The Meltemi may have kept KORA tied safely to the dock… but it wasn’t about to keep us there.
With sailing off the table, we looked for another way onto the water and settled on one of Greece’s most enchanting islands – Hydra. One of the closest Saronic Islands to Athens, Hydra sits far enough west that it’s generally spared the worst of the Meltemi, making it the perfect escape while the Cyclades continued to be battered by strong winds.
A leisurely morning (the first in quite a while!) eventually gave way to a 3:00 p.m. fast ferry. Unfortunately, the ferries were also running a little late on this day. Schedules thrown about with the winds. But within the hour we were finally underway, grateful our ferry hadn’t been cancelled like many of those heading toward the Cyclades. It did, however, leave us with only a few precious hours to explore before the last ferry home departed at 8:15.
Fortunately, Hydra doesn’t waste a single minute. The moment you step off the ferry, you realize something is missing. Cars. Motorbikes. Traffic. Instead, the waterfront belongs to donkeys, mules and the occasional small horse. They carry everything – from visitors’ luggage and construction materials to crates of fruit, bottled water and supplies for the local shops. Watching a supermarket restock via donkey rather than delivery truck was something none of us ever expected to see!
Hydra is one of those places best discovered without a plan. We wandered the narrow stone alleyways, browsed little boutiques, did a little shopping, admired elegant old sea captains’ mansions, and made a few stops for photo shoots.
As the afternoon progressed, we slowly made our way toward one of the island’s swimming spots. The water was very refreshing, though perhaps a little rough. Still, that didn’t stop seveal of us from jumping in for a quick swim before drying off on the warm rocks and taking several more photos with the gorgeous backdrop.
Back in town we found a waterfront café to cool off before the girls climbed up to the island’s famous Sun Clock, where another spectacular view rewarded the extra effort.
A stop for gelato was, of course, non-negotiable. Then, instead of another restaurant meal, we picked up the freshest sandwiches imaginable from a local bakery and enjoyed them by the harbour while watching the evening light settle over the island.
Before we knew it, it was time to board the ferry back to Athens. It had been a simple, yet most perfect day! Though we all noted that Hydra was somewhere you could come and spend a week, exploring its many hiking trails, wondering the streets, and visiting its other beaches.
