Saronic Island Style

Uniqlo blouse
Zara denim shorts (similar)
Flattered sandals
Ellen James handbag
Celine sunglasses
Urban Oufitters earrings
Location: Sachtouri – Hydra Island, Greece

When you go to Greece, the first thing anyone asks is, “Are you going to the islands?” We learned that quickly on our first trip to Athens. We had no plans to visit any islands, that time. I’m not crazy about boats. Or open water. Or any activity involving the potential need for a life jacket, if I’m honest. But in many ways, you haven’t fully experienced Greece until you’ve been to the islands, which are such an integral part of the country and its culture. Although we already didn’t feel like we’d really have enough time in Athens, we chose to book a day-trip to the Hydra, one of the four Saronic Islands. I love a vacation within a vacation, so despite my disinclination to board a coat, I couldn’t resist.

The Saronic Islands – Poros, Aegina, Salamis, Dakos, Agistri, Spetses and Hydra – are the easiest and quickest to reach from Athens. We wavered between Spetses and Hydra before settling on visiting Hydra in our usual manner, which is to for vague (and probably sentimental) reasons that we could no longer remember by the time we were actually visiting.

It turned out not to matter. As our boat – which was, if not exactly modern, very fast and smooth, a bit like a high-speed train on water (and pretty painless even for thalassophobes like me) – pulled into the port, we found ourselves in the most charming little town we’d ever seen.

To say we fell in love with the Saronic Island of Hydra is an understatement. The touristy kitsch of the port area did not deter us. Adorable (and undoubtedly hopeful) cats greeted us, coming right to our legs for cuddles and the possible of snacks. Every street looked prettier than the last. Cars aren’t allowed anywhere on the island – and to be honest, I don’t have the faintest idea how they would navigate the tiny, hilly streets – so in their place, there are transport donkies. Almost every cafe offers a sea view. We walked for half an hour and found a beach. The pace of life on the island is slow, particularly compared to the breakneck speed of Athens, which made wandering and stopping at intervals seem perfectly reasonable.

We lingered over the most delicious lunch on an outdoor terrace looking out on the Mediterranean. In that moment, I forgot all about the boat rides – it felt like the perfect holiday day.

And the best part? I was able to find places to change my outfit repeatedly as we travelled the island, which meant that even though we weren’t near home in Athens, I got to do my usual mid-day holiday outfit change. It seems ridiculous, I’m sure, but working from home means that a lot of my favourite clothes don’t get out into the world very often. (When I travel for work, I’m generally stuck with a small subsection of my wardrobe that meets the requirements of our corporate dress code.) That means I have a couple more outfits still to share from our adventure in the Saronic Islands.

I’m not sure I’d go so far as to call myself an island girl. But I adored Hydra, and would happily go back. If only there weren’t so many other Greek Islands waiting to be explored…!

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