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Post by kevb on Sept 3, 2021 11:46:56 GMT
Yesterday morning took a bus to stop 16,up a lane heading inland. Took the right branch where it says Panorama and walked up the steep dirt track. Took binocs. Skiathos isnt much of a birding island but I saw chaffinches and goldfinches in the lower regions. Where it gets more conifer dominated higher up there are coal gits . I walked to Olive Thea restaurant, past it and back down other side but then branched off a woodland path marked hiking route 6. Plenty of spotted flycatcher around and a brief glimpse of what i think was a lesser grey shrike which is a great spot but im only allowed to include British birds on my annual list - boo! Eventually this came out at a junction with multiple options do picked one but this turned out to be a dead end. By time id given up and doubled back id prob put an extra 1.5miles on. Eventually came to a road which wound downhill through various pool bars including the crazy rooster. Lane came out opposite bus stop 15.didnt have either map or pedometer so not sure total mileage but it felt enough. Off at bs4 and called in to see mum ho had opted for afternoon at taxiarchis pool bar. Evening meal was a shrimp pasta for mum and pepperoni Pizza for me at Primavera round the corner from big church in town. Half litre of house rose not sure of total cost but it wasnt much. Both main dishes 12-15 euro think wine was 7 euro. A beer with mum in Main St then joined by facebook friend Helen so 1 in little square opposite Tesla. Mum went back to hotel. Helen and I had 1 in Kentavros which was totally empty before we went in then up to Totem for 1 but I was fading fast so that ended the drinking activities. Aching feet, lazy day tomorrow.
Road up to eventually reach Olive Thea
Little church on way up
The view from an area close to Olive Thea
Medusa plaque on a nearby villa wall
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Post by dennisn on Sept 3, 2021 12:03:01 GMT
How much was the boat trip Kev and what victuals (if any) were included? I’m taking an extra helping of cash with a wonder about a trip (not including the one we usually do which may no longer be going). Trouble is, we’re not ones to jump off boats into the sea so I don’t know (I can’t spend long in a cozzie soaked in sea water - scratches my bits and thighs). And I have an aversion to sunbathing long enough to get burnt.
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Post by dennisn on Sept 3, 2021 12:10:47 GMT
Wish I could walk like you Kev. I used to do a 10 miler in Samos when I could still walk. The pleasure of Greek mountainsides is wonderful , quiet, lovely smell, etc.
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Post by kevb on Sept 3, 2021 15:14:36 GMT
Re boats Dennis, Margarita was trying to drum up interest so we paid 15 euro think official price 20. They are all looking to do deals now the numbers have peaked. No swimming directly off boat, can swim at Lalaria (wouldnt recommend it) or Tsougria. I did neither and didnt get off the boat at Lalaria. Snacks and drinks sold at kiosk on boat, no formal meal. You will stop at either Asselinos or Eleni around lunchtime there are beach shacks at both. Alternatively take a packed lunch of your own. Lower deck provides full protection from sun. The boat was barely half capacity, loads of space to distance from others. If we have lots of spare cash next week we might look at one of the bespoke sailing days which are in the 60-80 euro per person but usually only 10-12 people each trip.
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Post by katet on Sept 3, 2021 18:30:27 GMT
You crack me up, Kev! "Final stop tsougria. I dint know about anyone else but for me this is the island that never fails to disappoint." My thoughts exactly! I also agree about Lalaria - it's very pretty to look at from a boat, but why would any sane person want to spent a scorching hot hour on an uncomfortable pebble beach, with zero shade? We stayed on the boat, too.
I also had a smile at "higher up there are coal gits" ... my hometown is an ex-mining area, and there are lots of gits here!!
You're packing a lot in ... am really enjoying your holiday!
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Post by dennisn on Sept 3, 2021 21:01:49 GMT
Here, here, Kate.
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Post by kevb on Sept 4, 2021 15:59:41 GMT
Sorry for typos and lack of copy editing. Coal gits indeed 😂
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Post by kevb on Sept 4, 2021 16:15:38 GMT
This is going to have to be quick and in truth not much to report. Spent the morning with Julie and Graham who moved here permanently last Sep. Brought some items that they to get here or are v expensive. Interesting getting a take on island life from now permanent residents who have gone through a winter. It was Friday so took mum down to Amoretto to watch a few planes in and out and daft people get sandblasted as we chatted to J&G. That took us to after 12pm so they dropped us at the Alkyon and we walked to tennis club from there, spent lazy afternoon there. Lady from FB group had booked us into Olive Thea in evenjng and we were picked up from bs4. Unfortunately it had been a day and a chill breeze was blowing through Olive Thea. Also had a wedding reception going on so we didnt getvthe best service but the food was good. 3 starters 4 mains 1 litre wine about 105 euro including tip so not silly prices. Dropped back in town and we finished the night off at a table outside Totem listening through window, looked busy inside. Things will calm down a bit after sunday.
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Post by kevb on Sept 5, 2021 7:15:22 GMT
Mum and I decided on a little excursion to Mandraki. Bus to stop 24 then nip back to gyros under the pines. Take the lane to left of gyros place and keep walking up through forest ignoring any tracks off to left. Eventually reach what looks like a dead end with a locked metal light gate. At one time there was a gap to right of gates with concrete steps to get through. The ground has given way now so the steps are useless. However a new route to right has been cut through trees marked hiking path 2. This brings you out on track you want but a bit further down. The path is narrower here and a bit overgrown but usable. This leads to a gap in the bushes coming out on the main dirt track round kouk peninsular. Options here are straight down to Mandraki Xerxes or turn right and go down main track until next left down to Mandraki Elias. Never been to Elias so we gave it a go. It had been a bit gloomy early doors but after a feta cheese and bread lunch the sun perked up and we hired a pair of comfy loungers and brolley for 10 euro. I had a walk in the sea. Its so shallow you have to go a long way out to swim properly. The waves were a bit lively as well. To be continued.
Blow by blow photo directions from bus stop 24 to Mandraki Elias
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Post by dennisn on Sept 5, 2021 7:19:20 GMT
Thanks for the tip Kev. I’ll take some feta and bread to cheer the sun up when we go out😎👍
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Post by kevb on Sept 5, 2021 11:05:05 GMT
After dipping and a bit of sunbathing we were concious of the time as we had dinner arrangements already at hand and its a good walk back so we were looking to pack up before 4:30. Just as we were thinking of getting stuff together Mandraki gave us a rather nice surprise when 2 dolphins came in quite close to shore hunting fish in the shallows. Only seen them off boats before here. Last night of holiday for 2 FB friends so the 4 of us ate at Alexandros. Mum even got up and did some Greek dancing with the lady there. Ended up not ordering starters but had an extra salad with main courses. Think we ended having 4 half litres of house wines, total about 25 euro each. We intended on Blind Dog for their last night but it was full and no one seemed to be budging so the queue just hung around. We gave up and opted for nightcaps in the little square opposite Tesla, seem to end up here a lot for final drinks. Walking had done me in, in bed by 1am.
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amy115
Full Member
Posts: 341
Visits to Skiathos: 5
Accommodation Stayed At: Thymis House Hotel
Dream House
Elizabeth Studios
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Post by amy115 on Sept 5, 2021 14:09:33 GMT
You crack me up, Kev! "Final stop tsougria. I dint know about anyone else but for me this is the island that never fails to disappoint." My thoughts exactly! I also agree about Lalaria - it's very pretty to look at from a boat, but why would any sane person want to spent a scorching hot hour on an uncomfortable pebble beach, with zero shade? We stayed on the boat, too. I also had a smile at "higher up there are coal gits" ... my hometown is an ex-mining area, and there are lots of gits here!! Kate, my thoughts exactly. Kev, i don't know if you meant to be amusing but i LOL at your description of the eclectic group on the boat and i am still chuckling about the coal gits (aren't some typos wonderful).
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Post by kevb on Sept 5, 2021 17:36:59 GMT
Well today was something of a dead day and started with farewells. I suppose this is perhaps the appropriate point to let you all know that I've been seeing rather a lot of one of the ladies from the Skiathos Single Boomerangers facebook group during part of my first week. She flew back to the UK this morning with her friend who I already knew from a couple of previous Skiathos holidays. So I walked all the way to the airport and back after seeing them off then back to hotel to pick up mum and gear for planned trek back to tennis club. Id be interested to know how many steps ive done over last couple of days. Quel horreur, not a sunbed to be had at tennis club. Never known it before even on a Sunday. Plan B bus it out to Kolios, got a couple of sunbeds OK. Was supposed to be looking at the swanky Beach House on new ladies recommendation but we ate at the rather low rent gaff you pass as you come into the beach from entry closest to bs15. I think we still got ripped off at 19euro 50cents for 1 beer, 1 tea, 1 small portion of chips and 1 unexciting tuna open baguette. To be avoided in future and the English woman serving there is hopeless. I think she occasionally gets an order right by pure fluke. To cap it all the buses were inevitably full coming back to town. Watched 2 sail on by before sharing a taxi with someone we knew, 12euro to the port. Im exhausted and actually considering the unthinkable on Skiathos - a night in! 😲
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Post by yorkshiremouth on Sept 6, 2021 21:15:24 GMT
A Skiathos night in?
That’s fine. They sell oregano crisps and Mythos at the supermarket.
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Post by kevb on Sept 7, 2021 4:50:04 GMT
Too much candle burning at both ends recently inevitably caughtvup with me. Despite rain and some thunder & lightning I got nearly 9 hours sleep in by just never getting out Sunday evening. Sometimes your body just needs to catch up. Monday morning much fresher both myself and the weather. Waitingvto see whatvit might do wecwent on down to the bus terminus to check out minibus times for monastery. Next one was 40min away so headed over to green bus cafe over road for coffee. I had used this a lot in 2018 when staying at agnantema rooms. Headed back over to form some sort of queue but when bus came there were more people than spaces and Im sad to say some Brits have gone feral and now just try to barge their way on even though its clear we have been there longer than they have. Downright rude. With some defensive manouevers we both just got on and soon were wandering the quiet courtyard of Evangelistra. I dont do it every trip so a few years since I was here. Never changes though and maybe thats part of the draw when you have things to mull over, which I did. Her name is Helen😉 Mum had a look in museum while I got adopted by a very friendly feline that hopped into my lap. We also went to the cafe next door for mint tea and a lemonade. The forecast rain didnt arrive so maybe enough time to sunbathe? Back on bus which filled again to point 2 people over limit technically. Masks worn. Back to town then back to hotel to collect towels etc and we spent rest of day round Taxiarchis pool at top of town. Had hot dog and beer for lunch, very Teutonic. Arranged to meet one of our remaining boomerangers for a meal at Amfiliki as she flies back Wednesday. We shared a greek salad then all decided on swordfish which was good but the accompanying garden veg were tepid and uninteresting. Bottle of waterand half litre house rose (have to ask for house plonk, not on official list) and it was 23euro each incl tip which was OK. Service not great and german couple kept lighting up on next table so we adjourned to the square opposite Tesla for a nightcap. Seem to end up here a lot, nice vibe. Jo went off, mum decided to head for hotel and i had 2 beers in Kentavros befire it got smokey. Another day gone so easily and Im beginning to doubt I will hire a car yet again despite 2 weeks. Maybe next time. Looking at an early start tomorrow to go get tested at the port.
A few photos from the monastery but we've probably seen them dozens of times
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