Hydra - the South Side

There were two places we wanted to go to on our first day in Hydra and they were both situated on the south side of the town. We walked down to the waterfront from our hotel

 

and turned left - the harbour on our right

This is a very busy part of town - lots of trendy shops along the waterfront here

steps going up

this is the first section of the harbour where all the small boats are

A fancy clothes' shop and a reference to Leonard Cohen - these references are everywhere in Hydra

Surprisingly, some vessels from one of my favourite Greek potters in the window

Vanessa Anastasopoulou

so I had to go in and have a better look.

Bars next to the shops and people sitting out

and now we're getting to the bigger boats.

We turned left

the open sea on our right

and the sailing club. Quite pricey to eat here.

They are everywhere.

We've arrived at our first destination

Spilia - the cave. There is a cave just round the corner, with a hole on top as well as one into the sea: kids used to go to the top, jump into the cave and then swim out, but it has been covered now as it was deemed too dangerous - hence the name of the bar.

It's not too busy and this is the reason the guy gives for not opening up the other section of the bar, where we like to sit.

So here will have to do.

Fantastic views of the sea

but most importantly, views of the north side of the crescent that is the town, and particularly of the hill

which increasingly gets pinker as the sun starts setting

I can also zoom in and look at the houses across the water, and the old converted mill

and this church that always looks like a face to me

We had a glass of wine each and then it was time to move on

On the right here, is where the cave is

The Sunset restaurant, and yes, you do get great sunsets here, I know, even though we have never sat here - too commercialised and busy

This is the road that leads to our next destination, the Mandraki district of Hydra

woodland

and the old mill on our left

the sea and the setting sun on our right

the Mill cafe

wide expanse of sea

it's all so beautiful

what can I say? They're everywhere

Technes - a restaurant

a new and clever addition, putting tables on either side of the path

Across the water is the Peloponnese

lots of traffic in these waters - a lot of people go to Mandraki by water taxi

I had read about this tribute to Leonard Cohen 

and here it is.

We had reached Mandraki - look at these rocks, pink by the setting sun

This taverna is open at lunchtimes only

We had reached our destination - Kodylenia's taverna

This is the main, and original taverna, but they have expanded it as you can see on the previous photograph

and with some tables on the path which is where we like to sit

and watch the setting sun - we got here just in time

and then if I get up I can see the Mandraki harbour where all the water taxis come

the stone building behind the taverna

a water taxi

I remember this girl:  she had tied a cork to a string and kept enticing the cats with it - it worked, they kept following her around

and as it grew darker, the magic increased

It's all just so beautiful

and then it gets dark - and it's just us, in the dark with the lights of the Peloponnese across the water and the lights on the yacht. Just magic.

And then it's time to go and it gets tricky, because there is no street lighting, and the road is not smooth. 

We have to rely on our torch, if we have remembered to bring one, or the light from our mobile phone otherwise

past Technes

Got to the windmill and street lights

Sunset taverna

Back into town

the sailing club

and the yacht we saw earlier. A wonderful evening.