Hydra in Greece. Leonord Cohen. Accommodation. Ferries.

Hydra belongs to the Saronic islands and is located between Athens and eastern Peloponnese. The closest neighbouring islands are Spetses and Poros. Hydra has approximately 1,960 inhabitants and the island's surface is 52 km2. Almost every one live in Hydra Town, in addition there are three small communities: Kamini, Vlychos, and Mandraki. Highest mountain is Mount Eros, measuring 500 meters above sea level.

Hydra, or Ydra, is different from all other islands in the Greek archipelago. What makes Hydra unique is that there are no real roads on the island and that all motor traffic is prohibited. In other words, Hydra is a paradise for those searching for silence. The only vehicles that exist are two refuse lorries. Believe it or not, but once they collided with each other.

Before I came to Hydra for the first time I had read a lot about the island, and for a long time I had wanted to go there. I read about how wonderful it was to be at a place without cars and mopeds. I was prepared for it; nevertheless, I was surprised that Hydra actually was free of cars and mopeds. I thought that it at least must be a few cars or mopeds but it was not. It's almost always exceptions to all rules in Greece. For example, if a waterfront promenade is closed to traffic in the evenings there are always some who ignore the rule and drive there anyway. But not on Hydra.

Instead of using cars and mopeds, the passenger and goods transportation are effected by donkey, water taxi or pull cart. One would think that the whole village is full of donkey poo. But it's not. When a donkey do a poo-poo the donkey rider stops, take out a donkey poo bag and a shovel, and sweep up the poo.

Donkey is the only means of transport on Hydra.

Hydra is not only famous for being a quiet island, Hydra is also famous for the beautiful architecture in Hydra town, and also known for the great number of celebrities that have stayed on the island. The most celebrated of these celebrities are Leonard Cohen (born 1934 - dead 2016), who moved to Hydra at the beginning of the 1960s. Here Cohen wrote some of his best songs. For example, some parts of the famous Bird on a wire.

When Cohen arrived at Hydra, there was no electricity and no telephones. Eventually, both electricity and telephone come to the island, and with that electricity and telephone poles. It is said that Cohen was inspired to write Bird on a wire when he for the first time saw a bird sitting on one of the new telephone pole wires.

The refrain goes like this:
Like a bird on the wire,
like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free.
Like a worm on a hook,
like a knight from some old fashioned book
I have saved all my ribbons for thee.
If I, if I have been unkind,
I hope that you can just let it go by.
If I, if I have been untrue
I hope you know it was never to you.

Leonard Cohen. (Photo from my iPod in 2009.)