, and went to the upper deck to see the view and get some fresh air. As soon as the boat left the port, it was amazing to see how blue the water got.
Piraeus was understandably dirty, but I've never seen bluer water than the water on the way to Aegina. Also, the ferries here are more like cruises - they have lounges and a bar on the bottom deck. It's pretty nice for how much the tickets are.
It was only an hour to the island, so we took a cat nap and read/soaked in the sun. Once we got to Aegina, we found out that our hostel was on the other side of the island at Aghia Marina, so we took a taxi to get there (the wasn't going to leave for another two hours). I totally crashed on the taxi ride over, but the driver was pretty chill. It ended up being a pretty expensive ride - 14 euros vs. a 2 euro bus ride.
Once we got to Aghia Marina, we circled around for a bit trying to find the hostel. Unlike our Paris experience, though, this was during the daytime and we were on the coast with some spectacular views of the sea. It was actually pretty good because we got a chance to scope out our corner of the island and look at some good places we wanted to eat at.
Arriving at Hotel Rachel, we were happy to discover that it was only a one minute downhill walk to the "best beach on Aegina." I thought the manager, John, was just trying to sell the place, but the beach is pretty nice.
Unfortunately, our room wasn't ready so we left our backpacks behind the desk and went out for our legit seafood lunch. We got a seafood plate for two, which came with Haddock, Dorade (two types of fish), prawns, calamari, and four small fish. It was fresh and oh so good:
About 20 minutes later, it was gone and we were happy:
Too bad they don't have Dorade in the States. That was my favorite thing on the plate.
We walked back and our rooms were ready, so we dropped off our stuff, changed, and went to the beach. We swam for three hours, leaving only because the tide was coming in and clouding up the water. We laid on the sand for a little, buried some water bees, and found some pretty cool shells.
Aghia Marina is nice and peaceful, but we found out that the area is pretty small and consists mostly of tourist shops, grocery stores, hostels, and small restaurants. After swimming, we decided to head back to Aegina Marina the other side of the island to see what was up.
One crazy bus ride in the hills, and we were there. The bus ride was pretty insane (and now we know why it was so cheap) - basically, the buses here drive wrecklessly on narrow, winding two-lane roads on the side of a hill, swerving around curves and going off road if another bus comes by. The bus driver kinda looked like Otto from "The Simpsons," too.
Aegina Marina was just a large scale version of Aghia Marina, but we were craving grilled octopus so we ordered a small order (really good and not rubbery!):
While we were waiting for the octopus, we walked by a man in an alleyway with a kid (looked about four years old) lying inert across his lap. The kid was emaciated, and I felt like death when I saw him. It was even worse that the man looked completely defeated. As we walked passed and kept going, I had this strong feeling that I had to do something so I went into a store and got water for the man and milk for the kid - we were in a touristy area so there wasn't much else. But when we went back, they were gone! I felt sick, but I guess there's nothing I could have really done. I hope they're alright.
After we ate, we took the bus back to Aghia Marina. On the way to the bus we met a fascinating Greek lady named Kataryna, who we recognized because we saw her swimming near us at the beach earlier in the day (we were the furthest people out). She's over 40, but still seems young. She told us she loves to travel, and I think that's why she retained her youth. I really think that traveling = fountain of youth.
Interestingly, while we were talking to her the conversation turned to God (again...this keeps happening), and she talked about how the major religion here is the Greek Orthodox Church. The way she described it sounded pretty similar to Roman Catholocism, and although she said that she didn't follow the Orthodox church she said that sometimes she thought about God. One striking thing she said was that "all people are seeking something." I wish I had my bible on me because I could have shared Ecclesiastes 3:11 with her: "God placed eternity in man's heart."
When we got back to Aghia Marina, we went out to get gyros for dinner (again...this keeps happening). We ate them on the balcony of our room, and talked. It was pretty nice until the people in the room next to us started to smoke off of their balcony, so we went out to go get some drinks and fruit at the grocery store.
A funny thing happened when we came out of the store: Three little girls were playing at the storefront (it was family-owned), and they tried to speak to us in broken English. One pointed at us and said, "Jackie Chan?" to which the other one said "Beautiful Jackie Chans!" after we laughed at the first girl. I guess they never see Asian people out here. I like how the kids aren't shy here. People love kids in Greece, and we've even seen old people on buses get up to give their seats to children. It's really sweet.
Another thing that surprised me is how crazy the work hours are here on the island. It was after 11 when we went to the store, so we asked the owner what time he starts in the morning. "7 AM," he said. The hostel managers, John and Maria, who we've gotten to be good friends with, have similar hours (they own a shop attached to the lobby). Even though they work all day, people here seem happier. I wonder what makes life here different from the States. Maybe it's the lack of traffic or the proximity to nice beaches. Whatever it is, I would love to live here some day.
When we got back to the hostel, it was still nice out so we walked to the beach to watch the moon rise.
It was calm, and eerily peaceful. We watched eddies created by schools of fish, which disturbed the dark water under the moonlight. Then we walked along the coast as the tide rose, putting the island to sleep.
We realized that it was getting late, so we went to the hostel, showered off, and soon I was out like a light. It's pretty weird, but I've gotten some of my best nights of sleep and worst nights of sleep on this trip.
I have to say that it was an awesome day.
Interestingly, while we were talking to her the conversation turned to God (again...this keeps happening), and she talked about how the major religion here is the Greek Orthodox Church. The way she described it sounded pretty similar to Roman Catholocism, and although she said that she didn't follow the Orthodox church she said that sometimes she thought about God. One striking thing she said was that "all people are seeking something." I wish I had my bible on me because I could have shared Ecclesiastes 3:11 with her: "God placed eternity in man's heart."
When we got back to Aghia Marina, we went out to get gyros for dinner (again...this keeps happening). We ate them on the balcony of our room, and talked. It was pretty nice until the people in the room next to us started to smoke off of their balcony, so we went out to go get some drinks and fruit at the grocery store.
A funny thing happened when we came out of the store: Three little girls were playing at the storefront (it was family-owned), and they tried to speak to us in broken English. One pointed at us and said, "Jackie Chan?" to which the other one said "Beautiful Jackie Chans!" after we laughed at the first girl. I guess they never see Asian people out here. I like how the kids aren't shy here. People love kids in Greece, and we've even seen old people on buses get up to give their seats to children. It's really sweet.
Another thing that surprised me is how crazy the work hours are here on the island. It was after 11 when we went to the store, so we asked the owner what time he starts in the morning. "7 AM," he said. The hostel managers, John and Maria, who we've gotten to be good friends with, have similar hours (they own a shop attached to the lobby). Even though they work all day, people here seem happier. I wonder what makes life here different from the States. Maybe it's the lack of traffic or the proximity to nice beaches. Whatever it is, I would love to live here some day.
When we got back to the hostel, it was still nice out so we walked to the beach to watch the moon rise.
It was calm, and eerily peaceful. We watched eddies created by schools of fish, which disturbed the dark water under the moonlight. Then we walked along the coast as the tide rose, putting the island to sleep.
We realized that it was getting late, so we went to the hostel, showered off, and soon I was out like a light. It's pretty weird, but I've gotten some of my best nights of sleep and worst nights of sleep on this trip.
I have to say that it was an awesome day.
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