Pilgrimage to Hydra

[Jonaki]

I thought I'd tell you all about my recent pilgrimage to Hydra. Not that there's anything exciting to reveal, really, but it was a meaningful visit in its own way.

Myself and my nephew, being Leonard fans of some years standing, managed to persuade my mother and my wife to visit Hydra for the day. It was during the Easter holidays of this year, if I've got the dates right. I'd better point out that I live in Greece, on the island of Evia, and so day trips to the near islands (particularly to those in the Saronic Gulf) are not out of the question. We arrived on Hydra ill-prepared, without a map to Leonard's house, and only the memory of the strange hand-shaped knocker that I'd seen in a photograph. We eventually managed to find the house, thanks to the fact that my wife is Greek. But the important thing was not just to find the house itself, but to speak with Eviania, Leonard's "housekeeper", who holds the keys. The funny thing was, there are countless doors with the same hand knocker - and we only found the house, and Eviania, by pure luck, and by persuading my wife to chat with the locals.

Eviana, as any who have met her will testify, is a lovely woman. Leonard calls her "mama", by the way (funny, really, when you consider that she must be younger than him). She was very gracious with us, but was reluctant to let us in the house. Apparently the last gathering of Leonard fans on Hydra had left things a little tense between Leonard and those who wished to treat his house, as he put it, "like a museum". Leonard, who last visited Hydra about three years ago, was also annoyed by the fact that photographers arrived to take pictures of his home for a magazine without permission. Eviania was full of stories about Leonard - she described him as more like a god than a man, and couldn't help stressing how great a man he was. A great, great man she told us - not that we needed any persuading. Anyway, the conversation continued for long enough for us to get quite friendly with her. Looking back though, I still think we did the right thing in not pressing her to let us in to the house. We took some pictures of the outside of the house and the garden (including a bird on the wire!) - I can post some here if anyone wants - and left Hydra satisfied. I think Leonard deserves his privacy, even if he only visits occasionally.

[lizzytysh]

Dear Jonaki ~

Welcome to the Forum ! What a charming, anecdotal-rich visit to Hydra that you've described . I'm glad you were able to talk all concerned into the day trip. I agree with you as to Leonard's privacy, and "mama" Eviana's rightful protection of it. I really enjoyed reading your posting and description of your day. A bit of precious, unexpected humour regarding the hand-shaped doorknocker ~ "surpriiize...... "!

~ Elizabeth

[jarkko]

Leonard has given Eviania strict order that outsiders shall not be let in.
The house is a private place, and we all should honor his privacy.
Leonard may not visit the house very often, but other family members and friends do.

During the 2002 Event we were showing the house from outside with
Leonard's permission, and the Dutch film crew was allowed to enter the
house, again with Leonard's special permission.

In Spring 2003 a photographer of TA NEA, the big newspaper in Athens had obviously
been inside the house: the weekend supplement had a photo report of
several pages; they had no permission at all. I forwarded a copy of
the magazine from Demetris to Leonard.

There are numerous photos (shot both in- and outdoors in 2000 and 2002) and a 360 degrees panorama on this site ( http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com ), all posted with Leonard's kind permission.

Jarkko