Hydra Meetup in June 2005 !

Joe Way · Post by **Joe Way** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 4:22 am

I have to add a couple thoughts as I await here on "Dear Heather" Eve. Anne and I arrived from a visit to Turkey a day before our scheduled "Flying Dolphins" trip to Hydra. Anne had wanted to stay longer in Athens, but I argued against it as I had read that as a city it was quite intolerable. Anne had picked up a travel-related bug on our Turkey trip (I had it earlier) and when we arrived in Athens we went to the National Museum and cut it short due to her illness. There was a taxi strike going on at the time and we were bamboozled by a cagy driver, but I will say that the National Museum was quite interesting.

Our hotel, (and I can't remember the name) had a magnificient view of the Acropolis and was just outside of Syntagma Square. I spent some time at a pharmacy looking for meds for Anne and it became apparent that I would be on my own for dinner that night. I picked a restaurant from a guide, but couldn't find it, and strolled toward the Plaka. I found a Taverna that had a "fresh fish" sign out front. It is a long story, but I ended up with a 80 euro fish (120 euro meal-for me alone). I'm very mild-mannered especially in restaurants, but became quite agitated and the waiter and I had to have the owner intervene. The owner bought me a drink next door-but the damage was done.

The next day, we breakfasted on the top floor of the hotel on a beautiful clear day where we could see forever. The taxi to Piraeus was about 25 euros and our driver gave a Herculean effort to get us to the "Flying Dolphins."

On our return trip from Hydra, we spent the last night at the same hotel and met our friends, Elizabeth and Jack, for dinner at a vegetarian restaurant. We took photos at the Acropolis at night. All and all, I would recommend at least a night in Athens. Try to stay downtown and give yourself plenty of time to reach Piraeus as the traffic is bad.

Joe

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 4:42 am

Thanks for the endorsement and [helpful!] details, Joe. Haven't heard a thing from Demetris, but at least Paula's willing to hang in there for a night

. Those euros sure add up, don't they? Fortunately, I'm good with fruit stands when it comes to meals. I feel that as long as we're there [maybe it has something to do with my not getting to Europe as frequently as some Brits

], we might as well enjoy the evening and night. Those travel bugs always feel more dramatic when you're on foreign shores, don't they. Poor Anne

.

Dem · Post by **Dem** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 4:22 pm

Hi guys,

I just saw the last messages in this thread.

Athens has changed a lot (for the better) since the Olympic Games.

Joe: The fish thing in Plaka is absolutely a shame (for the Greeks ) that do these things to foreign visitors.

I also think that 25 euros for taxi is too much.

Elizabeth : I don't usually dance but I certainly drink

So watch out!

Demetris

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 4:28 pm

Ah, the "usually" offers hope, Demetris

~ at first, my comment was to get you drunk, but then I thought better of that. Who wants to dance with someone "drunk"? However, to drink just enough to prompt you to dance ~ now, that's another story

!

Yes, I have faith that Athens warrants a one-night stay. As for me, the Athens 'of old' still would have; but, for sure, the Athens 'of new'

!

painkillersinaction · Post by **painkillersinaction** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 9:55 pm

hey, first post here, so first of all hi all! i'm very glad to hear about Hydra 2005 and i'll be there for sure (if ya want me!)

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 10:14 pm

What a blitz

! Welcome, Painkillersinaction

~ great name

!

I see you're from our hot topic of Athens

. Perhaps, you'd care to join us for our evening there ~ and can show us to a restaurant where we'll get off easier than Joe Way did

.

~ Lizzy

painkillersinaction · Fri Nov 05, 2004 10:37 pm

hey! that 'd be my pleasure!!!
contrary to popular belief Athens can be stunningly beautiful (though it took me quite a few years to find that out), so i can be your guide to the underrated city of Athens (ok, that last one sentence sounded cheesy as hell- i admit that

)

Byron · Post by **Byron** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:01 pm

That is one hell of a website you've got there. Stunning. Bookmarked. Nuff said.

This is something completely unconnected, but artistic work I admire.

http://www.bennybrowne.com/

Anyone can have a look and perhaps dig into their pockets.

painkillersinaction · Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:14 pm

why, thanx loads!
checking the wbsite now. after all art is always interconnected!

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:24 pm

Super! I was there in 1965. Needless to say, it's changed some since then

.

dar · Post by **dar** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 9:03 am

My husband and I planned on going to Hydra but I've been following the political discussion in the newsgroup and Dem has scared the shit out of me! But what's so odd is that when I went to my storage shed to clean out some stuff there were two current British passports in the trash and they look a hell of a lot like my husband and me. Married couple and with a 20 year age difference, just like us. It's a sign! They don't shoot Brits in Greece do they??

Post by **jarkko** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:57 am

Don't worry Dar, it's the US government, politics and politicians that are so much disliked by Dem (right, Dem!?), not the US Cohenites! I don't think there will be any problems -- after all the whole Europe is bustling with US tourists (perhaps not as many as earlier, but it's the weak dollar that makes traveling more expensive here than it used to be)

margaret · Post by **margaret** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 2:16 pm

please Jarkko can you give some information soon for ferry details like frequency in June, and some links for accommodation in small pensions/guesthouses? I hope to book flights to Athens soon and would like to co-ordinate everything. Thank you

margaret

dar, I was on holiday only a month ago on one of the larger Greek islands and found no ill-feeling whatsoever to any tourists.

Post by **jarkko** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 3:38 pm

Margaret, the Dolphin schedule for next Summer is not available yet
but according to the Fall 2004 schedule departure times are 8, 9, 13 and 17. In Summer there will be several more.
Here is the website of the Flying Dolphins:
http://www.dolphins.gr
The route is Piraeus - Hydra and it takes about 1:30. Online reservations with credit card.

Hotel info is available on the following sites (and many others, you may google to find them!):
http://www.hydradirect.com (this is a site operated by Saronicnet)
http://HYDRA-island.com/
You may also contact the hotels directly (after finding the info on these or other Hydra travel sites).

And how to get to Piraeus from the Airport? You can take the Suburban Railway from the "El.Venizelos" International airport and get off at the "Neratziotissa" station. There you take the Metro (subway/Underground) and go all the way down to Piraeus port. (Here is a map of it : http://www.athens2004.com/en/SuburbanRailway and http://www.athens2004.com/en/Metro )

The ticket price for one ride with the Metro is just 0.70 euro. (This info comes from Demetris)

All the small (and bigger) Greek islands live on tourism, no need to be afraid of anything! On the contrary, the Greeks are very friendly!

Jarkko

tomsakic · Post by **tomsakic** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 10:31 am

Somebody's afraid of Dem