Greece bids farewell to Leonard Cohen

Athens, Nov 12  Greeks joined the fans worldwide to mourn the death of Leonard Cohen who died on Friday, as the Canadian songwriter who put his own mark in the history of music had special ties with the Hydra island for decades.

"There is art that expresses its era and art that transcends it. We will not forget the great Leonard Cohen," Xinhua news agency quoted Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras as saying in a tweet, as dozens of people visited Cohen's house on Hydra on Friday to lay flowers and messages.

"Thank you for everything Leonard," a message posted on the wooden door read.

Cohen, who passed away in the US at the age of 82, had bought an old run down house on the island in the 1960s.

On Hydra he lived for almost a decade, found his muse and wrote some of his masterpieces such as the "So Long, Marianne" and "Bird on a wire". Locals considered him as one of their own.

Marianne Ihlen, the woman who inspired the musician, poet and author Cohen died this summer. Cohen had bid farewell to her with a letter, noting that soon he would follow.