HYDRA MEET-UP 2009 REPORT

[Henning]

And then there was the night from Sunday to Monday when the soft spots grew and the jokes got silly with me and Willy and we named that strolling dog "Roloi" after the bar. It was Roloi who began barking in the midst of my most sincere Avalanche and I got the feeling that someone must have paid him for that service. Willy and I had such a good laugh and we couldn't stop only because of the name "Roloi" for that dog. It's such a blessing with plenty of beers in your belly and bullshit in your brain.

[anneporter]

One by one the guests depart....
Dolores's long goodbye...

Sue channels her inner Dolores...

And then there three...
Ann Marie, Kathy and Anne settle in for the long haul, and only memories remain...

[anneporter]

ahh...memories...

Toasting Sue's 99th birthday...

(naughty Giannis guessed her age...)
( I knew she was an "old soul"... )
Sinnikka dresses the part at the prison...

[anneporter]

Carole and Tony make it as far as Bill's Bar, but their friends weren't still there...

They were saving a space in the songs at Dousko's...

Mary-Ann and Christo share a sparkling moment....

[Paula]

I love all these pictures and I am gutted I could not go. It is so nice to see all these familar faces.

Russell I love the trousers, ignore Lizzie it is pure jealousy

So many cats and kittens. I do wish they would neuter them. Beautiful animals but not often in good health on Hydra.

[Bill's Bar]

Anne,
Thanks for that photo outside Bratsera. Our friends weren't there, but we sure found them on Sunday night when we finally broke into the prison.
Paula and I arrived back in to a chilly Dublin this morning about 12.15am, but before that we had a final taste of Hydra by spending a very pleasant few hours and downing a few litres of Mythos with Willy and Wijbe in Athens on Thursday afternoon.
It was my first time on Hydra, and thanks to everyone for making it such an enjoyable time.
As we say in Ireland "Go mbeirimid beo ar an am seo aris"

Tony.

[lizzytysh]

Yep, I'm buuuuuuuusted, Russel... Paula's right. They wouldn't look nearly so good on me! Jealousy ... or maybe just the lack of nerve to wear them ... one or the other. Oh, I'm sure it's just jealousy . [They are seriously cute, though, Russel. Now, I do recall you were hunting a place to stay on Hydra... camping, if necessary. So, have pj's, will travel? Did anyone see you coming back down from the monastery ?]

Suzanne was supposed to be part of a non-profit program that spayed and neutered them, too; however... .

You'rrrrrre gutted, Paula ... I can hardly see straight!

Marco and Andrea looked as comfy-cozy on that little porch this time as they did last, when we were all there together.

Anne ~ I looooooove that tribute poem. Wish you could've turned on some kind of recording device when Paula read it .

Oh, the B&W works SO well for Dousko's! And the one with its reverie .

Haha, Sinikka... a big Duh from here!! Can't believe I didn't put that together! Very cool .

Haha. So that really is a dog, then . Roloi ~ such a great name for him. I can imagine the melting laughter when he began to bark. Maybe he wanted someone to open the door off the island, so he wouldn't be buried in the Avalanche .

Happy Hydra Birthday, Sue!!! Byeeeee, Mary-Ann [and remember, enough is enough on the sparkly ], Sue with the guitar , and Dolores !!!

Such obviously wonderful times happened there this year . And, Eija, you snapped those exquisite sunset photos at just exactly the right moment. [You'd think you had some experience there .]

Well, Tony [too much ahem with Carole at Bill's?], there sits your posting not letting mine through. .. so, tell us, what does "Go mbeirimid beo ar an am seo aris" mean!?! "Go merrily by a bar and meet the barmaid and you'll forever be in the air"?



~ Lizzy

[anneporter]

A bit of time before the afternoon wind blows the Roloi's wifi away to remember a few more: Kathy
and Ann Marie discover bathroom acoustics:

suzanne orange shapeshifts so she can join us after all....

(I knew I heard you singing The Pirate's Gospel at the Pirate Bar!)


the sunshine of Willy's smile...

[anneporter]

Dancing breaks out at Dousko's

[anneporter]

My consolation prize: after many departures, one arrival:
Dalia, our newest convert, who came for beauty all the way from L.A.

I am privileged to walk with her, retracing the recent steps of the Cohenites, over the cobblesones of Hydra, in search of bits of beauty on the air...

[Lota]

We have now uploaded about 150 selected photos shot by Eija to this gallery: http://cohen.1g.fi/kuvat/Hydra-2009/
There are two pages of photos, and by clicking on any of the thumbnails you will see a bigger picture, and if you click on it, an even larger one.
We have added some names and comments already, but more will come during the weekend.

Wonderful photoreportage. It conveys the spirit of the place and the atmosphere of the Cohen fans' meetings on "his" island. How I wish I could have been there. Next time perhaps. I hope you all had a great time and no one was disappointed - the pictures show everyone having a grand time.

Best,
Lota

[lizzytysh]

Your photos are awesome, Anne ! I love your humour in suzanneorange's shapeshifting . Such a wonderful bathroom Kathy and Ann Marie got to enjoy with Leonard and singing? Excellent photo of Willy's smile. If you're ever down, just get Willy to laugh with you and you'll be lifted high and away... . And, Dalia, what a beautiful prize... and always and forever, better late than never! I can see you shared the beauty of the island with her... such lovely photos of her. It reminds me of my own, precious time, sharing times on the island with my friend, Xenia, from Poland. We met at the small house, where we each were renting a room [she was on one of her several return trips there] and were thrilled to find on our very first time of meeting at breakfast that we both love Leonard. In our case, though, she showed me some places . It was a very special time that stays warmly in my memory, as I know your time with Dalia does, as well.

Oh... to be able to dance at Dousko's !


~ Lizzy

[Bill's Bar]

Henning,
That dog was also known as Dog Dylan down our end of the table...............for reasons too complicated to explain here.

Tony.

[anneporter]

I just got back from the Sunset Bar at sunset nd I had a sudden flashback of the night when "Lullabye" started drifting across on the breeze as the sun went down, thanks to this man:

Ken, that was a beautiful surprise ... and Jungle Lines was even better.

[friscogrl]

Anne, I love your pictures of Hydra and the many Coehnites who were there with you. Thank you for introducing me to this wonderful island these lovely people. I find your pictures and commentary entertaining and at times very poignant.

Marsha