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Post by balddave on Jul 5, 2017 17:29:38 GMT
Kate having spent a week in the Atlas in may, think you will be pleasantly surprised.proper mixer shower, however needs running for a few minutes to stabilise temperature.
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Post by dennisn on Jul 5, 2017 18:24:29 GMT
Wednesday 5th July.
Last night's mozzie didn't get me - Vera's inspection came up all clear. But not for her! Now I'm sleeping on top of the sheets, without a top, so with my girth there's a helluva target for monsters. But nothing! However, Vera has several, despite sleeping in appropriate nightwear and under a sheet. Not fair, not nice!
After a lazy day yesterday, we rose bright and early to a calm morning and got to the beach soon after 7:30am. The sea was pretty flat calm, no waves, just slightly rippled. BUT the recent winds have brought the temperatures down significantly. The sea now seems to me to be the temperature I'm accustomed to at this time of year, i.e. big girl's blouse. So a very cautious entry, actually made harder by there being no waves - they at least smack and get my bits cringing well in advance! Even Vera eventually admitted it was cold enough for us to get out after less than an hour. With our breakfasts we gobbled nearly a full bowl of black cherries - they are properly more-ish, big, juicy and taste like they've been injected with cherry flavour.
Once in town, I went to the Vodafone shop to raise a bit of hell over my data 4G speed being slightly over zero. She looked down her nose at the elderly fool in front of her and told me to switch off and back on again. That gave me later results in different parts of town up to 25Mbps download. Still unhappy that Nikos here on Cosmote gets 196Mbps - yes, I saw it with my own eyes, 196Mbps!
We were too early for the Plateia sandwich shop, so we had a drink to pass the time at the cushions place and discovered how to find things expensive - €8.50 for a small beer and frappé.
"Home" in Troulos, we replenished our stocks of cherries, today's paper, sugar, salt and digestive biscuits for my breakfasts.
We ate at Kalivi. A great success - proper tzatziki with pitta bread, then mixed grill for Vera and moussaka for me. All delicious, we shall go again. With a large water and two beers it was a paltry €29.20. Unbelievable.
Uhoh, there's another mozzie buzzing my ear. Goodnight (I hope!).
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tweed19
New Member
Posts: 26
Visits to Skiathos: 3
Accommodation Stayed At: La Luna
Byzantium
Skiathos Premier
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Post by tweed19 on Jul 5, 2017 18:56:17 GMT
Glad you gave Kalivi another try Dennis, we thought it was great, nice and traditional.
We found the fruit delicious, cherries, watermelon, peaches and nectarines all super tasty and juicy nothing like the fruit here at home.
Hope you and Vera have a bite free night.
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Post by kevb on Jul 6, 2017 9:53:00 GMT
Although I didn't eat at Kalivi last visit (2015) I'm pretty sure I ate there when I went with a mate to Kouk in 2013. I'd seen that there were a few bars and restaurants around Troulos so rather than bussing it to town we got off in Troulos one night and ate somewhere small and trad looking (though the waiter turned out to be English!). Checking the tripadvisor photos it could only have been Kalivi. I think they got the meat wrong on one of the souvlakis but otherwise it was a decent meal and sensibly priced so good to see they have kept it up. Wrap Vera in clingfilm last thing at night, the mozzies won't get through that ;-)
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Post by kelso on Jul 6, 2017 17:23:23 GMT
Dennis, if you are looking for a great breakfast, just opposite BS 16 is the Orsa taverna. Definitely worth a visit, whether you take a walk over from Troulos or stop by when you have your Jimny!
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Post by dennisn on Jul 6, 2017 19:26:10 GMT
Thanks Bob, but I'm not interested in breakfast normally, never mind a zillion metres walk on the kami kazi road!
More to the point, did you see me waving from Skopelos today? I did say on Monday we would be going today and I waved to you. If, by any chance, you are wondering why I didn't give you a more timely reminder, I noticed as we were at the bus stop that I hadn't got my iPhone in the pouch of my bum bag - I'd left it in our room on charge. I didn't have the nerve to sprint back for it - there's only that one bus to get us to town on time. And anyway, what am I saying, "sprint"? Last time I sprinted was before most of you lot were born!
The mozzie didn't get me, but Vera had a couple more - she's going to have words with the person who gave her the Mozzie Milk!
Breakfast instead of dawn swim, including the last few of the first bowl of cherries, to keep the new bowlful clear of age contamination. By the way, if anybody is wondering if a very large helping of delicious, more-ish cherries acts the same as prunes, it does.
So off to the bus, unknowingly sans iPhone, GRRR. Lady bus conductor bloke who was not having a brilliant morning - not that I noticed, as I always cheer her up. The bus was packed more than full, presumably an equal mob all heading for boat trips. I noticed a couple in front of us paid less and were not going all the way. Bus conductor lady was not her cheerful self and wasn't calling bus stop numbers. As we stopped at 12, the lady in front of us said to her husband she didn't know if we'd reached 13 yet, so I told her this is 12, already gone past. Complaining to themselves, neither thought to jump up and (try forcing their way through the solid mob of standing people to) get off at 12 and walk back. Instead they stayed there, muttering and looking daggers and eventually got off at 4. I wonder how their day went?
Our trip on Agios Nikolaos to Skopelos and Alonissos went the wrong way round - Skopelos last instead of first - the captain saying there was still some wind roughing up the sea (although we had left Troulos in beautiful calm morning). So Bob would probably start looking too early even if he remembered. But I waved, nevertheless and have a photo to prove it if he mutters!
We don't do adventurous on these trips, just enjoy a nice boat ride (slightly splashy this time), a snack in one of the two destinations. On the way back from the reverse leg from Skopelos, the sea had calmed somewhat and the announcement of dolphins caused a real rush, so Victoria had to ask people to keep to the middle of the boat. Didn't do any good and we didn't capsize anyway.
Back in town, we had our evening meal at Nikos Taverna (inside the yellow fence) on Papadiamanti street. Following a starter of tzatziki and pitta bread, Vera was tempted by the jacket potato and I joined her. What a success! They were enormous. And very tasty - Vera had two fillings, chicken and coleslaw, I had three, mushrooms, ham and beanz. Too much for me, so much so that I couldn't finish my beer - I didn't ask for a doggy bag - I couldn't drink my beer even now, three hours later!
The bus back was late and the conductor shouted to us to get on quick, even whilst the crowds were piling out. I had suggested to Vera that it was coming late probably delayed carrying all the Koukounaries day visitors back to town. The driver set off fast as soon as we got on and was obviously trying to make up time - even the conductor shouted 'lookout' once! As we drew level with bus stop 4 another incoming bus was unloading another double load of day trippers.
And so our homecoming to call for our paper, milk and peaches. I never eat peaches at home (England home, that is), quite simply because they are small, hard, dry, tasteless and anything else unappetising. Here in Greece, they are just what peaches should be and stored in the fridge they come out as a superb chin-dribbling snack to die for.
We won a free lucky dip on last night's lottery, rather a shortfall on the necessary for a new webcam, I'm afraid. Goodnight.
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Post by kelso on Jul 6, 2017 20:36:35 GMT
I missed you waving as I hadn't read your post about going to Skopelos. I certainly sounds as though you are both having a great time.
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Post by dennisn on Jul 7, 2017 7:23:13 GMT
I don't belieeeeeve this. This time last week we were still sitting in Birmingham with another half hour wait for takeoff. Same flight today and Trebor (aka Minty Bit Stronger) is already at 37,000ft, 600mph and over Germany, with ETA at Skiathos 4 minutes ahead of schedule. GRRRRR.
He's going into room 7 next door to us, or 16 below.
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Post by balddave on Jul 7, 2017 7:38:20 GMT
Are you forming a welcoming committee for Trebor ? Excellent post yesterday, most entertaining. Enjoy stage 2 of your holiday
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Post by dennisn on Jul 7, 2017 9:24:43 GMT
This is really dreadful. Minty has landed 15 minutes ahead of schedule.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
I understand he's going into room 7, next door to me - serves him right!
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trebor
Junior Member
Going to Villa Maria, Troulos in July
Posts: 48
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Post by trebor on Jul 7, 2017 15:47:05 GMT
Yes we did arrive early and yes we have been billeted in 7 next door to Dennis. We were welcomed with a bowl of origami crisps - a Dennisism - and a load of friendly abuse about our good flight. At least I think it was friendly - must have been because he and the lovely Vera joined us in the bar for the promised beer after we had unpacked.
I will try to update with our exploits when I can - as reported elsewhere the Internet is worse than spasmodic and I have had to set my phone up as a hotspot so that I can log in on my tablet.
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Post by balddave on Jul 7, 2017 19:16:39 GMT
What, Dennis had not put bunting up for your pending arrival, at least a bottle of bubbly on ice . Enjoy your stay , I'm sure you will spend many a happy hour with grump and Vera.
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Post by dennisn on Jul 9, 2017 18:09:24 GMT
Humble apologies again, everyone, for intermittent reporting. The wifi has not improved, so I've been enjoying 4G on my phone. But it doesn't lend itself to forum posting. I shall have to ask Minty about this linking to my phone thing - despite having hair colour matching the walls, he obviously is sufficiently younger than me to be mega techno. Just to to clear up the odd question, no I didn't put up bunting for Minty Bit Stronger's arrival. After getting here I don't know how late, I couldn't possibly offer a welcome to someone who did it quarter of an hour early! I rather begrudged them the origami crisps - I think probably Vera offered them. So, Friday 7th July. We had decided to have a day in, so we dallied on the dawn swim trip. We actually were still in the sea at Troulos bay when tourists started arriving at 9am. We had both expected peace and quiet as Friday is a big changeover day, but I guess a load of foreigners must have been taking advantage. We got back to VM in time to wave off Martin and Babs for their homeward journey. We ate courtesy of Nikos from our pool snack bar, Club Sandwich (toasted ham and cheese sandwich plus a heap of chips - we're on holiday so you can keep your sniffy looks to yourselves), shared between us, followed by origami crisps. Trevor and wife Angela arrived before we finished and poked hungry heads over our wall for some crisps. They are proper human beings, to make up what this year is a very pleasant company of residents here. Remaining in the pool all afternoon, I suffered the consequences of falsely believing the water was an effective sunblock. That will keep me seeking out the shade for the rest of our stay! Sorry but I've forgotten what we ate at Vareli and what it cost - not much of a reporter am I? But it was delicious as usual and kindly priced to boot.
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Post by kelso on Jul 9, 2017 18:17:29 GMT
Good to see that you are continuing to enjoy yourselves.
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Post by katet on Jul 9, 2017 20:54:48 GMT
'Real time' reporting isn't easy - I'm perversely pleased that it isn't only me who failed this year. (Although Dennis, you're doing much better than I did!!) hopefully, I'll do a little better in September, being in town.
What colour are your walls, Dennis? Am imagining Trebor with pink hair!!!!
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