Friends,
It's time to announce our next meetup on Hydra! It will take place during the second weekend of June 2017, from June 9 to 11. It's possible that our excursion to the mainland will be on Thursday June 8, so it would be best to reserve the days from Thursday to Sunday for your stay. Every time some of us have come a bit earlier (or have added some days after the meet up - it will be up to your own plans!)
In 2002 we had our big Leonard Cohen Event on Hydra (report at http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/hydraevent.html). Later we have had biennial meetups in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 and now again in 2017!). Meetup reports at http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/backtohydra.html
In 2013 and 2015 we've organized an one day excursion on the Peloponnese across Hydra, to visit the ancient theater of Epidaurus and other picturesque sites in the mainland. These trips have been very popular, and we probably will do it again either on Thursday June 8 or Friday June 9. Number of seats in the bus will be limited to about 50. More about this later. In 2015, the price was 70 eur including boat, bus, ticket to the museum, delicious meal and guiding by our local friend Lakis. Budget for 2017 is still open (it will be up to the number of people who want to do the excursion). Lakis has promised to make a bit different route this time. This way everybody will have something new to see.
We also hope to have the grand opening of the Famous Stone Bench! At the moment the Municipality is still waiting for final approval from the Historical Office in Athens. The city plans to build the bench during the Winter. Let's keep fingers crossed!
We will also rent the Open Air cinema for either Saturday or Sunday evening, and are going to show you some interesting video footage... Some 5-10 eur per person will be collected to pay the rent, the fee will be up to the number of participants. Last time we had 160 Cohenites on the island, but earlier the typical number was some 50-60.
The program with more precise details will be available next Spring. We have posted this announcement already now, in September 2016, so that you may make necessary arrangements at your work and reserve your flights and accommodation as early as possible.
We have to underline that this will not be any official gathering, just a meetup for people who want to spend some time on the beautiful island with like-minded Cohenites. We will give some advice about the connections from Athens/Piraeus to Hydra and some addresses for booking your accommodation, but all arrangements are up to the travellers themselves.
Early June has been chosen again for several reasons. First of all, the tourist season has not yet begun - there are rooms available at all hotels, and the prices are lower than a week or two later. The weather is ideal, not yet hot but warm enough. The restaurants are not full, and serve - as always - most delicious food.
One more time: this unofficial gathering is for people who want to spend some time together on the beautiful island. We will suggest good restaurants for dinners, we enjoy some Mythoses at the Roloi Bar in the harbour, maybe do some walks in the Hydra city and up to the hills -- it will be more like a holiday! We hope that those who play guitar will take their instruments with them!
Even if the meetup is less formal than our Events, we need to have some idea of the number of participants. Please let us know by email to Jarkko (use email button under my avatar on the left), if you plan to come. Your name will be listed on the Hydra Meetup page at http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/backtohydra.html (let us know if you don't want to show it). You will also find links to photo galleries and videos on that page.
Looking forward to seeing you next year!
Jarkko
