HYDRA (Leonard Cohen's Favourite Greek Isle) Wins Top Spot on Rick Steves Travel Show

June 15, 2012

I watched a Rick Steves travel show on PBS last night, featuring The Top 12 Hidden Gems of Europe.

The number one spot was the Greek island of HYDRA.

"Hydra, Greece: Magical island a world away from Athens

...lazy tourists on island time..."

Since the Leonard Cohen Event on the island in 2002, the Leonard Cohen Forum has had a meetup there in 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011. The tradition will continue in 2013 on June 8-9, 2013 (plus extra days before/after). For further information click here.

Watch a marvelous slideshow video of the June/11 meetup of lazy Cohenites on island time, captured by Willy And Wijbe Lageveen here

I noticed the Rick Steves Hydra segment shown on TV was basically the same video available on YouTube.

Only a 90-minute hydrofoil ride from bustling Athens, Hydra is the prettiest of the Greek isles. The community is an easy blend of work-a-day commerce, fancy yachts and lazy tourists meandering through traffic-free streets, alongside the occasional donkey.

-------------------------

Please note that getting together on Hydra is not be an "official" gathering, just a meetup for people who want to spend some time on the beautiful island with like-minded Cohenites. This will mean that there is not a pre-scheduled program nor registration. (Jarkko Arjatsalo, Webmaster, The Leonard Cohen Forum)

George Johnston & Leonard Cohen On Hydra

Illustration: Chris Grosz

From October 11, 2011  leonardcohenforum

A friend recently sent me a link to an old article by Shane Maloney about George Johnston & Leonard Cohen on Hydra, but was unsure if it had already been posted on the Leonard Cohen forum.

I found that "st theresa" posted the text of this article last January.  click here

The article also included the above terrific cartoon illustration of Leonard Cohen and George Johnston on Hydra both at work at their respective typewriters, which I had not seen before.  It's a hoot.  click here

Leonard Cohen Hydra Friends Reunite after 35 Years, May 2011 -- Photos and Narrative by Judy Scott

 Judy Scott and Marianne Ihlen at the Merlina Mercouri Gallery art opening (artist: Tom Powell), May 28, 2011

After a 35-year absence, we finally had a joyous Hydra reunion! Marianne was there to celebrate her birthday, a day we celebrated together on Hydra many years ago.

  Judy Scott & Marianne Ihlen visiting at the house of Pandias Skaramanga on Hydra, to view his collection of Anthony Kingsmill paintings, May 30, 2011

Anthony was a very dear friend to all of us and one of Leonard’s oldest friends. He was a very talented artist who lived and worked on Hydra for 27 years, and passed away in London in 1990.

Judy Scott, Marianne Ihlen, Brian & Valerie Sidaway and friend Jan  

May, 2011

One never tires of the sunsets on Hydra, and Brian & Valerie have possibly the best terrace in Kamini to view them from.

My partner, Monika, Marianne, Brian & Valerie, and Jan

It’s so wonderful to maintain such close connections over many miles and many years. Hydra is famous for fostering such a community. We used to call it ”the Hydra Connection.”

 Judy and Monika on the terrace of our rented house, referred to as the "Gore-Booth house", which was once owned by the English ambassador to India.

Monika and I have been together for 22 years and have visited Hydra 15-16 times.

------------------------------------

Photos and narrative by Judy Scott (Jazz4111): Please do not copy or republish these images without prior permission
To see Leonard Cohen and Marianne Ihlen 1960 Hydra photos, click here

Leonard Cohen Friends Meet on Hydra, June 2011--Wijbe & Willy Lageveen's Fabulous Slideshow

From July 11, 2011 leonardcohenforum

Willy and WIjbe: Your Hydra 2011 slideshow is fabulous!

I love your water transition effect from slide to slide - how fitting - and your selection of music background.

It was so moving to hear Leonard Cohen quote, "Greece is a good place to look at the moon".

Thank you for all your time and hard work making this. It was well worth waiting for.

Sigh...I wish I could have been there. I recognized a lot of wonderful Friends from my Leonard Cohen travel adventures.

Even not being there, your slideshow is a memory of something special I experienced as a viewer that I wanted to paste in my Scrapbook.
 
And thank you, Wijbe, for allowing  me to post your Hydra slideshow here.

This title page image will appear after the play arrow is pressed on the embedded video below.






There are more terrific video slideshows of Leonard Cohen friends get-togethers on the Lageveen website, I can't forget. click here

Leonard Cohen's Hydra House-Door Knocker

Photo: Eva Martonyi (2011)

From June 17, 2011  leonardcohenforum

There have been various photos and accounts of the ancient door knocker on Leonard Cohen's house on Hydra.  Until now, I was not familiar with the detail of this adornment until I viewed both of Eva Martonyi's and Maarten Massa's outstanding Hydra 2011 albums.

Photo: Maarten Massa (2011)

The design of the door knocker intrigued me. So I hunted for more information and found:

(1) A description by "Dem" on the leonardcohenforum:

...the knocker on the door.
A left female hand and two little Stars of David.

(2)  A site dedicated to the Star of David which includes some added description here

Fatima Hand Chamsa with Six-pointed Stars

Shot at

Kefalonia Island, Greece

Picture is courtesy of "Tony Tea" from Flickr

I Think that this combination of Chamsa and Six-pointed Stars

is meant to act double efficiently against Evil Eye

(3) An earlier photo of Leonard Cohen's door knocker included in the Hydra house photo collection recorded by Rauli, Eija and Jarkko Arjatsalo (c2002). here

 ...................................................................

Update:  Hydra Door Knocker in motion

Photo: Szilvia Szanto (2011)