Marina in Vlychos

The tavern "Marina" in Vlychos in Hydra is one of the oldest on the island, as it operates from 1963. It is located in a privileged spot, on a rock, a plateau on a hill with a privileged sea view, next to the beach of Vlychos, 7 minutes by sea taxi from the port of Hydra.

And yet the most interesting approach of Vlychos, which we unreservedly recommend, is through the walk, half an hour of refreshing course that passes through Spilia, Hydroneta, the mansion of Boudouris, the picturesque port of Kaminia and ends at Vlychos , crossing in the last meters of the route a beautiful single arched stone bridge.

With two conversations the tavern of Marina is the epitome of the tavern with the typical dishes of the classic Greek repertoire, in generous portions, reasonable prices and in an environment of special beauty, where the personality of the mistress-Marina has dominated for almost 60 years. The Marina Lembesi I have known her for years, in fact, in her shop I had the party for my son's baptisms thirty years ago.

«I was born in Spetses in 1943, I got engaged to a Hydra man who did his military service on my island, we got married in Hydra and we settled in his paternal house in Vlychos in 1963. At that time Vlychos was a desert, 5-6 houses. My husband worked in construction and I was alone with the in-laws in winter and summer. The next year I asked my husband for permission to set up two "tins" in the yard and to give some soft drinks, no coffee to those who came for a swim on the beach of Vlychos. And what I did not hear…! It was not a job for women…! Finally, with the help of my mother-in-law, we bent him. I found a discarded ice cooler, gathered around, from the sea fish boxes I made the tables, a small shelter and I started. Every morning I took the boat and with the oars I went down to the port of Hydra to get ice for myself and the neighbors -I also did the conductor-, the supplies and I returned. In the evening I went fishing with a net to catch fish and squid.

The rumor that a shop was operating in Vlychos circulated on the island, I was kneading bread and cooking roosters with thick spaghetti, my hunters brought hares to cook them, and I was lucky enough to have a neighbor in Vlychos from Polis, she taught me the moussakades, the pastitsio, the stuffing. My mother-in-law went crazy with these foods, she had never seen them in her life. Poverty was great, our clothes were all patches and life was very difficult. I remember that some Americans who enjoyed our service and food sent us costumes from America. Big joy!

In 1982 we made the first renovation and another followed to get to where we are now. But I was tortured a lot».

Many things may have changed on the island and the tavern of Marina. On the menu, however, Marina remains unconvinced and keeps her old food. Marinated anchovies, vlita, baked eggplant with onions, red sauce and feta cheese, pastitsio, moussaka, pies with mountain greens, water squid, pelagic fish At the end there will be the gorgeous galaktoboureko from milk and eggs of the neighborhood.

Aganta Mrs. Marina!