Day 12 - Hydra Port
Hydra is a small, hilly and totally charming island in the Saronic Gulf .
The island can be both busy and bustling and quiet and idyllic.
When we first arrived on our ferry, it was busy as the cruise ship visitors were leaving.
But once these visitors departed, the true Hydra was revealed.
Motorized vehicles are not allowed in Hydra except for a garbage truck and ambulance.
You can walk anywhere without having to worry about vehicles, but be on the look out for mules and ponies as these beasts of burden carry supplies up the hills from the wharf.
And there are cats, lots and lots of cats!
The island can be both busy and bustling and quiet and idyllic.
When we first arrived on our ferry, it was busy as the cruise ship visitors were leaving.
But once these visitors departed, the true Hydra was revealed.
Motorized vehicles are not allowed in Hydra except for a garbage truck and ambulance.
You can walk anywhere without having to worry about vehicles, but be on the look out for mules and ponies as these beasts of burden carry supplies up the hills from the wharf.
And there are cats, lots and lots of cats!
We walked around the harbour and enjoyed the sights of the bastions with cannons that were used for the protection of the harbour.
Golden Hour
And in the beautiful, golden hour light, we followed a path (of course) around the coast
to a small harbour and then ambled back through the streets.
And in the beautiful, golden hour light, we followed a path (of course) around the coast
to a small harbour and then ambled back through the streets.
Supper in Hydra!
Ostria restaurant was excellent! We ate feta stuffed peppers, grilled sea bream and shrimp.
I was taken into the kitchen to pick my fish from the chef's catch of the day.
A fellow diner highly recommended that we visit a restaurant in a small village along the coast. She didn't remember the name but said it had 'green artificial turf' and the best sardines we would ever taste!
Of course, some of the many cats of Hydra milled around hoping for a scrap!
Ostria restaurant was excellent! We ate feta stuffed peppers, grilled sea bream and shrimp.
I was taken into the kitchen to pick my fish from the chef's catch of the day.
A fellow diner highly recommended that we visit a restaurant in a small village along the coast. She didn't remember the name but said it had 'green artificial turf' and the best sardines we would ever taste!
Of course, some of the many cats of Hydra milled around hoping for a scrap!
Morning on the docks of Hydra!
We enjoyed our morning coffee and watched the workers unloading supplies from the boats.
Fresh water is in high demand on Hydra. A huge amount of water is brought to the island.
The supplies are packed onto the mules, or ponies and transported up into the hills to restaurants, grocery stores and private homes.
Fresh water is in high demand on Hydra. A huge amount of water is brought to the island.
The supplies are packed onto the mules, or ponies and transported up into the hills to restaurants, grocery stores and private homes.
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We hiked along a scenic path to visit some of the little villages along the coast.
We walked over the stone bridge of Vlychos and hiked on to Paralia Palamidas.
We turned around at this point and headed back to Vlychos Plakes Beach in search of the restaurant with the 'green artificial turf'!
We turned around at this point and headed back to Vlychos Plakes Beach in search of the restaurant with the 'green artificial turf'!
Happily, after a bit of searching, we found it!
It was the delightful Enalion restaurant and the sardines were really the absolute best you will ever eat!
It was the delightful Enalion restaurant and the sardines were really the absolute best you will ever eat!
Refreshed and rested it was time to find our way back. This time we followed a path inland back to our hotel.