Saronikós Kólpos (Saronic Gulf) - Σαρωνικός κόλπος
Nísos Póros (Νήσος Πόρος)
Wednesday August 10 - Sunday 14 18nm, 4hrs
Free anchorage in Navy Bay in 16m with 60m of chain
Ziggy leaves for Athens Friday 12
Wednesday August 10 - Sunday 14 18nm, 4hrs
Free anchorage in Navy Bay in 16m with 60m of chain
Ziggy leaves for Athens Friday 12
Wednesday
Last month we had contact via email with friends we'd met through the MedNet in 2019, Lulu and Gary from SV Lulu, and Jackie and Mel from SV Feisty. We knew they’d been in Poros for a while and were planning to stay until at least the end of the month, and we’d informed them we were heading their way, ETA roughly Wednesday. The wind was strong but didn’t look like easing for a few days, so we settled in for a boisterous sail...and that it was...for four hours. There were strong gusts that I SWEAR nearly tipped us over. Luckily Beneteaus are self-righting so I need not worry.
It was so great sailing through the channel and remembering all the sites from when we were here last, like the the remains of a 19th century fort on the island of Bourtzi as you enter the port of the island of Poros.
We anchored in 16m right next to SV Lulu, and although I hollered out to Lulu herself as we anchored, who was sunning herself in the cockpit, she didn’t hear me so I resorted to email to contact her. She had made a booking at Taverna Rota for 20:30 for the six of us, and said one extra would be no problem (we hadn't mentioned we had a second mate). Lulu reserved with Christos so he would serve our table. He was very friendly and helpful, and even drew me a picture to explain the Lamb Kleftiko in a claypot. We had an unbelievable feast, and the company was delightful. It was wonderful to catch up with those folks. They always have such interesting stories to share AND know the best restaurants. Zig regaled us all with tales from Paros and beyond, and it was a night of a lot of food and a lot of laughter. Christos brought complimentary baklava to make up for some bad timing with the meals, and not being a girl to say no to dessert I had mine and Zig’s, since he doesn’t eat it. There was so much food we left with 5 take-away boxes of lamb, chicken wings and salad. A second feast for tomorrow!
As we entered Navy Bay we stopped to pick up a plastic bag in the water, knowing they are deadly to turtles who eat them thinking they are jellyfish. We were rewarded by seeing a turtle surface close to the boat.
Thursday
In an attempt to comply with Transit Log rules (which are vague and variable at best) Colin and I tried to check in at the Port Authority while Zig bought his ferry ticket. However, we were told we could not check in because we hadn’t yet checked out of Porto Kheli! This was a mystery to me because I thought handing the Transit Log in to Customs at the end of 2019 would have been enough to check us out of anywhere. Not so, however, and we were instructed, albeit nicely, to return to Porto Kheli, check out, then return to Póros to check in. The logic, which we didn’t previously understand, was that the boat was checked into Porto Kheli in 2019 and had stayed in the area since, so we had to check out of there to officially start our cruising season. Seems quite obvious when you think about it.
Saturday
A big night in Póros. All the cafes and restaurants were heaving and the waterfront tables were alive with people partying. We had a booking for dinner at Primasera, and walked with Jackie and Mel from the dock to the restaurant on the other side of town. On the way I had to exchange an oven mitt I had bought earlier in the day along with a cloth bowl. When we got to the restaurant and I showed the others, Gary’s comment was, “I wondered who bought all that crap.” Wonder no more Gary. Jackie was more polite and just said it wasn’t her thing, but Lulu gave me the New York word for it, “dreck”, meaning trash. I was not in the least offended, and it set us up for an entertaining conversation via WhatsApp the following day.
Primasera (first evening) is apparently a provincial saying meaning the last fishing trawl, made with the last light of the day. Ordering only appetisers to share (but an abundance of them) we all managed to save room for ice cream at Vessalá, best ice cream in Greece as judged by aficionados Michael and Daniel from SV Splendido in 2019. I had really talked it up so I was desperately hoping it could live up to expectations, and it did. I’ve never seen a long line there, but it was out of the shop and down the street. Perhaps because it was Saturday night.
Click images to enlarge
Last month we had contact via email with friends we'd met through the MedNet in 2019, Lulu and Gary from SV Lulu, and Jackie and Mel from SV Feisty. We knew they’d been in Poros for a while and were planning to stay until at least the end of the month, and we’d informed them we were heading their way, ETA roughly Wednesday. The wind was strong but didn’t look like easing for a few days, so we settled in for a boisterous sail...and that it was...for four hours. There were strong gusts that I SWEAR nearly tipped us over. Luckily Beneteaus are self-righting so I need not worry.
It was so great sailing through the channel and remembering all the sites from when we were here last, like the the remains of a 19th century fort on the island of Bourtzi as you enter the port of the island of Poros.
We anchored in 16m right next to SV Lulu, and although I hollered out to Lulu herself as we anchored, who was sunning herself in the cockpit, she didn’t hear me so I resorted to email to contact her. She had made a booking at Taverna Rota for 20:30 for the six of us, and said one extra would be no problem (we hadn't mentioned we had a second mate). Lulu reserved with Christos so he would serve our table. He was very friendly and helpful, and even drew me a picture to explain the Lamb Kleftiko in a claypot. We had an unbelievable feast, and the company was delightful. It was wonderful to catch up with those folks. They always have such interesting stories to share AND know the best restaurants. Zig regaled us all with tales from Paros and beyond, and it was a night of a lot of food and a lot of laughter. Christos brought complimentary baklava to make up for some bad timing with the meals, and not being a girl to say no to dessert I had mine and Zig’s, since he doesn’t eat it. There was so much food we left with 5 take-away boxes of lamb, chicken wings and salad. A second feast for tomorrow!
As we entered Navy Bay we stopped to pick up a plastic bag in the water, knowing they are deadly to turtles who eat them thinking they are jellyfish. We were rewarded by seeing a turtle surface close to the boat.
Thursday
In an attempt to comply with Transit Log rules (which are vague and variable at best) Colin and I tried to check in at the Port Authority while Zig bought his ferry ticket. However, we were told we could not check in because we hadn’t yet checked out of Porto Kheli! This was a mystery to me because I thought handing the Transit Log in to Customs at the end of 2019 would have been enough to check us out of anywhere. Not so, however, and we were instructed, albeit nicely, to return to Porto Kheli, check out, then return to Póros to check in. The logic, which we didn’t previously understand, was that the boat was checked into Porto Kheli in 2019 and had stayed in the area since, so we had to check out of there to officially start our cruising season. Seems quite obvious when you think about it.
Saturday
A big night in Póros. All the cafes and restaurants were heaving and the waterfront tables were alive with people partying. We had a booking for dinner at Primasera, and walked with Jackie and Mel from the dock to the restaurant on the other side of town. On the way I had to exchange an oven mitt I had bought earlier in the day along with a cloth bowl. When we got to the restaurant and I showed the others, Gary’s comment was, “I wondered who bought all that crap.” Wonder no more Gary. Jackie was more polite and just said it wasn’t her thing, but Lulu gave me the New York word for it, “dreck”, meaning trash. I was not in the least offended, and it set us up for an entertaining conversation via WhatsApp the following day.
Primasera (first evening) is apparently a provincial saying meaning the last fishing trawl, made with the last light of the day. Ordering only appetisers to share (but an abundance of them) we all managed to save room for ice cream at Vessalá, best ice cream in Greece as judged by aficionados Michael and Daniel from SV Splendido in 2019. I had really talked it up so I was desperately hoping it could live up to expectations, and it did. I’ve never seen a long line there, but it was out of the shop and down the street. Perhaps because it was Saturday night.
Click images to enlarge
The Archeological Museum
Founded in the 1960s, the Archaeological Museum of Poros is located in Korizi Square and displays artifacts excavated on the island, in the neighbouring coasts of Peloponnese, in Methana and Troezen. Most of the artifacts date from the Mycenaean to the Roman times.
Click images to enlarge
Click images to enlarge
The Clock Tower
The Poros Clock Tower of Poros was built in 1927 and is an imposing feature on the island. It’s a bit of a climb, but the streets on the way up and the view from the top are definitely worth it. We decided Zig shouldn’t miss it.
Click images to enlarge
Click images to enlarge