The Path Ways of Hydra
By Helen Grubner. Filed in Uncategorized |
Monastery of St. Nicholaos, Hydra
Today is definitely my last on Hydra – last night purchased my ticket to the island of Spetses departing at 1015 hours tomorrow on the Flying Dolphin 18. Awaiting an email reply from Mexis Studios regarding my accommodation there.
Last evening dined at Taverna Barbar-Dimas, complete with resident puppy Lisa and the usual cluster of cats. Quaint little place with a very pleasant ambiance. Food and wine okay and certainly not expensive. Returned there today for lunch after my lengthy walk. Last evening several large yachts were moored in the harbour and as I sat at Barbar-Dimas, staff from another Taverna were extremely busy ferrying glasses and who knows what else in small carts, up and down to the harbour – apparently 500 people to cater for – that should go some small way to helping the Greek economy. Beautiful, beautiful children playing in the street with the most angelic faces. The feeling here is very much of being a safe haven. 2100 hours and the children still outside playing. At Erofili Pension, vacant rooms are left open all day to air, luggage is left in the office easily accessible from the street and my washing left hanging in the courtyard for anyone to take if they wanted to.
Today saw me setting off just before 1000 hours on a 3 plus hour walk to Paradise. Had intended only to go as far as the Monasteries St. Triada and St. Matrona, however, in a mood for further exploration I carried on to the Monastery of St. Nicholaos. So peaceful and quiet and the stillness – broken only from time to time by nature as a lizard scurries away from my path or the sound of a donkey in the distance. Reaching St. Nicholaos one is greeted by the most amazing vista that has you looking out to sea on the other side of the island. There I spoke with a couple from Paris who have been visiting Hydra for 15 – 18 years and particularly enjoy being here for the Easter celebrations. They walked on further as I made my way up to and inside the Monastery – not a living soul to be seen. If the monks were there I certainly never saw them. Sat on the Monastery steps to eat the best tasting orange ever! The entire experience well worth the journey. On my return to Hydra town, I found St. Triada to be locked and so, decided not to take on the hike up to St. Matrona which in all likelihood, was probably also closed. On the way back down I passed a group of four from Scotland, Bulgaria, America and I forget where the other person was from, they were walking to Mandraki. An opportunity to have someone take a photograph of me.
I feel blessed to have had the experience.
Sunday, May 2nd 2010 at 6:03 am |
Hi Helen,
I have finally logged on, its Sunday evening, and had a lovely read starting at the beginning -a long and most enjoyable read. You have definitely tempted me now. Greece is at the top of my list for next trip and this website will be very useful for reference. Congratulations on getting to grips with everything technical. Love some of your images, so picturesque and colourful. I note you have sleeves on in most of the pictures, so the temperatures must be comfortable and not too hot. The food you mention makes me salivate, sounds devine. I will look forward to further episodes of this epistle. Happy travels. Lynn