Latest news with #Daisy
Cosmopolitan
5 hours ago
- Cosmopolitan
Hydra is the laidback, stunning and walkable Greek island you need to book for your next summer trip
With hundreds of islands, it can be slightly overwhelming to know which of the picturesque Greek paradises to spend your precious annual leave at. However, after spending a week on the calm, sunny and car-free island of Hydra, it's safe to say it's at the top of my list of recommendations. The small island is located less than an hour away by ferry from the city of Athens. Spend a night in the city and soak up the lively atmosphere before heading over for a week of true relaxation in Hydra. The island was beloved by Leonard Cohen, and recently featured in an episode of Prime Video's Daisy Jones and the Six. But despite its fame, the vibe is lowkey and relaxed. Cars aren't allowed so everyone travels by foot, boat or donkey. The town itself is easily walkable, and you can see it all within a day, which leaves plenty of time for the highlight - the beaches. Dotted around the island are a number of gorgeous coves, mainly rocky, that took my breath away on multiple occasions. There are so many, you'll want to spend a good week on the island hopping from place to place, picnic and books in tote bags, ready to spend afternoons swimming in the crystal clear sea followed by Spritzes and games of Uno. And when the day is over, make sure to pay attention to the unreal sunsets as you get ready for a chilled out dinner in the marina. Ready to plan a week in Hydra? Here's everything you need to know about the Greek oasis. One of the biggest reasons I love Hydra is how the buildings have been maintained, with many restrictions stopping the development of big hotels taking over. Instead, hotels are boutique and intimate, like the Hotel Miranda where we stayed. It's located just a minute's walk up a side street from the main port, and was originally a sea captain's mansion built in 1810. There are just 14 rooms in the hotel, some with balconies looking out to sea, and others with garden views. The small number of rooms and relaxed nature of the hotel makes it feel like you're staying at the house of a great family friend. And this in part is due to the fact the hotel is run by Miranda - hence the hotel's name - and her lovely family. Breakfast is served each morning in the hotel's courtyard, surrounded by lemon, orange and jasmine trees, where you can tuck into freshly made pastries and local jam, while chatting away with other guests. Simply heavenly. Over the years it's played host to a number of artists and exhibitions, and this is reflected in the walls of the hotel, which are decorated in a very classical style but with all the modern facilities you could want. Book your stay at Miranda Hotel here Hydra is the island to come to if all you want to do is relax on the beach, catch-up on your reading list and swim in crystal blue waters. However, knowing which beach to go to is crucial. Many of them are accessible by water-taxi only, so you do need to slightly plan ahead - however the ones I've listed below are all accessible on foot. The journeys to them are so picturesque, it makes the stroll all the more enjoyable. Spilla beach Located less than a five minute walk from the centre, the Spilla beach is less of a beach and more of a series of plinths to rest and dive in from. It's set between two beach bars - the Hydronetta and Spilla beach bar - which are built into the rocks. It's the sort of place you go for a proper swim and then get out for a much needed Aperol. Avlaki beach This is just a 10 minute walk from the port and is located down a long set of steps. It's a very small beach with crystal clear blue water. It's a spot for a morning swim, where it's pretty much deserted, and then heading back for breakfast. There are no toilets or facilities, just two ledges to rest on. However there is a very nice restaurant, Téchne, at the top, which is open for lunch and dinner. Kamini If you're looking for a beach to spend the whole day on then I'd head to Kamini. It's about a 20 to 25 minute walk from the port, or you can get a water taxi. You can either lay a towel out on the beach for free or there are a few rows of sun beds and umbrellas you can rent for the day. They're part of the Castillo restaurant, which is truly stunning,and you can either eat in the restaurant, or order to your sunbed. We ended up taking sandwiches with us and ordering rosé while playing Uno all afternoon. Honestly, it doesn't get better than that. Mandraki Located to the right side of the port, this is either a five minute water taxi or 20 minute walk. There are two beaches, one that belongs to the Mandraki Hotel where prices for the sunbed a day are pretty spenny, or there's the public beach which has sun beds at a more affordable rate, restaurants, toilets and a beach bar. There's a number of yachts docked around this beach which makes for some great people watching. To note: apart from the beach at the Mandraki Hotel, the rest of the beaches on the island are made up of stones and not sand, so while not essential, next time I'd definitely bring a pair of water shoes. While you can get a water taxi to one place, there are also plenty of boat tours that will arrange to take you to many of the best beaches on the island in one day. Ideal if you're only there for a long weekend and want to pack as much in as possible. If you need a bit more activity in your day, then start the morning off with a horse ride. Harriet's Hydra Horses company leads group riding treks across hydra, visiting monasteries and beaches dotted across the island. She keeps the groups small and every trek is personalised to that group. Hydra is a small island with a small main town, but it's still packed with plenty to keep you entertained. As well as the shops lining the main port, there's also a number of galleries, the Hydra museum, and Leonard Cohen's house (you can't go into his old house but you can walk past and take pictures) to keep you busy. A classic no frills Greek taverna which easily had some of the best food we ate on the island. It's all about the salads, fresh fish and peppers stuffed with feta, and it's located in the most gorgeous square with live music playing. In the same square is Kafeneio, which is a more modern and elevated take on classic Greek dishes. It kind of felt like if you picked up an east London restaurant and dropped it onto a Greek island. This seafood restaurant elevated above the port is the best place to go for good food and unmatched views in the evening. While they specialise in seafood (order the king prawn linguine - you won't be disappointed), they also do plenty of Greek classics. You can't really leave Greece without having gyros, and this was our favourite place on the island to get them. The gyros are super fresh, have a variety of toppings available and the come in very large portions. There are plenty of places to drink along the main port, however our favourite place for cocktails was at Amalour. It's set in a lively square and looks out on a number of bustling restaurants. They do an unreal margarita and from around 11, you can start dancing until the early hours. Hydra isn't the island to come to if you want to go out partying every night - Amalour and Red Club are the only two venues to play late nice music. Amalour is perfect if you just want to let you hair down for one night while you're there. For more low key and intimate evening drinks head to the L'Americano. It's just down the road from the Miranda Hotel and does an incredible cocktail menu. With relaxed jazz music playing you could easily spend a few hours here. Oh and be sure to try the spicy white negroni. The best (and basically only) way to get to Hydra is to fly into Athens and from there take an hour and a half ferry from the port, which you should book ahead. Lydia Venn is Cosmopolitan UK's Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer. She covers everything from TV and film, to the latest celebrity news. She also writes across our work/life section regularly creating quizzes, covering exciting new food releases and sharing the latest interior must-haves. In her role she's interviewed everyone from Margot Robbie to Niall Horan, and her work has appeared on an episode of The Kardashians. After completing a degree in English at the University of Exeter, Lydia moved into fashion journalism, writing for the Daily Express, before working as Features Editor at The Tab, where she spoke on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour and Talk Radio. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of Gilmore Girls and 00s teen movies, and in her free time can be found with a margarita in hand watching the Real Housewives on repeat. Find her on LinkedIn.
The Independent
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Megan McKenna shares heartbreaking tribute to beloved family member: ‘I will miss you forever'
Megan McKenna has shared the loss of a family member with her fans, saying that she will 'miss them forever'. The TV personality revealed on Instagram that she has been 'hit hard' by the death of Daisy, her dog, who died aged 17. McKenna shared a reel of touching moments shared between the pair, including them cuddling and out on walks, to her three million followers on Sunday (25 May). The montage is set to the song 'Crazy' by Patsy Cline, which the star said she would often sing to her pooch but replace 'crazy' with 'Daisy.' 'Daisy, thank you for being by my side through every tear, laugh and milestone', McKenna said in another post.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Megan McKenna 'hit hard' by death of family member - 'I'll miss you forever'
Former TOWIE star, Megan McKenna, who now lives in Germany with her footballer fiancé, Oliver Burke, has lost her beloved pet dog, Daisy, who has died aged 17 Megan McKenna has admitted she's been "hit hard" after losing a beloved family member. The former TOWIE star, 32, who now lives in Germany after giving birth to her son, Landon, told her followers on Instagram that she'd lost her precious pooch Daisy, who has sadly died, aged 17. Explaining that Daisy had been with the reality star for all the major milestones in her life, Megan shared a selection of snaps of her pet, including one of her dog resting on the Celebrity X Factor star's baby bump. Captioning the emotional montage, Megan explained that Daisy died in her arms, sharing: "I've been putting this post off for a few weeks because it becomes real when I do. But I lost my first baby Daisy and it hit me so hard. 'She passed away with me holding her in my arms. My sister and mum next to me. I sang her to sleep like I always did when she needed comforting.' 'It breaks my heart even typing this out. Daisy, Thankyou for being by my side through every tear, every laugh and every milestone from my teenage years into my 20's and even 30's. '17 years old and you still jumped and run around like a little lamb. I can't explain how much I will miss my little baby. You got me through so many hard times growing up. I couldn't have stayed on my own in my house without your little fluffy self next to me.' 'You gave it a right go my little bubs. I know you're playing in heaven with Nanny & Granddad now,' Megan added. Thanking Daisy for helping her to be a 'good mum' to son, Landon, she concluded: "Thankyou for teaching me how to be a mummy. I'm a pro with Landon because of you, your little dinners, bath time, walkies and cuddles. 'You were the best Daisy. You were my baby. You will always be in my heart. I will miss you forever.' Responding to her sad news, Megan's famous followers told her they were thinking of her as they sent their condolences. Married At First Sight star, Ella Morgan, replied: 'I'm so sorry Meg. Sending you all my love, thoughts and hugs in what I can only imagine is an incredibly emotionally tough time for you all." Meanwhile, the reality star's fiancé, Oliver Burke replied with two love heart emojis. Megan and Oliver welcomed their baby Landon via IVF and Megan said that while the process was a "rollercoaster", she definitely do it again. Speaking about the couple's plans to have more children, she told The Sun: 'I have always wanted kids. Since I was young, I wanted to have a family and get married. I'm very family-oriented. 'It's a real rollercoaster going through the stages of IVF, but it's the best thing we've ever done, and we've got another embryo on ice ready to go."
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Heartbroken Megan McKenna shares devastating loss with fans, saying ‘I will miss you forever'
MEGAN McKenna has been left heartbroken after a devastating loss to her family. The former Towie star and country singer, who is now living in Germany after the birth of her son, posted the heartbreaking update on Instagram as she said goodbye. 6 6 6 The star shared that her beloved dog, who she referred to as her 'first baby' has died, after 17 years as her trusty sidekick. Sharing a slideshow of photographs of her beloved pooch, she wrote: 'I've been putting this post off for a few weeks because it becomes real when I do. But I lost my first baby Daisy and it hit me so hard. 'She passed away with me holding her in my arms. My sister and mum next to me. I sang her to sleep like I always did when she needed comforting.' 'It breaks my heart even typing this out,' Megan said. 'Daisy, Thankyou for being by my side through every tear, every laugh and every milestone from my teenage years into my 20's and even 30's. '17 years old and you still jumped and run around like a little lamb. I can't explain how much I will miss my little baby. 'You got me through so many hard times growing up. I couldn't have stayed on my own in my house without your little fluffy self next to me.' 'You gave it a right go my little bubs. I know you're playing in heaven with Nanny & Granddad now,' Megan added. 'Thankyou for teaching me how to be a mummy. I'm a pro with Landon because of you, your little dinners, bath time, walkies and cuddles. 'You was the best Daisy. You was my baby. You will always be in my heart. I will miss you forever.' Loved ones and followers quickly flocked to her comments section to pay tribute and share their condolences to Megan after her heartbreak. Megan McKenna shows off incredible post baby body in bikini just six months after giving birth and hitting back at mum-shamers MAFS star Ella Morgan said: 'I'm so sorry Meg. Sending you all my love, thoughts and hugs in what I can only imagine is an incredibly emotionally tough time for you all' 'I miss her so much. She'll be loved forever,' added her sister Milly. Friend Lauren added: 'She really was the best 🐾 what an amazing mummy you were to her! Love you so much 💔💔 I know how hard this has hit you. But she'll always be with you ❤️❤️❤️ xx' Her fiancé Oliver also shared his condolences, posting two love hearts. 6 6 6
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Megan McKenna left heartbroken after beloved family member 'dies in her arms'
Megan McKenna has taken to social media to share a tear-jerking tribute to her beloved dog Daisy who recently died, with the star 'singing her to sleep' Megan McKenna has been left heartbroken after her dog tragically died in her arms. The singer shared the tragic news with her social media followers and revealed she'd been delaying announcing the sad news at it became "real" when she spoke about it. The 32-year-old former reality star told fans how Daisy had been her "first baby" who helped her on the journey to motherhood. Taking to Instagram, Megan, shared a string of pictures with Daisy over the years, revealing she'd had the adorable pooch for 17 years and had been at her side throughout various tough times. "I've been putting this post off for a few weeks because it becomes real when I do," she said. Megan continued: "But I lost my first baby Daisy and it hit me so hard. She passed away with me holding her in my arms. My sister and mum next to me. I sang her to sleep like I always did when she needed comforting. "It breaks my heart even typing this out. Daisy, Thank you for being by my side through every tear, every laugh and every milestone from my teenage years into my 20s and even 30s." She went on to add: "17 years old and you still jumped and run around like a little lamb. I can't explain how much I will miss my little baby. "You got me through so many hard times growing up. I couldn't have stayed on my own in my house without your little fluffy self next to me. You gave it a right go my little bubs. I know you're playing in heaven with Nanny & Granddad now." A devastated Megan continued: "Thank you for teaching me how to be a mummy. I'm a pro with Landon because of you, your little dinners, bath time, walkies and cuddles. You was the best Daisy. You was my baby. You will always be in my heart. I will miss you forever." Her post, which has been liked over 56,000 times, was soon flooded with messages of support. Megan's sister Milly said: "I miss her so much. She'll be loved forever." One fan said: "Beautiful post Megs. Daisy was such a lovely doggy and always by your side. She was so loved, heartbroken for you!" A second penned: "Oh Megan, this is devastating, I'm so sorry to read this. I've been there and there's no pain like it, losing your fur baby. Sending you lots of love and hugs." "The pain of losing our furry family members is immense. Love sent to you," commented a third. Meanwhile a fourth typed: "Oh no not little Daisy, I'm so sorry to hear this she was a legend and you gave her a beautiful 17 years by loving her! Sending love." Last year, Megan gave fans an insight into her life and revealed she had left little Daisy at home with her family when she moved to Germany. She moved to the European country to be with her footballer partner, Oliver Burke, who had signed for Werder Bremen. However, Daisy had been too ill to move with her. She told fans: "Daisy can't travel, she can't travel far. "She suffers with really bad arthritis and she's been having treatment, these injections, back in the UK. My mum has her, my family look after he. She is my baby, but I'm obviously going to be coming back and forth to the UK."
