During the concluding days of a Greek summer, my friend Nikolas from Corfu I and decided to leave Athens on a day trip and make for a nice beach. We took the train down to Piraeus and proceeded to the ticket booth. The first ferry was bound for Aegina Island, so for there were we bound, too.
Aegina is the largest of the Saronic Islands, situated 27 km away from Athens. Due to its vicinity to the capital and, of course, its beautiful and serene environs, it makes one of the top destinations, among residents of Athens and tourists alike, for a short escape from Athens on a day trip. Normally, you should be able to get your ticket at the port. But if you want to feel safer, as well as check the timetable, you may get your ticket online here.
The ferry ride lasted for a little more than an hour. Watching the city and the mountains that encircle it dwindling in my view and receding before the boundless blueness of the sea and sky had a soothing effect on my soul.
Still early morning, we disembarked at the port of Aegina’s capital town. First thing: coffee. We had a befitting-to-the-occasion frappe while watching the miscellaneous folks sauntering up and down the seaside promenade of the town.
Next thing: beach (argh… now!). We asked the coffee shop dude and he recommended that we head for Agia Marina village on the northeast of the island. No reason to not trust him, we set ambling towards the bus stop situated on the coastal road of the town. Soon enough, we were on board.
The ride was a short and pleasant one. The old bus meandered briskly up and down the scenic hill slopes in the island’s hinterland. It soon dropped us off on the opposite coast.
Agia Marina is a cute little village built along the coast of a charming bay of clear-blue waters. It has a little port of its own, several sandy beaches interspersed by white rock outcrops, and plenty of hotels and taverns.
We got on a short hike along the coast looking for an ideal spot to settle. Shade was somewhat scant. Eventually, we ended up on a rock, right in the middle of the open. We had a few jumps, swam a bit, and quickly retreated under the pines a little further inland.
So the day passed: back and forth from the sea to the shade, on a few different spots. The afternoon advanced and hunger was imperative. We sat at one of the village’s taverns and had a delicious seafood meal and ouzo while staring at the marine expanses ahead.
We caught the last bus to town and were left with a fair length of time for a pleasant sunset stroll before boarding the last ferry back. This is how this day trip from Athens to Aegina went by.
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