"HYDRA - GRECIAN VACATION FROM VACATIONS " a Hydra Island Travel Page by mtncorg

'St Tropez of Greece'? this island is wildly popular with tourist. Knowing that I am not necessarily a lover of places directly in the midst of the touristic river, why do I like Hydra so? Well, first off, most of the tourists come to Hydra on daytrips out of Athens. They go home in the afternoon and peace returns. The harbor is extraordinarily grand. There are no cars. Spend a few days in Athens and that alone would be worth the price of admission. To avoid the daytrippers, simply wander out of town during the day or catch one of the many boat taxis to assorted and sundry locations around the island.

Hydra didn't really get started until the 15th Century when the first permanent settlers came - refugees from Epirus fleeing the Turks. By the late 1700's, Hydra was a shipbuilding center and home for pirates. Turks were never much good with pirates and they pretty much left the Hydriots alone in return for a ew sailors to serve in their fleets. The island eached its height during the Napoleonic Wars when great fortunes were made by running the blockade of the British. Hydra was one of the rebel centers during the War for Independence in 1821. Their fleet served the Greek cause enthusiastically, terrorizing Turkish fleets.