Time to head for a few days on an Island today so we set off to Hydra, which is apparently one of the nicest islands in the world according to the Guardian. We will see!
We get the boat from Piraeus at 10am for the two hour trip across. We stop off at Poros on way to pick up more passengers and see where Jane and Yiannis first met in the discotheque there.
We arrive in the beautiful Hydra at around midday. What a gorgeous place, tiny, vehicle-less place this is. It only has five vehicles on the whole island - a dust cart, an ambulance, two construction vehicles and randomly, a hearse. The town is set around a marina which has loads of bars and restaurants around it and then gorgeous buildings with terracotta rooftops stretching high up into the hills on the three sides.
We finally track down where our hotel is and typically it is high up the hill which is not good news in a vehiclesless town! Luckily there are lots of people offering their bag carrying services so we hire a chap to carry a few of the cases for a few of us and soon arrive at the hotel panting and sweating. The usual mode of transporting stuff around would be donkey but this guy seemed to opt to act as the donkey himself.
The steps of doom when carrying a suitcase and bags!...
After checking into our gorgeous hotel called Hydra Hotel, we head back into town for some Souvlaki which pleases me no end as it is one of my favourite Greek foods.
http://www.hydra-hotel.gr
Absolute perfection. Souvlaki, a Greek salad lunch with a large Alpha, sitting in the blazing sunshine.
Whilst having lunch we are treated to a fascinating spectacle of the local removal company at work. These poor donkeys had so much stuff on their backs.
This one not only had a double mattress but also a full length fridge freezer that was bigger than he was! (Eric don't worry, it isn't a coffin as you originally thought!)
After we go for a few more beers sat overlooking the marina at a great bar called Papagalo's, that would soon become our local.
The water was spectacular but unfortunately far too cold to go in, despite it looking so inviting.
One of the best spots on the island - sat at the bar underneath the Sunset Restaurant called Hyrdonetta. Absolute paradise.
That evening we head back to Hydronetta to watch the sunset (obviously) and then head upstairs to Sunset Restaurant for dinner.
http://www.sunsethydra.com
The meal that night was delicious. Great food, great wine and great company. And of course Y'ster found some cool lights with different settings so he was in his element!
Me, Nat and Dad then head for a few more drinks at the very cool Papagalo's for a few more 'for the road' or more accurately 'the steps'. The music was awesome in here - classic rock songs.
The next morning we woke up to another feast of a breakfast sat outside on the terrace outside our room. After breakfast we decided to walk to a hotel on the other side of the island called the Four Seasons (no relation to the actual Four Seasons mind).
The walk was absolutely beautiful with some stunning scenery. Can't believe how clear the water is here.
We wind our way around the coast for about 30 mins enjoying the lovely weather and great views.
Yet another delivery being made.
A lovey narrow bridge over a stream down from the mountains.
We arrive at the Four Seasons and spend the afternoon chilling on the pebble beach there. We are lucky with the weather as it was forecast to rain but ends up being low 20's and sunny all day.
Nice lunch in the hotel sat by the sea. Grace is on a mission to taste new foods everyday - today swordfish is on the menu (in addition to kokoratsi, mussels, squid, sea bass, liver and the really adventurous one... honey!).
Last bit of chill time before we get the boat back into town.
Not a bad retirement home.
The view up to the Sunset Restaurant from last night and the little bar underneath it.
The girls and their pimp yacht.
After another few beers in the marina its home for a quick change then back into town (once we get the mothers back down the steps!)
That evening we eat at the wonderful Omilos restaurant set on the cliff side up towards Sunset Restaurant. Yet another beatiful place with great food and surprisingly some fantastic Greek wine.
http://www.omilos-hydra.com/eng/
After dinner we all head back to Papagalo's for a few drinks
Wise words.
After this the night descended into a pretty heavy one for me, Nat and Grace. A lock in and ridiculous amount of free shots later and we carry Grace home at 3.45am :-). Hilariously as soon as we are back we see Eric appear fully clothed outside our room, followed by Y'ster in just his pants checking we got back OK! (After we tell them "chat" which is now the new code word for 'don't worry - we are absolutely fine' we head to bed).
Needless to say the next morning we are rather sluggish. Luckily we have hired a donkey to take all our stuff down to the port.
We have a little wander around town for a few hours then get the 1:30 boat back to Athens.
Such a gorgeous town.
We get back to the house at about 5:30 and after a little relax me and Dad head to Davinci's and Picadilly's for a few beers in Agia Paraskevi. We then eat at a great little Souvlaiki place and after going for a few drinks at Katarina's amazing new place we are well and truly ready for bed, very content after a great trip to a wonderful and highly recommended island.
