Hi all,
We have booked a two week vacation the first two weeks of September.
So excited....

the first week we will be island hopping. Looking at Santorini, Mykinos????

the second week we join a flotilla with sea fairer out of Poros doing this route ( Poros, Hydra, Plaka, Astros, Spetses, Ermioni, back to Poros)

doing some research now but wanted to ask ...if you had a week to bumm around the Greek isles what would you do.?

our flotilla week is pretty set so not much flexibility for night stops but may have some leeway during the daytime...We co own a 52. Jeanneau in the BVI so are pretty low maintenance and prefer the off the beaten path, local places to stay.

also thinking we might want to explore the Corinth canal the day we arrive in Athens...Is this worth doing?

...any and all advice very much appreciated <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Go to Rhodes. We missed it and i've regretted it since. We also loved both Mykonos and Santorini. Sounds like you are planning a great trip.
,

Hi have a look at "Come with Me Vicki's Travel Diary" it is on travellerspoint.....scroll down to Greece.....kate <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/canada.gif" alt="" />

Kim,

It has been a few years since we visited the Greek Isles, but we to traveled for 2 weeks in September and maybe some of the info is still relevant. After arriving in Athens, we spent three days in the city. Our hotel was a couple blocks from the base of the Acropolis, and sitting on the balcony at night looking at this marvel will remain etched into my mind forever. Even using the subway, buses, taxi and your feet there is no way you can covered the city in a few days � don�t try.



We did not spend much time in the museums because we were too busy taking in everything around us. We enjoyed the city market and of course did spend most of day on and around the Acropolis. I would discourage you from trying to plan too much day one. Once you arrive at Athens Airport it is still quite a trip to the city. There are always strike of some kind and we arrived it was the taxi drivers turn. I was glad that I had done my homework and knew what public bus to take into town. That was an hour plus bus ride that we will never forget. I am sure you have found it, but a guy named Matt Barrett has a web site that has all sorts of good info. http://www.greektravel.com/

The primary part of our trip was a chartered Motor/Sail Boat that was 140 feet for 10 couples.
We departed from Athens, with the goal to explore the Cyclades, but due to some high winds and strange weather, we ended up turning left and heading SW to Peloponnesian Islands.




First stop was Poros. Amazing small island that is literally a small bridge away from the mainland. The famous the clock tower that stands above the island, is worth the hike up for the view. While up there late at night, we heard music below and headed back down the hill to find the source. A couple and their wedding party were celebrating their 25th anniversary. My wife and I and another couple were invited to join in the celebration. Great dancing � lots of wine and ouzo � followed by some broken plates. What a start for our week underway.



The next day we set out for Septses. At every port during the week trip, the boat used a Mediterranean Mooring style of docking. The stern is tied to dock and a anchor is used off the bow. Great space saver, but because of high winds and their direction, we could not stay in Septses at the mooring spot assigned. The few hours we were there, we really enjoyed it. Met some very nice people and enjoyed walking the streets. The winds continued to get worst, so in the afternoon we motored over to Port Heli for the night. We did not like the place at all. Not sure why, but it was the only real down day of the week. However, it did provide a safe harbor for the high winds. In the morning everybody ganged up on the Capt and said we do not care where we go� just get us out of Port Heli.

The winds were still high and erratic so we headed north up into the Argolic Gulf to the town of Navplion. (you will find these town spelled multiple ways � not sure which is right). Navplion to this day is one of my favorite places I have ever visited. We spent two nights there and just fell in love with the place. Took some great hikes, ate AMAZING food, and truly enjoyed this harbor town.



Finally, the weather broke and we were got underway at 3 am for a long voyage (under motor) from Navplion to the island of Kythnos. Probably the most authentic place we visited in Greece of days gone by. When we arrived there were 20 tourist total on the island, and they all stepped off our boat.



We headed into the mountains to small village, which seem like time had forgotten. No motor vehicles could maneuver in the town with the extremely narrow streets and very low crossover over the walking paths. A man on a donkey would have to get off and walk under some of the crossovers. The village is known for their basket making, but it is definitely a dying art. The only people you saw were very very old and very young. The working generations had all left the village to work in Athens where jobs were more plentiful - at least that is the story we got.

The next day was Kythnos to Tinos. Tinos is a very sacred place in the Orthodox religion. The famous church, Panagia Evangelistria is beautiful, and is a pilgrimage site for the faithful. You will see people of all ages on their hands and knees crawling on stone and shelled road to the church. If you make there definitely take a ride around the island. It is photographer�s paradise with 100s of windmills to be capture. There are some excellent restaurants along the harbor�s main street. The guys stayed up most of the night drinking Ouzo on deck after the ladies retired. It make the transit to Syros, the capital of the Cyclades, a little difficult.

Syros is a busy island. It is a government center and has a major port and shipyard. The guys still not feeling all that well from the night before, a group of us headed across the island to a wonderful beach for fresh air and a nap in the sand. Never really saw much of the island, but boy does their sand sleep well. The high winds returned not allowing our boat to return safely to Athens, so it was a ferry ride back from Syros. We had built in an extra three days with nothing planned, and since we did not get to go to Santorini we caught a ferry to the magical place, while everybody else headed home to Athens. There is tons of stuff out there on Santorini and it is all true. One of those places that was so special I am not sure I will ever return because I want to remember it the way it was.

Enjoy your trip! If you have never been, be prepared to eat better than you have ever in your life.

My recommendations would be:
Make sure Navplion is on the itinerary
Order Saganaki (fried cheese) everyday
Listen for Music� it always leads to fun
Bring some VERY GOOD walking shoes
Do not drink Ouzo all night long to watch a sunrise
And sometimes less is more when you are doing your planning - especially in Greece... Just let it happen.

The meltemi. Boy do I remember those winds.
And if you can, go to Aegina, near Piraeus.
Best pistachios in the world. Pistachio ice cream with pistachio syrup and crushed pistachio.
OMG
Kali tihi!
irina

I loved Aegina. It's the only place I have ever seen pistachios growing...amazing

Hey there Kim,

I know this post is already some weeks old, and you may already be on your way to the Greek Islands. Just in case ...

I was a (young) charter skipper based out of Kalamaki Marina in Athens for one summer during my university years.

Admittedly, that was 25 years ago, and the islands have changed like everything else. But couple of things to keep in mind perhaps. Sailing in July, August and early September means you have to face the famous Meltemi wind, which can build up to 5 to 7 Bft for days. Usually it kicks in during the early afternoon. Blue skies and blue waters, but one hell of a wind, so be prepared! Invigorating sailing though, as long as you don't have to slog up wind all the time ... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Being based in Kalamaki, I usually offered guests itineraries which included the Aegean islands, including Aegina, Poros, Spetzes and Hydra. Aegina was already touristy then, and probably worse now. The other was gorgeous and real quaint. Hydra is amazing! Except for the infamous Mediterranean mooring circus in its very narrow harbour. Yachts moor typically stern to shore, and in Hydra on both opposite sides of the narrow harbour. So imagine the amount of anchors lying in the middle .. and the inevitable crossed anchor lines ... great entertainment every morning when boats leaving the port drag along half the fleet opposite them!

The Cyclades are also fantastic ... Kythnos, Syfnos, Kea,etc. Great little harbour villages with tavernas right off your boat!

And then there is Santorini. I would definitely consider spending some time on what is truly a magical place ... the views are unbeatable!

Enjoy it to the fullest!