A new friend told me about this lovely cafe hidden back from the port, it was filled with locals and a great place for a freddo cappuccino in the morning. Here people sit for hours chatting under the terrace of ivy. There is a group of 12 women doing a creative writing workshop here.

Suddenly a sound of thunder and many people cheer! Yes, the impossible happened. It rained in Hydra. It was only a little shower but since Hydra has a reputation as a “waterless island”, any rain is welcome. There is an ongoing drought in these islands. The shower doesn’t last long so doesn’t get in the way of much.

I head to Mandraki Bay, a cove that was recently developed as a small resort and beach club.

This is a beautiful resort, about 30 minutes walking or a short water taxi ride from the port. It is a small sandy beach, rare for Hydra. It’s a quiet day here as it is a bit cloudy which creates a good vibe for a beach reading day. The best part of Mandraki Beach Club is the button at every sunbed where you can summon food, water or wine. Every beach club should have these!!

I finish my first book, This is Happiness.

Highly recommended, it is a story that takes place in the Irish countryside where there is a project to bring in electricity. Very well written, and I love the title. I find this sentence that stays with me. “in these moments in your life, stop for one heartbeat and no matter the state of your heart or head say “This is Happiness” because of the simple truth that you were alive to say it.” Beautifully said

At the beach I run into two girls that I had briefly talked to the day before, a brief chat about books. Emily and Whitney are from NYC and have been in Hydra for a week. This immediately endears me to them as they love Hydra. They are both smart and accomplished and lovely. We share some travel stories, Whitney passes on the book that she just finished and they invite me to dinner.

As I’m headed back home to the port I offer to take a few photos of a lovely couple, and they offer to take a photo of me. This is the hardest part of traveling solo, few photos that include me!

I meet the girls for a late dinner at a place they recommend, Il Casta, that I never would have found on my own. It is maybe the best meal I have had here. And the conversation is fun and funny and interesting. Whitney works for a global luxury auto auction company and Emily is a hedge fund manager. As we share stories about work, I’m again reminded that there are so many unique jobs and ways to live.

We meet for dinner at 10 and just as we are drinking some wine my phone reminds me that my bedtime is set for 10:30 pm. Funny how you can adapt so quickly.

Emily and Whitney, thank you for inviting me to join you! I look forward to staying in touch and hearing about your last night in Athens. (especially you Emily and you know why…)

As I walk home around midnight I see the streets are filled with people, not only people in bars but families with small children running around. There seems a be a sense of safety here for children. They run around freely playing games and, oh screaming a lot. Seems to be the Greek way.

Thank you for a lovely day, Hydra. This is happiness.