Hydra Harbour

Hydra harbour is always a central part of a holiday on the island. As soon as dawn breaks the harbour is bustling with everything from timber to armchairs being off loaded and taken by mule or donkey to different parts of the town. Fish are sold from the local fishermans ‘caique’ but you need to be up early to buy them! By 11.00 o clock the hustle and bustle has died down and the donkeys are dressed to take the tourists or their luggage to their hotels. You can sit in tranquillity in the many bars and restaurants for morning coffee, gazing at the large yachts’ as they go in and out, watching the day trippers arrive from Piraeus, or meeting friends for lunch. Nothing moves very fast as the sun gets hotter and the day moves from long lazy lunches to cool siestas. Not until late afternoon does the harbour become alive again and you can sit in a bar and watch the sun go down with an ouzo or a cocktail. Alternatively take a walk to Kamini!

Kamini

Kamini is a small fishing village a short stroll from Hydra harbour with its own bars and restaurants but quiet compared to the noisy bustle of the main harbour. You can walk round the coast, stopping at the Sunset bar for fantastic views of the sunset or a refreshing swim! There is a beach known as Micro Kamini if you prefer pebbles and sand to rock, or you can walk on to Vlichos which offers a sandier  beach with parasols, sun beds and of course restaurants! If you are feeling energetic you can continue walking to Palimidas the boatyard and a place of olive groves and pine trees, where the path takes you up through the pine trees to Episkopi at the east end of the island. This is an ancient settlement which still has a small community who live simply, riding into town once in awhile with their mules for provisions. At the western end of the island is the light house of Zouvas, a long walk and not for the faint hearted!

Festivals

The religious festivities of Greece are famous for their rich and colourful character; whether it is the dramatic ceremonies of Theofania, when young men dive into the sea to retrieve the cross, thrown there by the bishop during the blessing of the waters; the sombre ritual of Great (Good) Friday with its funeral processions for the dead Christ; the noisy celebrations of the Resurrection at midnight on Easter Day; or the many Panagiria (festival of the Dormition) held in tiny rustic chapels across the island. Best of all is Carnival when everyone dresses up and parades through the town and Miaoulis when a ship is set alight outside the harbour setting off a spectacular firework display to celebrate the Greek hero whose fire ships destroyed the Turkish fleet.

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