A Detailed tour of the Villa

You enter the property from the street to a very large courtyard with dining and sitting areas, which feature three attractive outdoor alcoves that have been carved out of the mountain side. The courtyard is open and has magnificent views of the mountain and the village but is still intimate and private.

The alcoves featured outside are continued into the house and into the kitchen.

The traditional kitchen area is built out of old  “rescued” tiles which add a feeling of authenticity even though this is a newly built property.

The kitchen is excellently appointed with plenty of cupboards and workspace plus cooking utensils and serving dishes, so cooking and eating in will be as much of a delight as eating out.

Stairs from the kitchen lead to the living room on the first floor.

This  is a wonderful, open space, full of light from an east, south east aspect, with plenty of windows offering beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and the valley down to Vlichos.

A third person can sleep on the sofa bed in the living room. If so, a curtain can be added to give the feeling of privacy.

The owner of Cactus Villa has built the house in the traditional manner, so much so that you would hardly be able to detect that it hadn’t been standing for generations. The ceiling is open to the rafters with excellent insulation. There are two ceiling fans, which keep the room airy and cool. The double glazed windows helps to make the room cosy & warm in the winter.

Airconditioning is also available.

In the living room you will find a TV and CD player (so please feel free to bring your favourite tapes & CD’s although there is a large selection of classical music CD’s for your pleasure). You will also find a DVD player and plenty of films.

The double bedroom has been well planned. There is a ceiling fan and airconditioning to keep you cool.

It has a beautiful view of the village in the distance and its separate entrance leads down, via a traditional external staircase, to a vast charming patio giving full privacy to any guest staying in the living room.

The shower room is comfortable with lots of reflected daylight through the cleverly used glass bricks. Linen and towels are provided, only for house use, so please bring your own beach towels.

On the patio below, there is a charming alcove with shower room and WC plus an extra shower under the outside stairs, which is great to shower off the salt after your swim in the sea nearby.

Cactus Villa is very well appointed and throughout you will find sculptures by the owner. As an artist, she understandably has an eye for detail and this is reflected in the many little touches you will find around the house that add charm and character.

Quite aside from the look of the house, the owner has also paid attention to convenience and comfort, so you can expect a very high standard from every aspect.

So Cactus Villa is for you, if you are looking for a charming, island property to rent in a very, quiet location, with total privacy and seclusion, yet with a great view and feeling of spaciousness, still within an easy 10-12 minute walk from the centre of Hydra. There are a couple of shops for provisions and three of the best restaurants very close by and it’s only a 5-7 minute walk to the nearest organized beach in Kamini.

During late fall, winter and early spring, the house is made snug and warm with plenty of carpets, blankets, airconditioning and heaters.