This invitation was posted on September 2, 2018
To get more meetup & travel info, go to www.leonardcohenfiles.com/backtohydra.html
Friends,
It's time to announce our next meetup on Hydra! It will take place during the second weekend of June 2019, from June 7 to 9. It's possible that our excursion to the mainland will be on Thursday June 6, so it would be best to reserve the days from Thursday to Sunday for your stay. Every time some of us have come a bit earlier (or have added some days after the meet up - it will be up to your own plans!)
In 2002 we had our big Leonard Cohen Event on Hydra (report here). Later we have had biennial meetups in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, and now again in 2019! Previous Meetup reports at www.leonardcohenfiles.com/backtohydra.html (with link to Photo Galleries)
In 2013, 2015, and 2017 we've organized an one day excursion on the Peloponnese across Hydra, to visit the ancient theater of Epidaurus and other picturesque sites in the mainland. These trips have been very popular, and we probably will do it again either on Thursday June 6 or Friday June 7. Number of seats in the bus will be limited to about 50. More about this later. In 2017, the price was 70 eur including boat, bus, ticket to the museum, delicious meal and guiding by our local friend Lakis. Budget for 2019 is still open (it will be up to the number of people who want to do the excursion). Lakis has promised to make a bit different round trip, so that everybody will have something new to see
We will also rent the Open Air cinema for either Saturday or Sunday evening (or both, if the number of participants will be more than 150), and are going to show you some interesting video footage... About 15 eur per person will be collected to pay the rent, the exact fee will be up to the number of participants. Last time - in 2017 - we had 208 Cohenites on the island, and 160 in 2015, but earlier the typical number was some 50-60.
The program with more precise details will be available next Spring. We have posted this announcement already now, in September 2018, so that you may make necessary arrangements at your work and reserve your flights and accommodation as early as possible.
We have to underline that this will not be any official gathering, just a meetup for people who want to spend some time on the beautiful island with like-minded Cohenites. We will give some advice about the connections from Athens/Piraeus to Hydra and some addresses for booking your accommodation, but all arrangements are up to the travellers themselves.
Early June has been chosen again for several reasons. First of all, the tourist season has not yet begun - there are rooms available at all hotels, and the prices are lower than a week or two later. The weather is ideal, not yet hot but warm enough. The restaurants are not full, and serve - as always - most delicious food.
One more time: this unofficial gathering is for people who want to spend some time together on the beautiful island. We will suggest good restaurants for dinners, we enjoy some Mythoses at the Roloi Bar in the harbour, maybe do some walks in the Hydra city and up to the hills -- it will be more like a holiday! We hope that those who play guitar will take their instruments with them!
Even if the meetup is less formal than our Events, we need to have some idea of the number of participants. Please let us know by email to Jarkko (NOT PM) if you plan to come. Your name will be listed on the Hydra page at www.leonardcohenfiles.com/backtohydra.html (let us know if you don't want to show your name).
Binding reservations to the mainland day tour will be collected in Jan/Feb 2019. Your reservation will be confirmed after it's also paid. (Information will be sent by email to those who have registered!)
Questions will be answered and the meetup discussed here in this Forum section!
Looking forward to seeing many of you next year!
Jarkko
Email address for your registrations: