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Post by katet on Aug 9, 2021 19:14:01 GMT
Have just managed to change my profile pic to a more recent one ... taken by the lovely Nikos at Mythos Bar, who is a selfie expert (unlike me)
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Post by katet on Aug 10, 2021 8:19:38 GMT
Friday: Just re-reading and it sounds like I'm a party animal! I'm really not, but believe in living life to the full and gaining new experiences where I can. (When Paul died the district nurse who attended visited me the next day and said, from her own experience, don't turn down any opportunities or invitations as people will eventually stop offering them and you will regret it.) So, on my last Friday morning I was up by 9am and tried to take my coffee onto the balcony - but it was already far to hot a morning. The temperatures had climbed steadily all week and were now sitting at about 36C in the shade and 42C in full sun. The humidity was also very high - at about 66% - making it uncomfortable and sticky. Nevertheless, not one to sit in my air conditioned room for too long, I ventured out for breakfast and had three (small) delicious fruit pancakes, juice and coffee at the Foodie Café for a very reasonable 9.50 euros. By the way, I hope it doesn't annoy anyone when I remember to put meal costs in, but it is a very frequently asked question on various sites and gives an idea of the more reasonable places. Chris, who runs the café with his wife, told me that I must keep hydrated, so I made sure to also finish all of the bottle of water they always bring when you have coffee ... something I love. Several other locals were also saying the same to visitors .. but I haven't had difficulty in taking on lots of water this holiday, with the extreme heat. After an enjoyable hour at Foodie Café I decided to do a spot of shopping as I'd not brought enough loose clothing with me, not having anticipating quite such hot weather! Fitted clothing just wasn't comfortable. So I spent a pleasant hour and a wedge of dosh on a couple of sundresses, some linen shorts and a lovely white linen dress for evenings ... as you do Then back to the hotel for a nice shower and change and then out again for a sit on the Bourtzi and then a wander around the backstreets underneath the clocktower. I love wandering around, thinking 'oh, am I lost?' and then coming out somewhere I know. I usually take lots of random photos on these rambles. Today, my wanderings took me back onto Pap Street - as usual - and I decided on a cooling drink at Portobello before returning to the hotel for another shower and an hour trying to catch up with this saga. I had a pre-dinner drink at the V Bar (new, I think) and then thought I'd try to get into the Mouria taverna for my evening meal - unsuccessfully, so I walked to Dionysus and enjoyed a really tasty chicken curry! I hadn't planned on a curry, but it was so tasty and a little fiery and came with half rice and half potato wedges. It was quite empty when I arrived, but soon filled up. After that, I called into Anderssons bar for an hour to see Martha (and try a different cocktail!) and then Totem, where I'd arranged to meet two lovely young ladies who are the volunteers for the Skiathos cat welfare. Before I knew it, it was 3 am again and I was strolling the deserted (by now) streets back to the hotel
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Post by dennisn on Aug 10, 2021 14:13:55 GMT
Friday: Just re-reading and it sounds like I'm a party animal! I'm really not. Hmm, that's what I heard, party animal!!! And here's me thinking of throwing a birthday party for youn to come to in September, but it'll be over by the time you arrive, going by your usual timetable!
Absolutely lapping up your reports Kate, thank you sooo much.
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Post by kevb on Aug 11, 2021 10:04:02 GMT
Calling Lorraine123, your turn to pick up the baton and start a new feedback thread ;-)
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Post by cariad23 on Aug 11, 2021 16:59:05 GMT
really enjoying your reports kate , i can feel the sun and see the quiet streets early hours of the morning.
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Post by exgreekgod on Aug 11, 2021 18:28:08 GMT
And the busy streets and bars in the evening 😄
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Post by exgreekgod on Aug 11, 2021 18:29:18 GMT
Apparently Skiathos was on Good morning Britain this morning
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Post by katet on Aug 13, 2021 13:44:14 GMT
Apparently Skiathos was on Good morning Britain this morning I watched it on catch-up ... it was slightly misleading (as these reports usually are!) giving the impression that restaurants aren't checking people's vaccination status. They didn't say that it's only indoor venues that have to do this - and many bars (such as Anderssons) have only opened their outdoor seating so this doesn't apply. Apart from this, it looked fab and made me 'homesick' ... and nice to see the Mayor being interviewed!
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Post by katet on Aug 13, 2021 16:13:17 GMT
Saturday: I had a continental breakfast at Mythos at 10 am - and was really enjoying the pot of tea whilst I read my book for an hour. It was so hot that I decided on only venturing as for as the Bourtzi, where I found a shady spot and relaxed for another hour or so. (My holiday reading was a novel called 'Where The Crawdads Sing' - loved it and could hardly put it down.) Before going back to the hotel for a siesta, I took some photos of the very impressive new Sea Jets trimaran 'Champion Jet 1' docking and unloading. It's registered in Limassol and is now a regular in the port, bringing visitors in from Thessaloniki. I was up and ready for more by 7.30 pm, as I'd arranged to meet two friends (Ali and Julie) at Syraino for an early dinner before going to see Mama Mia at the Atticon. Well, best-laid plans and all that! We were having such a good time that we decided to give it a miss and keep on with the cocktails (we did eat first!). My friends had never been to Totem and were keen to visit, so we wandered off in that direction at about ten pm - only to find it closed! It was a bit of a disappointment for them (& me) ... we later learnt that the venue-checkers were in town, so Totem had closed voluntarily. Shame, though saved me another late one! We had another couple of drinks at Anderssons and it was approaching midnight, so I walked back down to the harbour with Ali and Julie and we went our separate ways. It was still about 30 degrees at midnight ... thanks goodness for a/c! Sunday: I took the water taxi to Koukounaries again as it was too hot to walk as far as the bus terminus! (I'd decided to go to whichever beach the first boat was leaving for - exciting!) As it was nearing the end of my two weeks I splashed the cash on a luxury Elivi sunbed and was pleased I had. I had waiter service and a comfy bed in the quietest area of the beach and read loads of my book, in between dips in the sea. I just love the water at Koukounaries; it's warm, easy to get into and the sand is so sparkly. When I walked along to the Ocean bar for some lunch the beach was really busy again - all the sunbeds were in use and there were lots of folk on the sand. I just had a sandwich and a soft drink as I get really sleepy if I have beer at lunchtime. I caught the specially laid on water taxi back to town at 4.20 pm - he was cashing in on the crowds by doing almost non-stop trips. Don't blame him at all! I had a mojito at Sea U before dinner at O'Batis, There I just had a main of swordfish steak with oven potatoes and horta (island greens), plus a glass of wine. I really enjoyed my meal - it was all delicious and the staff are lovely. This summer, they have a waiter there who used to work at Paraxenos for many years. After dinner I went for a stroll through the small streets to the rear of the old port as it was, at last, a touch cooler. My feet seem to have a will of their own and took me to Totem again - not planned! My cat welfare friends were there and persuaded me to stay for a longer than I'd planned by buying me a drink - so then I had to buy them one - and so on!!! It was fun, though and I was back at the hotel by about one thirty. Monday: I walked to the port at eleven for my pre-flight home test (I actually got there at half ten, but forgot my passport & had to go back for it!) As soon as I got to the front of the short queue they closed for a 15 minute break!!! By the time they re-opened there was a much longer and quite impatient queue of mainly mid-Europeans, very few Brits. It gave me time to type the email they tell you to send to request your results in English. The test was two separate nasal swabs, speedily done and I was released. It took about two and a half hours to come through and was negative - phew! (Considering my gallivants to Totem, where it seems they were letting in the unvaccinated ) I messaged my friend Ali and she kindly drove into town to pick me up for a day on Kolios beach - another first for me. (Unfortunately, the extreme heat wasn't suiting her husband and he'd decided to have a quiet day at their hotel.) We had a lovely few hours on the beach - and in the sea - the water was a fabulous temperature and was very calm. Lots of chatting and no reading! Kolios beach was fairly quiet and I'll definitely go there again. The temperature had now exceeded 40C, and despite being very careful, I managed to burn my shoulders - ouch! Back in town, I needed a sleep so was quite late (again) in going out for dinner. I tried Mouria - full - and had just decided to go to see if there were any tables at Paraxenos when I was approached by an American lady who asked me if I knew of anywhere for more modern food than that served the tavernas. I asked if she'd like to join me at Paraxenos & she was delighted as someone had told her it was good, but she didn't know where it was. So, my dinner companion that night was the lovely Gigi from Los Angeles who had been travelling in Cyclades with friends but decided to visit Skiathos for a few days before flying back to the States. An interesting evening! Neither of us had wine, I had a sesame feta starter, Gigi had an Aphrodite salad and we both had the sea bass fillet main. The food was excellent and the bill was E30 each, which included a tip. great value and we were served by the daughter of the house, the very accomplished Alexandra. An early night - just before midnight. Tuesday: I was awake and organised very early for my last full day - out at 9am to take some photos and then breakfast of omelette and fruit juice at the Foodie Café. I then did some present shopping - also buying myself a bigger bag for travelling home - before heading over to the Bourtzi café for some lunch. I had a really delicious chicken Caesar salad and freddo espresso, followed by a glass of blush wine and got chatting to a very friendly couple from the Netherlands who had spent their first holiday on the island. They were busy planning to return next June and September! After a lovely nap, I got ready and walked to Mouria Taverna where Ali had booked a table for us and her husband. Hooray - I'd made it to Mouria at last! I had been in previous years, with Paul, but it is (deservedly) very popular and my now casual approach to not planning where I was eating is not suitable for the most popular restaurants. We had a lovely meal, no starters. I had lamb chops and they (and the home made chips) were delicious. Ali had chicken schnitzel and her hubby had prawn linguine. We had to double-check the bill - it was only 30.60 in total! We eventually twigged that we had been given Boomer discount, which was so lovely of Areti, the owner. We definitely WEREN'T sporting any ribbons!!! We decided on a nightcap and spent a couple of hours at Syraino, me with my new favourite Aperol Spritz. It wasn't too late a night - in bed for 1 am. Wednesday: I was awake really early again. No need for alarm setting! I hadn't even started packing, so grabbed a coffee and then spent a necessary hour squeezing everything back into the case before jumping in the shower. The extreme heat meant that I couldn't possibly spend most of the day in my travelling clothes, so I put those in a separate carrier bag to change into at the airport and just wore a loose linen dress to cram into the case at the last minute. Before I left the room for the last time, I went onto the balcony to take a photo and there were two cormorants fishing for breakfast just under my balcony! I took a short video of them, feeling happy that I'd seen them on my last day. I left my case and bag with Dimitris, the hotel manager, and asked him to book me a taxi for 5.30. He said that the driver could come right along the old port at that time of day - I was very happy! I had a continental breakfast at Syraino, watching the day trip boats going out. Afterwards, I called in to see George in the 🤍I Love Skiathos office🤍 ~ unfortunately Martina was out for the day. I had a coffee and chat with George, then bought a couple of the calendars he has produced. He then surprised me by giving me a gift - a lovely print of a painting of The Water. I was really overwhelmed by his kindness. I then sat on the Bourtzi for a while and actually found a cooling breeze! I thought I had better have something to eat before leaving for the airport and sought out the shadiest spot, which turned out to be inside Portobello under a fan, where I had a spanakopita (I think I've spelled that correctly! ... spinach and feta in filo) and water. I still had an hour to wait, so meandered along the shadiest streets I could find back to the old port and sat in jasmine with a freddo espresso for an hour, chatting with a young waitress from Thessaloniki about her experiences of Skiathos. It was her first time on the island and she had absolutely fallen for it, too. Hmmm ... seems to be a theme here! The dreaded hour had arrived and, true to his word, Dimitris' taxi friend reversed up to the bottom of the Plakes steps and stowed my case in his boot. I said a regretful farewell to Dimitris and that was that! I had loads of time at the airport (too much really) but at least it was cooler there. On check in, the young lady at the desk just wanted to see my negative test result and my completed UK plf. After changing into 'plane clothes, I read for a while and then looked through all my photos - remembering what a fabulous time I'd had and feeling so lucky that all had gone smoothly and I'd actually had my two weeks in Paradise! That's all, folks!
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Post by dennisn on Aug 13, 2021 16:29:52 GMT
What a wonderful “that’s all folks”, tremendous. How do you remember it all long enough to give us such a terrific report? I regret that in September I shall not be up for the after midnight gallivanting, sorry.
But see you then, I hope.
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Post by katet on Aug 13, 2021 16:36:06 GMT
I hope so, Dennis! I make some very brief notes & look at my (very many) photos to jog the old memory. Actually, I love doing it, as in the dark, dreich of winter I can re-read it and cheer myself up :-D
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Post by dennisn on Aug 13, 2021 19:01:16 GMT
Read back in winter. I do that with mine and it really does me a power of good.
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Post by balddave on Aug 13, 2021 20:26:14 GMT
Thank you Kate for sharing your experience, absolutely fantastic reading. Hope Sue and I bump into you in September.
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Post by *Di* on Aug 13, 2021 22:57:45 GMT
Fabulous reading Kate, thank you so much for taking the time to post it all for us to enjoy!! Just reminded me, I have the book you mentioned, not started it yet but I’m about to go to bed and read awhile so will make a start 👍🙂
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Post by katet on Aug 14, 2021 12:36:08 GMT
Thank you all for your very kind words.
I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did, Di! And Dave - will look out for you and Sue :-)
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