Only 45 minutes from the Port of Piraeus lies a precious little island, Aegina. Home to 10,000 Greeks, the island's authentic Greek culture and lifestyle, beautiful beaches, and historical sites (like the Temple of Aphaia) makes for a perfect getaway.

Aegina, whose name is pronounced with a "h" sound from the throat, is a beautiful treasure, safely shielded from mass tourism. Its shores are lined with pastel-coloured houses and cafes filled with locals chatting the day away. Like most residents by the shore, people here seem to have no worries and spend most of their time lounging in the sun.

On a cool morning, I boarded the ferry for Aegina, the closest Greek island to Athens. Even at dawn, the Port was already bustling with island residents making the daily commute to work on the mainland. As the ship pulled away from the harbour and towards Paradise, the city glowed in the sun.