22 March 2025 – Poros

Miles driven today = 65

Total Miles to date = 2,216

This morning we did the campsite equivalent of leaving our towels on a sunlounger.  We scattered camping chairs, levelling ramps, our hook up cable and doormat around our pitch so that any newcomers would have no doubt that it was already taken.  And then we took ourselves off for a day out.

We drove 40km down the coast to Galatas where we left the van in a large car park on the seafront before jumping aboard one of the many little passenger ferries which took us on the 350 metre crossing to Poros.

Poros is actually 2 separate islands.  The main town takes up the majority of one small island which is separated by a narrow canal from the much larger but considerably less inhabited island of Kalaureia.

There’s not a great deal here in the way of tourist attractions other than the Clock Tower sitting atop its rocky perch and a small archeological museum.

The attraction is rather more in the leisurely ambience of the place and its many tavernas and restaurants.

Having perused a few of the quayside shops and bought myself a new cap we took a wander up the steps into the older part of the town.

Somebody has a fine crop of lemons ripening in the Sun.

We’ve seen lots of Churches decked out with flags.  I’m not sure if this is specifically for the run up to Easter.  Most of them are usually in the national colours of blue and white but somebody had got hold of a set of marine alphabet signaling flags for this one.

Up and up we climbed.  Surely that Clock Tower must be around here somewhere.

Ah there it is! Apparently it’s the place where all the cool kids hang out on a Saturday.

Great views though across the rooftops of Poros Town.

And also looking across to Galatas and beyond on the mainland.

Another hilltop chapel.  It’s been a constant source of amusement how the Greeks build them in the most inaccessible places.  “Just off to Church, love”.  “OK, see you next week & don’t forget your climbing gear”.

Time for another double portion of those fabulously gungy Greek coffees in one of several sheltered little squares.

Then a walk along the seafront on the other side of town. Poros is a bit of a yachty magnet with millions of Euros of maritime hardware moored up around the town.

We’d promised ourselves lunch while we were here and perused several menus before settling for a Taverna called The Sailor.  Lisa’s apparently nautical attire was entirely coincidental.

Something wasn’t quite right.  I love dolmades but we’ve been in Greece for a whole month and I hadn’t had any to date.  So it was time to sort that out and no mistake.

But it probably wasn’t the most sensible time to go for something rice based along with bread and dips and a portion of chips before the main course arrived.  I had a huge swordfish steak while Lisa went for a mixed fish skewer of swordfish, tuna and salmon. We’ve been used to most fish dishes turning up with half a tomato and a few salad leaves but today we got assorted veg with yet more rice and potatoes.  And then of course there is the complimentary cake and ice cream to follow.  No need to worry about tea for us again tonight!

We waddled back along the quayside to the ferry and headed back to the van but rather than driving straight back to the campsite I suggested on a whim that we go and have a quick look at Methana (the volcanic almost an island attached to the mainland by a narrow ridge of land) en-route.  I assured Lisa it wasn’t much of a detour and the road wouldn’t be very wriggly but I hadn’t done any prior research and I was wildly wrong on both counts.  What’s more when we got there we found the town of Methana didn’t really have much to detain us for more than long enough to take a few photos and jump back in the van.  Plus it has a rather abandoned looking spa with hot water springs so the place had a rather eggy aroma about it to boot.

So all in all we’ve done a whopping 65 miles today and yet ultimately ended up in exactly the same place we were last night.  It’s nice though.  We may just stay another night.

23 March 2025 - Archaia Epidauros