The Island of Hydra

The long boatride from Athens, traverses a bumpy and somewhat rough part of the Aegean Sea into the Island of Hydra. After a two hour ride at sea, we finally arrive at the port town on the island of Hydra. After unloading from the boat we make our way through the maze-like streets of Hydra and reach our hotel. After settling in, I walk around the town a bit to see what Hydra has to offer. After a bit of exploring we check back at the hotel for lunch and head to a great Gyro shop overlooking the ocean. After lunch I head back to the hotel. The cool breeze flows in from both of the open windows in our Hotel lobby. The faint sound of the birds in the distance combines with the sound of the wind to produce a pleasant feeling of both peace and tranquility. This is our first day in Hydra and the first weekend of freedom from our intensive classes in Athens. For the past four weeks we have spent 6 out of the 7 days of the week Buried in books, trying to tackle the Hebrew language. For the first time in 4 weeks it feels like we can finally sit back and enjoy complete rest. Hydra is a quaint little island which carries its own unique distinctiveness. The narrow streets away from the main port are calm and peaceful. Walking through them evokes a feeling of peace and serenity. The occasional donkey passes along and is the only real distraction yet even the slow trot of the donkey on the cobblestone street creates a pleasant sound which gives life to the streets of the peaceful town. Some of the local children can be seen walking by on occasion as well as some of the town elders who slowly make their way up the sloped cobblestone streets, occasionally stopping under a shaded tree to take a break from their climb. The town of Hydra with its narrow streets and corridors is incredibly easy and fun to get lost in. There are many local museums which have some incredible displays as well as some beautiful artwork. The buildings themselves offer some fine examples of some amazing architecture. In all, the experience here has been one of the most pleasant ones that I have had in Greece so far.