Deste's Project Space in Hydra - The SlaughterhouseIn 2009 the Municipality of Hydra granted the old slaughterhouse to Deste for the purpose of annual exhibitions.

The Deste Foundation for Contemporary Art had it's inaugral exhibition in 2009 with Blood of Two, a joint performance and exhibition by Matthew Barney & Elizabeth Peyton which caused quite a stir and a lot of interest on the island especially with the residents.

This location may sound a little odd for an art exhibition hall but it's quirkiness, in a way, adds to the appeal of the events. While the slaughterhouse space has been restored and renovated, it still holds the features and traits of the past, preserving the original elements of its old identity. Since 2009, the slaughterhouse serves as DESTE’s new project space where every summer the Foundation hosts a series of contemporary art exhibitions. Every year, the space is assigned to a different artist, who is invited to stage a site-specific exhibition.

Passport holders from European countries who have an interest in Hydra are entitled to vote in the local Hydra Dymotices elections, which will be held in Hydra on the 7th November 2010. You have until the 31st August 2010 to get onto the electoral list. It is not an automatic process and must be done by non-Greeks before every local election.

Whether you own a house or rent one for part or all of the year, or you stay for more than just a couple of weeks holiday in a guest house or hotel, you hold a European Passport, and will will be able to be on Hydra for the 7th November 2010, you can vote.

Kelsey Edwards24/04/10 Note from Kelsey - I'm back! As of April 2010, I am now the sole owner of HydraDirect.com. Please let me know what you want added, changed or improved on. Any news features and articles would be well received and details of forth-coming events for 2010 should be emailed to me asap. Just click Contact to get in touch.

It can hardly come as a surprise, unless you're visiting from another planet, not to have heard that Greece is in some financial hot water. Yes times are tough, the austerity measures that the English are being subjected to are nothing compared with what individuals and businesses in Greece are going to have to manage.

One of the consequences is that legitimate businesses, now having to conform even more rigidly than they have been used to getting away with, are determined to ensure that those who have been 'flying under the radar', get to pay up as well.

In summary the obligations for private house renters are:

Castello on Kamini Beach July 201023-07-10 from Kelsey - One of the places I was determined to visit during my brief visit to Hydra this month, after an eighteen month absence, was Kamini Beach (aka baby beach) just so that I could make up my own mind about the renovation and launch of Castello.

The opinion of the general populace has been much divided and everyone has a different point of view - come to that they still do.

But for me, well I just have to say things as I find them. I had a wonderful afternoon there, with good company, lively atmosphere, friendly staff, a charming host and delicious "casual lunch".

Freedom daily transport from Hydra to Metoxi at 6.5 euros per person.11/06/10 from the Zogou Family, Hydra. We are permanent residents of Hydra and grew up around the sea, we started as a family thirty years a go with a small tourist boat, and our two sons, Christos and Lefteris, grew up in the port next to the sea and in the fishing boats. Our grandfathers were sailors, and in those years were sailing for a better tomorrow.

Continuing our journey, we moved from the tourist boat to a sea taxi, "Albatros", which still exists. Our sons love to fish which lead us to purchase a fishing boat, "Albatros 2", which led father and sons to go out on fishing trips for up to 2 to 3 months, which put a stain on the family as we seperated for long periods of time. This eventually lead us to buying a small boat, called "Freedom" which would travel between Hydra and Metoxi for a price of 6.5 euros per pasenger, with a maximum capacity of 16.

13-May-2010 - Some as yet unsubstantiated rumours. Jannis Kitsos has taken over the management of the Enalion Restaurant at the back of Vlichos Beach and will be opening for business next month. Jannis' family have the Paradosiakon Taverna on the corner of Tombazis Street (behind the Amalour) and last year he had a tee-shirt printing shop as well as his boat. I'm not sure yet whether he's going to be doing everything still or will be dropping the t-shirts (?) but will let you know, especially as I've also heard that he's opening a dive business too - I'm exhausted just thinking about it!

Freedom Sinking16th July 2010, 16:30 (approx) - I am incredibly sad to have to report that through the negligence and incompetence of the crew of the cruise ship BILMAR, that the ferry boat FREEDOM II was crushed and sunk in Hydra Harbour this afternoon.

I sat watching the BILMAR just outside the harbour tossing in choppy seas heading for Hydra harbour and thought at the time that they must be aiming to moor up on the outer jetty. I and many others were horrified when they ignored conditions and entered the harbour, turning only just inside the wall  and then reversing back so that they crushed the ferry boat FREEDOM, which was still full of passengers against the harbour wall, holing it under the water line.