Krstarenje grčkim morima / Cruising the Greek seas
If you also have yacht staff available, who at every moment appear beside you just like the genie of Aladdin’s lamp, when- ever you need a coffee and a refreshing drink, then you have a pretty good idea of what paradise is like. Variety Cruises, the company that hosted me on this trip, led us on a tour of three islands near Athens. We toured part of the Saronic Gulf, which stretches from the west coast of the penin- sula of Attica and the eastern coast of the Peloponnese. To the south, the bay opens to the sea, while in the north it ends at the Isthmus of Corinth, today’s Corinth Canal. The boat carried us to Egina, Hydra and Poros and, as all those who’ve been lucky enough to have the opportunity to tour Greece and its islands know, each was magical in its own way. And each was com- pletely different. The Athenian resort islet of Egina welcomed us with tavernas and small boats, horse-drawn carriages that drive to the monastery in the hills and spe- cialities made of pistachios. Egina is an is- land covered with fir trees, among whose peaks protrude the ruins of the famous temple to the goddess Athena. Alongside
this magnificent temple, the centre of reli- gious life on the island, the Church of Saint Nectarios, also deserves attention. This is an ideal holiday location for those who want to stay near a big city but who don’t want anything to disturb their peace and quiet; to enjoy local food, wine and pistachios. But don’t drop anchor just yet! We’re moving on and arriving at Hydra, a totally surreal island, like a net embedded in rocks, without a single car because motor vehicles are prohibited there. Stop and try to feel the peaceful, unrushed lifestyle of the local peo- ple, whose days pass like in a parallel world – without crowds, rushing and noise. If you head somewhere, you’ll do so on foot or on the back of a good donkey. Hydra caught me and I hope to encounter it again one day. While the romantic port disappears from my view, I have no time for lament- ing and long goodbyes, because we are arriving at Poros. This island is so close to the coast of the Peloponnese that it seems you could swim the distance without diffi- culty. For history buffs, the north of the is- land contains the ruins of the Temple of Po- seidon. There are also many small taverns,
cafés, shops and galleries, but on this rock, just like on Hydra, time seems to stand still. Five days passed like the blink of an eye, and there were so many impressions that it seemed like I’d been on three holi- days. While I take off again and the plane swallows the kilometres to Belgrade, I have the answers to all questions and concerns, but also a firm belief that I will never again spend a holiday in a little room anywhere. The best thing about a cruise is that your room goes with you, so there’s no repack- ing of suitcases, dragging luggage around and chasing taxis. Your boat sails with you and, like all adventurers eager to see more, you go wherever you want. This is the right choice for all those who get bored of lying on a beach for ten days. The hosts from Va- riety Cruises, a company that has combined adventure, service, luxury and sailing the seas and oceans of the entire world since 1968, attempted and succeeded in mak- ing me a fanatical lover of sailing. But you shouldn’t take my word for it. Board a boat and sail into your own adventure. And you’ll see that summer holidays will never be the same again...
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