Well now what…
We were everything
Contentment, the present, and reflection
Well now what…
I know, I know-That Mykonos adventure was wild. How do you follow up such a whirlwind? Where does anyone go after that ridiculous story? Apparently, Hydra: Known for gorgeous beaches of crystal clear water and a more lowkey destination for families just a couple miles from Athens. As the ferry from Mykonos to Athens was departing mid afternoon, we knew we would arrive in Hydra later afternoon granting us only the night as our final stop of this romantic, lively experience.
I do want to acknowledge again that this was during CoVid Pandemic as travel bans had just starting lifting for larger tourist destinations meaning the crowds were smaller. Some had said that it was a wonderful gift and others said it was a messy unknown. To be fair, it was a lot of researching on protocols, forms and requirements, but it also felt welcoming.
The following three to four hours were spent on two ferries. With so many islands associated with the Greecian tourism, it can be easy to forget about the other island options, but not to be excluded. Various other islands offer similar cuisines, views, and hospitality. I cannot say other islands will have Poncho, but I guess you will have to check for yourself.
Honestly, I think it was surprising how energized we were arriving at Hydra after already such a packed day. But we really had the excitement for what was to hold here. This time we did have the name of the hotel as well as screenshotted maps of this island (A tip we learned the hard way as we had no cell service/internet for most of the trip).
We arrived at such perfect timing to see the main town submerged in sunset. The sun was just falling behind the elevation, but still illuminated each building into the cliffsides as well as the forestry near the peaks that I am sure offered a glamorous view of the island in each direction. There was something much cuter and charming as we passed by small shops and cafes. No one seemed in a rush or covered in riches. Even the cats that laid in the street seemed to have looked at me in contentment.
It was a short walk to Kirki Hotel, literally. It was probably the most conveniently located accommodations we had the whole trip with a 4 minute walk from the pier. The Kirki Hotel offered the perfect amount of luxury including a balcony for a very affordable cost. We knew the sun was retiring for the night and quickly decided to spend 25 mins getting ready for our final dinner of the trip. We probably walked into that hotel looking like drained travelers with exhaustion in our eyes and walked out of the hotel fresh and dressed for the date night occasion.
We were everything
We walked through the streets admiring the authentic architecture of white, floral and stone. There was a very genuine European atmosphere with the restaurants overflowing into the narrow streets. The various tables held candles that illuminated wine glasses and hushed conversations of locals or travelers. If you listened closely, you could hear multiple languages speaking romances to their company.
I wish I could remember the name of the restaurant we went to and I wish I could remember everything we had discussed, but I remember the view of David on the other side of the table perfectly. I could paint the image of him pouring me a glass of wine from the bottle of Riesling we shared with the softest smile and gleaming blue eyes complimented by the blue cotton shirt he purchased in Santorini. I can still feel the intensity of our connection as we extended our conversations through topics of who we had and wanted to become. I was so present with him, I could feel everything else blur around us. We were everything at that moment in that space. It was the truest of myself I had ever felt.
Leave it to a random cat brushing against our legs to draw us out of our euphoria and head back down to the pier for some gelato we found at a local shop. We continued to walk around the pier passing a few bars filled with locals and tourists dressed to occasion for nightlife drinks, but there was a calmer sense than the bars in Mykonos. There was not booming music overflowing into the street, just casual conversations. Also, there was not this pressured sense to admire luxury opposed to the last grandness of riches in Mykonos. Just simple-people, company, drinks and conversation. The last seconds of the night were spent on the docks near the quiet rocking yachts beaming their lights into the clear blueish green water splashing up onto our dangling feet tempting us to slip in.
Contentment, the present, and reflection
Out the whole trip, I remember this date night most vividly. Not because it was our last island, but because of what Hydra offered: Balance.
I know, I know. You wanted more out of Hydra. You wanted to read about our entertaining conversations with locals or our anxiety costing mistakes. Truth is, Hydra gave us the gratitude for balance between adventure and simplicity. Hydra’s perfect reminder to love contentment, love the present, and love reflection.
