As we exited the Museum of History and Archives of Hydra I spied some ominous black clouds and lightning bolts in the distance. I advised Dearest F, T and I, perhaps a bit more speed was warranted to return to the hotel. Not heeding my warnings in a timely fashion we managed to nip into a covered restaurant with dozens of other people. The restaurant staff valiantly brought down the wildly flapping awnings as the rain and thunder intensified. In five decades travelling Greece I have never seen such intensity.
Peering out from the safety of the restaurant one could see torrents of water flowing down the streets. If this torrent wouldn’t have knocked you off your feet you certainly would be made very wet. To all’s consternation the water outside slowly started pulsing to us standing in the entranceway to the restaurant. The port area of Hydra is built below steep hills where residences are located so water can flow down through the streets quickly. After an hour of drenching rain a break permitted us to tip toe, jumping water here and there to our hotel where the reception area crowded. The rain again shook its fist at Hydra so we sat and waited with no rooms as we had checked out late morning as we were travelling to Spetses on the 19:35 High Speed Aero Catamaran.
We nipped out down the street for a quick snack of dolmades and taramasalata with stupendous fresh bread and headed back to the hotel at about 19:00 where Petros and his battery powered cart were waiting for us to take our luggage down to the ferry. It was raining so we paid Petros to hold our luggage until we were ready to board Aero High Speed.
It arrived on time and with few passengers. Forty minutes later were in the darkened port of the Island of Spetses.
