May 4, 2025 - Greece
Hydra - Day One
Our lodging included a free breakfast at one of the harbor restaurants, so we started our day there.
   
Then we did Rick Steves Hydra Harbor Walk.
   
A littleways inland, Votsi Square basically town center.
   
We headed for the northeast corner of the harbor.  On the way we came to the Historical Arhives Museum of Hydra so of course we had to check it out.  It was a nice little museum but unfortunately they do not allow photography so I have no pictures.
 
   

I do recall a large painting of the Naval Battle of Navarino, fought on 20 October 1827.  It was only 22 years after Trafalgar so the warships were all ships of sail.  I copied this painting of the battle from Wikipedia.

The Battle of Navarino was fought during the Greek War of Independence (1821–1829), in Navarino Bay (modern Pylos), on the west coast of the Peloponnese peninsula, in the Ionian Sea.

Allied forces from Britain, France, and Russia decisively defeated Ottoman and Egyptian forces which were trying to suppress the Greeks, thereby making Greek independence much more likely. An Ottoman armada which, in addition to Imperial warships, included squadrons from the eyalets of Egypt and Regency of Algiers and Tunis, was destroyed by an Allied force of British, French and Russian warships. It was the last major naval battle in history to be fought entirely with sailing ships, although most ships fought at anchor. The Allies' victory was achieved through superior firepower and gunnery.
 
   
At the northeast corner of the harbor is a fort complete with cannons.  Across the water is the mainland of the Peloponnese.
   
Looking west across the habor.
   
Looking back towards the harbor and town.
   
The northwestern corner of the harbor.  The remains of an old windmill can be seen at right, used for grinding grain and raw materials for gunpower.
   
Looking up at the fortress walls bristling with cannon.  The Hydra flag flies below the Greece flag.
   
In the 19th century, Hydra was home to some 125 boats and 10,000 sailors. The mansions of the sea captains that ring the harbor are a testament to the prosperity that shipping brought to the island, which, at the time of the Greek Revolution, had 16,000 inhabitants.
   
Antonios Kriezis (1796–1865) was a captain of the Hellenic navy during the Greek War of Independence and a Prime Minister of Greece from 1849 to 1854.
   

Lynnette stands next to the Andreas Miaoulis Monument.

"The guy at the helm is Admiral Andreas Miaoulis (1768 - 1835), an Hydriot sea captain who valiantly led the Greek navy in the revolution that began in 1821.  This war sought to end nearly four centuries of Ottoman occupation.  As war preparataions ramped up, the wealthy merchant marines of Hydra transformed their vessels into warships.  The Greeks used a clever and deadly naval warfare technique: the 'fireship.'  While this kamikaze-burning strategy cost the Greeks a lot of boats, it was even more devastating to the Ottoman navy -- and Miaoulis' naval victory was considered a crucial turning point in the war.  For three days each June, Hydra celebrates the Miaoulia Festival, when they set fire to an old ship to commemorate the burning of the Ottoman fleet.  Miaoulis' bones are actually inside the stone pedestal under the statue."  ... Rick Steves
   
Cannon pointing west.
   
Looking south into the harbor.  Our Flying Cat ferry docked just ahead of that large ship left of center.
   
Some fancy yachts berthed in the harbor.
   
Hillside residences.
   
Dock after that big ship left.
   
Strolling around the inner harbor where most of the action was.
   

Having seen the town, we headed west along the road/trail on the northern edge of the island.

The water was very pretty, as you can see.
   

Looking west.  Down below there are little beaches were people were hanging out. 
 
   
An old stone arch bridge of some sort.
   
Looking back east, the way we had come.  Two old windmills are plainly visible.
   
 
   
 
   
The beach at Hydronetta where there are a couple of restaurants.
   
Continuing on.
   
Looking down at the Kaminia Castello Beach.
   
 
   
Looking west.
   
Approaching Paralia Vlichos.
   
We come to this Ottoman-style single-arched bridge.  At this point we could have turned left and taken an inland trail back to upper Hydra but we decided to just keep going along the coast.
   
Another look at the Ottoman-style bridge.
   
Continuing on.
   
Now we're on an unpaved trail passing a newly-built house which has a great view of the water.  The landscaping planting hasn't been done yet though.
   
We arrive at Vlychos Plakes Beach.
   
A better look at Vlychos Plakes Beach.   You can take a shuttle boat from Hydra to here if you want but then you'd miss the scenic walk.
   
Or, you can just boat here in your own big luxury yacht.  Can you imagine owning something like this?
   
Passing some Hydriot horses.
   
We arrive at Paralia Palamidas.  At this point the trail turned inland and south.  Although it is possible to get back to Hydra Town by an inland trail, we were tired and didn't want to risk getting lost, so we just turned around and went back the way we had come.
   
Another look at the yacht.
   
We were tired and hot so we stopped for a drink at Vlychos Plakes Beach at Tassia's Tavern.
   
Nice and relaxing at Tassia's Tavern.
   
A water shuttle motors by.
   
I just couldn't get enough of the yacht.
   
Bright flower.
   
Classic Greek house whitewashed with blue trim.
   
Following some donkeys.
   
Back on the Ottoman-style bridge.
   
Looking at the inland route.
   
Desert fauna.
   
Getting closer.
   
Beautiful scenery.
   
A little man-made harbor.
   
 
   
Lazy Greek cat living its best life.
   
One of the Flying Cats enters Hydra harbor.
   
Carrying the load.
   
The ubiquitous Hydra cats.
   
 
   
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