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A Perfect Day Trip to Hydra

23/1/18

 As a 25-year-old man, Leonard Cohen wrote “Like a bird on the wire” while living in Hydra, along with Marianne, his famous lover and other musicians and artists. In the early 60s, Hydra was a magnet for bohemians, intellectuals, writers, painters and poets. Here Leonard discovered the serenity he sought after, an atmosphere of freedom and excitement, the Greek way of life, rhythm, love and inspiration for his work.

Like a bird on the wire 
like a drunk in a midnight choir 
I have tried in my way to be free

LEONARD COHEN 

 

Hydra belongs to a group of islands called the Saronic islands, an hour drive from Athens. There is no vehicle on the island, the only transportation is with TAXI-BOATS.

 

What’s in Hydra you ask?

Tons of winding trails for walking, luxurious villas, indulging hotels, nightlife and cafes.

Hidden valleys, monasteries, tiny beaches, and endless magic.

The town is built from stone with luxurious Italian-Venetian houses, on the side of the mountain surrounding the amphitheater in the harbor. The center of the town is the port of boats and yachts and the surrounding promenade, a large part of the town houses serve as hotels and apartments for rent for vacationers. From the port, narrow streets climb into the interior of the town.





Me and my partner arrived in Hydra for a short day visit using a taxi-boat from Agistri. Our ‘travel guide’ for this day was Leonard Cohen’s biography and poems.

 


As we approached the port, I recalled Leonard Cohen’s description of the splendor of the little harbor in Hydra:

Everything looked right there: the horseshoe-shaped bay, the steep hills surrounding it, and the whitewashed houses on the hills, the island looking like a Greek amphitheater and its houses evoked the thought of old men in white robes sitting straight in rows, and the story of the day-to-day drama: boats wading idly in the waves, cats sleeping on the rocks, young men celebrating the day, fish and sponges, sun burnt old men sitting under the taverns’ roofs, talking and arguing.

(“The Life of Leonard Cohen, Sylvie Simmons”).

 

 

Modern day’s Hydra is no different from this description, modern cafes were added to the harbor and small boutique shops, but the dramatic entrance to the harbor describes exactly what I felt when I first saw Hydra.

 

 After a brief tour of the harbor and a stroll through the narrow and picturesque alleys of HYDRA TOWN, we continued with the boat along

the beach. Throughout the voyage we were escorted by the powerful and fascinating sight of houses down the hills and boats

What to do in Hydra

 

  • On the left and right of the port there are steps which you can use to climb up the picturesque alleys along the wall that once protected the city. Above you can look out over the harbor and the see the view of the anchored boats and small yachts.
  • Explore the harbor, tour the tourist shops, and visit the island museum of Hydra.
  •  The picturesque narrow alleys of the stone will bring you to the ancient area of the city, to the medieval fortress where you can look out over the landscape of the Peloponnese.
  • For swimming and diving at sea, it is recommended to get to Hydroneta or Mandraki beach, 2 km east of the town. Other recommended beaches: A short distance away, Avlaki beach or Mikro Kamini is ideal for children and water sports

 

 

 

We ate lunch at the Marina Taverna, an excellent restaurant with fantastic views and delicious food. No doubt the visit to Hydra was too short and I plan to make a longer visit. Updates will follow …

 

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Photos: lilach finkelberg Ioannis D. Giannakopoulos  Ioannis D. Giannakopoulos

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