Hydra in Winter

When I jet off for two weeks on Hydra, I'm not seeking a sun-kissed Greek island escape; instead, I'm chasing the story of my husband's great-great grandfather-Australia's first Greek convict, and a pirate! Yes, I married into a pirate family, and the quest for the family parrot continues! Not deterred by cold driving rain and my zero Greek language skills, I begin my search by appealing for help from the local archivists. But as I settle into a shipowner's mansion on the harbour, sample Hydra's fresh seafood and hike the island's hills, the warm hospitality of the islanders transforms my urgent quest into a joyful lesson in slow travel. And it ignites a new passion: writing. I share funny observations on everything from powerful ship-owning families (my in-laws!) to the charm of the island's architecture and its donkeys. ?It's a funny, heartwarming adventure for: lovers of travel books history buffs Philhellenes aspiring seadogs procrastinating novelists seasoned travellers and armchair adventurers alike anyone trying to keep the spark alive at any age. ? "Chronos is the measured, ticking seconds of daily life; kairos represents those rare, significant moments that transcend ordinary time. Hydra is kairos." -Shelley Dark Hydra in Winter "Reading Hydra in Winter is like drinking a bottomless glass of champagne-bubbly, refreshing, and bound you make you laugh." -Kyra Geddes, author of The Story Thief