At times it feels that the Saronic island of Hydra has not changed for centuries. Stone streets and quayside cafes. Monasteries and churches that date back a thousand years. No wheels allowed, not even carts or bicycles - meaning no way around except on foot or by pack animal. Then again, there is the sea: Hydra is a popular yachting destination, and a convenient alternative to walking hours to opposite ends of the island is to take a water taxi across crystal clear waters. Despite the name - due to natural springs in ancient times that have since dried up - Hydra is a dry, sunny place with gentle breezes and little noise except for church bells or the horns of departing ferries. The sky is remarkably clear; the air is remarkably clean. In the '50s and '60s Hydra was home to a community of artists such as Canadian musician Leonard Cohen and Norwegian novelist Axel Jensen, and it is easy to imagine how it would be conducive to creative thinking: here there are a few distractions. The steep hills and azure swimming waters mean exercise is ever available, and the food is wholesome, the lifestyle idyllic. There are a number of historic buildings and stunning vistas, but Hydra is a place to recollect and recover and plan the next phase of life. The slow pace and gentle landscape allow for introspection and healing, and make it one of the most quintessential of Greek islands.
Island forgotten by time : Hydra, a sleepy outpost in the Aegean Sea, has no traffic, no way to get around on land besides walking or mules, and is better for it.
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