Thursday July 17th, 2008

Hydra (`Υδρα, pronounced Ethra) is a small and quiet island, so this will probably be a short entry. I came in not knowing anything about any of the Greek islands but knowing that I should go to at least one, and Hydra was the one that was recommended for people who enjoy hiking. The guide book went on to say what a pretty island it is, but that it is somewhat out of the way so it was not too crowded. The guide book also told me that the only vehicles on the island were garbage trucks; all other transportation occurred by donkey or mule. I had no real interest in riding a donkey or even visiting the Abbeys scattered across the island, the main temptation for me was hiking.

The boat ride over took about 2 hours. The first section of the trip was quite pretty with all the different islands rushing by. As we headed further out the islands become more scarce and the view was one of open ocean. It was nice to relax and think as the boat rocked back and forth, and it gave me a chance to get a little more writing done. When we disembarked the people offering the donkey trips were probably the first thing I noticed. A close second was the style of all the buildings – they were quite boxy, built of some white material that reflected the sunlight very strongly. The roads were cobbled, and other than the main tourist stores and restaurants on the seaside, the shops on the side streets were tucked away. Places that don’t have cars such as Hydra really make you stop and think how much room a road needs to take.

I had no specific place in mind that I wanted to hike to, so I made up my mind to follow the trails and get as high as I could without trespassing. The guide book had a couple of hikes, but they were to monasteries which I had no particular interest in seeing. I made a leisurely pace up, encountering a few friendly dogs, a goat and a few horses. The view from the top of the island was wonderful, but if I had to do it again I think I would bring a picnic.

Once I had made my way back down from the peak I decided to make my way up other smaller peaks situated downtown. These proved a little bit harder as the streets rarely went straight, and differentiating between the streets and the driveways was somewhat difficult. I think that navigating the labyrinth of city streets up some of the smaller hills was more fun (or at least fun in a different way) from heading up the mountain side.

With about two hours left on the island before the last ferry went back to Athens I started making my way around the shore. The water was a fantastic green which slowly became blue as you looked out across the ocean. I also went back to the seaside shores and bought what might well be the best milkshake I have ever had (it was certainly the most expensive!).

Find pictures of Hydra here