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Post by dennisn on Sept 12, 2015 21:08:15 GMT
Sorry to be so long Bob.
Our journey was a shocker. Only because of my man flu, which kept us both awake on Thursday night. We went to bed at 7pm with the alarm set for 2:30am, but I coughed and spluttered right from the outset and neither of us got a second's sleep. We gave up trying at 1:30 and departed to drive to Birmingham at soon after 2:30. We were dead on out feet and the flight was just awful - we couldn't get settled to be able to sleep, so we arrived here (10 minutes earlier than scheduled- great) absolutely banjaxed. Soon arrived at Villa Maria, unpacked, shopped just up the road, then forced ourselves to take a quick plunge in the pool. It was cooler than I hoped, but tolerable.
At 5pm I could hardly stand, so I flopped on the bed and apparently out like a light. Vera says she joined me later, but I never noticed. We woke at about 6:45 this morning!
And came back to life. I still have man flu so Vera didn't want me to go swimming- the iPhone app told us before we looked outside that it was either raining or a full storm. So we looked outside and saw a pleasant dawn and Vera granted permission. Being later than normal we went for our swim half an hour late, not getting there until 8:30. On the way we saw the goat/chickens/veg/grill/milk man. He didn't notice us trying to wave so we had to resort to Vera's skills at whistling with her fingers (I never learned and when I got my new teeth I asked the dentist if I'd be able to whistle through them and he said I should be, but he back-pedalled on that when I said I'd always wanted to) so then he saw us. There were very few people about and we paddled swimmed for about an hour, in the middle of which we agreed it felt like we'd never been away.
I forgot to say that when we got off the transfer coach we were greeted by Maureen. I hope I had enough life in me to be polite, but it was quite a blur of exhaustion. Just as it was when the fisherman and his wife arrived soon after and clocked in next door but one.
The sleep and swim brought us back to being humans, so off we went to town on the happy man's bus. It was so nice that he recognised us. A tasty gyros, then off to the gold shop to take a necklace for repair.
By the way, one reason I don't get too involved with shopping came to light - I picked up sugar-free digestive biscuits for my breakfast, which surprised Vera as she picked up the same for herself. They are disgusting so I've had to get some sugary ones.
Anyway, back to town, we bought a couple of dresses or tops or something, then some other thing.
The submarine came in and set anchor, so tomorrow will be the remembrance service. Vera has brought her poppy brooch to wear and has copied out the poem that they read on Remembrance Day back home. I shall wear shoes, long trousers and a shirt and will remove my hat.
We came back on the nice lady's bus and she recognised us.
We ate our first meal at Varelli's, to yet another warm welcome. Lamb kleftiko for Vera, chicken a la crime for me. Both superb. Wicked that not only did we have a tsatsiki starter, but also ice creams to finish!
When end we told Angela the submarine had arrived, she said it would be flying riding lights. So off we went back to town to see it and the nightlife.
We we got on a fairly empty bus at the bus station, but by the time it left, it was fuller than "standing room only". Of course, it stopped and picked up more at stop 4 and it became "lying across the seat backs". Glad to say this was both our first and last trip to town at night.
We have booked a jeep for next week, three days for the price of two - 100 Euros, plus 24 extra for excess waver.
Strewth, it's midnight! Goodnight all.
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Post by kelso on Sept 13, 2015 7:35:28 GMT
A great read as usual Dennis! Keep it coming. I hope that your ailments disappear quickly. Bob
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Post by dennisn on Sept 13, 2015 12:01:40 GMT
Sunday afternoon.
We overslept again this morning. Actually I was woken at 7:15am by the sound of rain! By the time I struggled out to look, it had already stopped just leaving wet floor. There was a faint rainbow beyond the radio tower but it wasn't worth chasing - I'm sure it would have been a very poor pot of gold.
We got down to the beach late again and the water was better than yesterday- I still had to be brave, but once in, it was terrific. We went down at the same time as the fisherman and he had to be polite and walk as slowly as us. What a shame for him to get caught by a couple of old fogies! I saw my first jumping fish but Vera missed it. First time ever, there were two swans in the sea. We've seen them in the sea at Koukounaries, but it was a surprise at Troulos bay.
After our showers it was already getting on and we dressed posh to go to the submarine ceremony. Last year it was said to be 10am, but when we got there at 10, somebody said 11, then it was ages before it started. So we were confident of timing as we got the 10:30 bus, walked round to the old port where the ceremony was almost over! But we were able to present ourselves and feel that we had taken part. Some crass tourist girl person had the cheek to get in amongst a group of sailors for a photo- how low can you get?
Up at the Bourtzi later I could see what seemed to be ordinary people on the submarine so I suddenly realised the ultimate challenge for the wedding organisers - arrange a wedding on the submarine deck next year. Now that would be the dog's whatsits, so come on all you blushing brides to be, that's surely the top wedding venue!
OK, early finish to today's episode, time for a dip in the pool. We're off to Salt and Pepper later.
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Post by dennisn on Sept 13, 2015 17:20:46 GMT
Epitaph to Sunday.
Suffice to to say Salt and Pepper was excellent as usual. The epitaph is because as we went out we found Angela and Stamatia in floods of tears, very distraught indeed. The family cat had just met an untimely end on the road outside and they were inconsolable.
Fortunately, Stamatia resumes school tomorrow so it is to be hoped that will help her toward getting over it. She adored it, as did Angela.
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Post by kelso on Sept 13, 2015 17:53:22 GMT
Ah, the poor souls. It's never easy to lose a pet and even worse for it to have happened so close to them. Bob
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Post by dennisn on Sept 14, 2015 19:46:50 GMT
Monday 14th September.
Although we are pretty settled now, the later sunrise is not helping our early rising. Once again we didn't hit the beach until about 8:30. Smoothest sea so far although still not glass. We continue to keep eyes open for the skittering fish but no luck.
Stamatia went off to school in subdued mood but when we saw her after she came home she was getting back to normal.
We reached our usual gyros place about noon, but the cooking man wasn't there, with the woman overseer replacing him. We've had one cooked by her before and vowed never again, so we walked on by, to return another day. Instead, we tried on in No Name and found it suitable. We liked the look of the content of the sandwich bar and may give that a try some time.
We enjoyed a bit of alleyway wandering. It really is a delightful town with narrow lanes going every which way and so many small enterprises to catch the eye.
Yesterday, we called on the old harbour and booked for Victoria's boat to Skopelos and Alonissos. It suddenly came to my mind that it's my birthday so I shall hope for balloons and streamers! At the least, you will not be inflicted with a rainy birthday drive video.
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Post by dennisn on Sept 15, 2015 17:29:07 GMT
Tuesday 15th September Last night was "disappointing". Last year here, I met a couple of men who had the same gastric thingy as myself. I have put up with it for years, thinking the only part for me was to eat early and go to bed late, but they told me they have a daily pill. So after a few more months of it getting worse, I went to the doctor and got a daily pill, Omeprazole, which changed my life overnight and made me curse myself for being so stupid for so long and not going to the doctor with it. Recently, however, I've had a couple of recurrences and after much thought we concluded I have maybe developed an objection to cheese and cream in quantity (Vera also thinks it may be mixed alcoholic beverages, but that would be too awful to contemplate!). Anyway, last night, without a moment's thought, we ate at Sunrise and had their fantastic creamy tsatsiki, then the equally fantastic special pizza. And I was up until gone 3am!!! And was rewarded/consoled with coffee in bed at dawn. Breakfast for me was revised from digestive biscuits with tomato topping, to a fresh peach instead. A big peach, so big it was as big as a big peach. Straight out of the fridge it was incredible. Another late walk to the beach where the sea was the best so far, hardly any effort to get through the cold pain barrier, then best part of an hour idly swimming gently to and fro up and down the bay. On pain of some terrible consequence, we are not allowed past the buoy line, beyond which lies the fisherman's domain and he says there's a camera watching to catch us if we misbehave! Later in town we had a toasted sandwich/baguette at No Name, filled with burger, sausage and the works, really delicious. As we ate, we saw a couple of crocodiles of tourists off the big cruise liner moored in the bay. They arrive in the old port on the ship's own big orange motor lifeboats, which discharge groups of 30 or so to wind their way along the alleys in little flocks. Our good deed for the day was to ask a couple of lost women if they were lost, then guide them to where they wanted to go - Pan Jewellery. When we got there, the man of course recognised us and Vera's necklace was already repaired, so that was our Good Samaritan reward. Then on the way to the Bourtzi we recommended the Thursday trip to Skopelos which we are joining, to a couple of undecided people. Tonight's meal was at Ratatouille - Tsatsiki followed by chicken souvlaki. We knew that was our order even before we got there. Just how the chef gets the chicken so succulent and the various veg so right beats me, so I always compliment him as we leave - for anyone who hasn't been, he stands and cooks inside a counter area alongside the dining area, so you can watch him at it. With a beer and a large water, 25.50 Euros. Complimentary mini-magnum ice cream lollipop. We shall be going again as one of our favourite four eating places. Now we shall see how my gastric insides react to that tonight! Another Euromillions Lottery draw tonight, another chance of our house in Skiathos.
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Post by derbyshirelass on Sept 15, 2015 18:43:29 GMT
Lovely to read what you are getting up to Dennis, it was good to meet you and Vera at last. Hope you are feeling a bit better, man flu wise and tummy wise. So sorry to hear about Angela's beautiful cat. I remarked last week that the heat seemed to put it into a trance as it found shady places to sleep. I stroked it a few times and it never woke up. Angela and Stamatia must be so sad. By the way we saw jumping fish alright. Mu husband spotted them and the next thing I knew hundreds of smaller fish were leaping out of the sea right next to me, I couldn't get out quick enough as I didn't like the thought of any landing on me. It looks like they were being chased by the larger fish. Keep up with your journals as they make for interesting reading. By the way Ratatouille is our favourite place to eat.
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Post by dennisn on Sept 16, 2015 4:43:18 GMT
Yes, we've seen jumping fish shoals every visit (not every day), but not yet this time. It certainly is little fish chased by bigger ones and twice this week I've seen a single small fish jump and thrashing water beneath it as the larger fish chases it. Best not to read Peter Benchley books on the sunbeds I think. I have long since persuaded myself that the "larger" fish will be only mackerel size, but if you like to let your imagination run riot, it's easy to find a reason to head for the hills! We've only ever seen the jumping shoals going across our eyeline, not like the one which came for you. I like to think I would have been brave, but that's easy to say when it's not you, isn't it? One mouse would send me up the furniture!
My gastric whatsit survived unscathed last night - consolation, perhaps, for the Euromillions result - to plagiarise Mr Cowell, a big fat zero!
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Post by dennisn on Sept 16, 2015 18:32:31 GMT
Wednesday 16th September.
Another quiet, relaxing day, starting off with a late walk to the beach (we didn't get there until 8:45am). Normally we pluck tasty green stuff to feed to the goats opposite Sunrise Taverna Apartments on the way back from the beach, but we saw some good stuff on the way out and took it to them, leading to extra delays. The sea was almost glassy and the temperature was probably as good as I can expect. Certainly September seems to be the best sea swimming temperature.
We had a gyros at our usual place in town, where we pity the poor girl who is front of house. The boss woman sits at the back, inside, shouting the girl's name every time she stops running!
Why do those tour boats go round that little island with the light on? They pull out of the Old Harbour, turn left and circle that island, then charge off to wherever they are going. Strange.
We we ate at Varelli tonight. Tsatsiki (in my opinion the best out here - others are free to disagree, because Sunrise and Ratatouille do very good ones too), then mixed grill for two. Amstel and large water. Total 33.50 Euros. Excellent, and we don't understand those people who think eating out is expensive.
No swimming tomorrow morning as we have to be on the boat at 9:45am, so bus stop at 8:30.
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Post by dennisn on Sept 17, 2015 18:41:17 GMT
Thursday 17th September.
Happy birthday to me and three other Boomerang members. Bit of a letdown sharing it with so many others, but I bet they'd rather be here.
No sea swim this morning, 8:40am bus for the 9:45am boat trip to Skopelos and Alonissos. Goats will have to make do with whatever the other tourists hand out.
A lovely calm sea. You have to admire Victoria doing her comments in four different languages. A couple of dolphins came to play and be photographed. We travelled to Skopelos in the company of a honeymooning couple (2nd time round, not children) and they were ever so pleasant despite being southerners. On the final leg homeward bound they bought me a beer and tried to embarrass me by singing Happy Birthday, not much hope of that - I don't embarrass that easily and countered by shouting around the boat that they were honeymooners - success, they blushed and ducked down! I bought Victoria 's book again and this time remembered to get her to sign it.
We had decided to take our main meal in Skopelos and chose a taverna we've been before. Tsatsiki, Moussaka for Vera and Spaghetti Bolognese for me, water and a beer. 24.40 Euros. I couldn't finish mine and had to nibble at a complimentary baklava!
Back on board we went off to Alonissos. Not taking a trip on the local bus meant we had two hours to have a drink and buy even more T-shirts - we each got a monk seal one, according to Victoria, the rarest mammals in Europe, with the total population of about 600 being there.
The honeymooners are staying in the Troulos Bay Hotel and booked the trip through their holiday rep, 70 Euros for the pair, to compare with our DIY 48. Both totals include bus transfer - ours on the trusty local, theirs by tour bus from/to hotel to New Port. We didn't think they got a bargain!
Back at Villa Maria, Angela had arranged a birthday banner, balloons, a card and another T-shirt. For my party I shared a big bag of origami flavour crisps with a small glass of Mavrodaphne in case my gastric thing is feeling tetchy.
Didn't win the lottery again last night so tomorrow may be the big day. G'night.
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Post by dennisn on Sept 18, 2015 17:48:58 GMT
Friday 18th September.
The sea this morning was unbelievable, flat calm and warm enough for me to get in with hardly a shudder at all. We still haven't seen any skipping fishes, but as we got out (Vera first, I collect a bottle of seawater to wash our feet), I was coming past a girl when Vera called "There's a big fish behind you". The poor girl jumped out of her skin and Vera quickly said she meant a fish bigger than tiny and she settled down. But she came out quite soon.
The taverna man was trying to catch something this morning - standing at the edge of the water with his trousers rolled up above his knees, armed with a plastic pail and a child's fishing net. He'd watch for while, then creep gently out into ankle deep water and then smash the net in to get something. He missed.
The fisherman caught up with us on the way back, carrying by the gills a fish he'd caught - said it was a dorado and it certainly looked big enough to eat. He was taking it back for Captain Nikos (of Appalousa Taverna) to cook for him and his wife. Bit of a new twist on Bring Your Own, innit? I wonder what corkage or guttage or whatever they charge for that?
Usual trip into town, got off at BS 4 and decided to try wending our different way onwards. WE wandered happily through all the lovely narrow alleyways and eventually for the first time, found Taverna Alexandra. By Tries Hierarches we had our sandwich at the Plateia sandwich shop. It turns out (when Vera enquired) that their bread is so delicious because they have their own bakery somewhere (next door, maybe?).
On the Bourtzi we watched Amy's plane come in from Manchester, but she didn't wave back to us. No word from her yet, maybe she's having the same sort of zonked out recovery sleep as we did.
We ate at Salt and Pepper tonight, Kalamari for Vera and Sea Bass for me. Two glasses of Mavrodaphne. 35 Euros including tip. The food was excellent and how anyone can think that's expensive beats me. We shall continue to recommend the place for both food and service.
My horoscope says I'm going to win the Euromillions tonight - goodnight plebs!
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Post by amy114 on Sept 18, 2015 18:28:51 GMT
Did you recognise by the colours Dennis or by the fact that it was late! Grrrrhhhhhh.
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Post by dennisn on Sept 19, 2015 4:00:02 GMT
You said Manchester and due to land 1:15pm. The plane said Germania on it and landed at 1:55pm. I watched it on Flightradar24 get as far as the North Sea, then simply kept an eye out from the Bourtzi later.
My horoscope got my hopes up too high. £3.40. Good morning friends!
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Post by dennisn on Sept 19, 2015 17:27:02 GMT
Saturday 19th September.
Nothing new today. A lad at the beach this morning was fishing with a hand line and had caught a few fish. Odd, he was just whizzing this line out baited with bread, whereas the fisherman has these incredibly expensive proper rods and incredible little squiggly plastic fish baits. Of course the lad is fishing for food, (and successfully) whilst the fisherman is a sportsman.
There was no sign of Amy at the Bourtzi, so she must still be asleep.
We've just had a lovely meal at Ratatouille- tzatziki, lamb chops for Vera and chicken souvlaki for me. Large water for Vera and two glasses of wine for me. 29.50 Euros. The lamb chops were some of the best Vera has had, big and meaty, not the usual skimpy ones elsewhere.
I already said said we have a jeep booked for Monday for three days. The weather forecast is currently Monday storm, Tuesday and Wednesday rain! Well, there you go. We've had absolutely incredible weather so far, so we can't complain.
Isn't it a shame that the lottery draw is too late to get tonight? I shall have to check in the morning to see whether I'm talking to you plebs. G'night, plebs.
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