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Post by dennisn on Sept 12, 2017 17:49:18 GMT
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Post by dennisn on Sept 12, 2017 17:54:46 GMT
OK, I lost the post and all you've got is the evidence that I was at the Bourtzi.
Kate missed us before that at Nikos for gyros and two beers (did I say it's warm?).
As for Treason, of course I saw the W photos and reports and the comments and the oohs and aahs. But size, shape and colours are way beyond my memory. So I'm not going chasing them down.
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Post by dennisn on Sept 12, 2017 18:32:18 GMT
We had a rather disturbed night, with wind raising things. So we did a very leisurely rising at about 7:30 and strolled to the beach. Where we found evidence of the night's wind, very choppy sea and some bits of seaweed on the shoreline. Local taverna/lounger owners were starting to rake it up.
I was on lifeguard duty because I couldn't trust the different dressing to withstand swimming. But Vera had great difficulty with the sea - not hugely rough, but sharp choppy stuff and a strong current pushing her back to shore, so she had to come out quite soon. The toughie swimming man we see every morning pounding through the bay from end to end even admitted it was too much to enjoy, so Vera didn't feel bad about it. Instead, we walked up and down the beach for our exercise. The Tai Chi lady retreated to the far end by the rocks to do her Chi-ing, then ventured about ten steps into the sea and called it off. The walking man showed us his collection - he searches for small pieces of glass which have been ground to a matte finish to take back for his wife to make mosaics. We found a two million years old 10 Lepta piece to use on the bus.
Soon after we got up, I was stricken by the thought that yesterday I left the Plateia sandwich shop without paying, so for the rest of the morning I was riddled with shame and horror, only relieved after we'd been to Nikos for gyros and two beers, when I walked up the Plateia to right my wrong. He was OK about it, even said he couldn't remember.
At the bourtzi we got the sullen waiter. I normally get away with my efforts at Greek, successfully too. But this guy stopped me and said "one beer - and I didn't understand any of what you said, so tell me in English". With the result that not only did I feel put down, but also he didn't get Vera's frappΓ© right - it came too strong and she couldn't finish it. I wasn't allowed to have a go about it, so I didn't leave a tip (which I always do). We shall take care never again to take one of his tables.
Our shopping had resulted in a nice dress and some Greek pharmaceutical surgical dressings for my leg - I didn't bring enough to deal with such frequent changes.
Lady bus conductor to come back to Troulos and we had a very jolly time.
We ate at Kalivi tonight. Tzatziki, two moussakas, large water and one large beer, β¬21.50. The best moussaka I've ever eaten and we came away staggering with loaded bellies!
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Post by balddave on Sept 12, 2017 19:10:30 GMT
Great post young man, Firstly I thought I was only person who needed wife/google t shirt, Your honesty re sandwich admirable, some of us still have a conscience. Totally agree with you not leaving a tip at bourtzi , even though on holiday,tipping is not compulsory, it is a gratuity for service received. We like yourself nearly always tip, and to be fair,their are not many occasions in Skiathos we have not shown our appreciation. Hope you have a decent deficit in your luggage allowance going home, it appears Vera is accumulating a new wardrobe, Keep enjoying
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Post by Tre on Sept 12, 2017 22:22:26 GMT
I suffered Treason photos from Mylos, then Asprolithos earlier & now you at the Bourtzi! Not fair π However, Treason has agreed to use his "spare" luggage weight to bring us our "commissioned" lamp from Driftwood! (We were expecting to pay shipping) π Lady bus conductor π€ Need tips on how to deal with her! As the season comes to a close is she happier? π Dennis & Vera, all joking aside, you deserve the best π Enjoy x
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Post by dennisn on Sept 13, 2017 4:43:40 GMT
Honesty and conscience.
For many years I had no money, walking round with cast down eyes to pick up pennies (and surprisingly much more), keeping quiet when I got too much change. Then life changed. I'm not rich, not even well off. But there's somebody else out there who's worse off than me so I leave everything on the floor now and I cannot possibly accept too much change or dodge my fare, I'd be cheating somebody out of it. Just saying.
The secret with the lady conductor bloke is give and you shall receive. Just think, all these tourists get on the bus - if they're lucky - fed up with hanging around. They have no interest in even being civil, far less cheerful, so they get on with faces like the back of trams. And the conductor gets 50 of them at a time, no wonder she's glum! Vera and I strongly believe in treating public service people (e.g. Shop assistants) like the valuable folk they are. It costs NOTHING to be pleasant in dealing with them. So we board the bus with a big smile and kalimera from me, good morning from Vera who can't hold a word of Greek. We leave with efkaristo, yassas and thank you. Vera chats to EVERY Greek shop assistant in her own vernacular and can you believe, they regularly enjoy gales of laughter. So the lady bus conductor is a piece of cake for us and when we got on her bus earlier this week for the first time this holiday, she threw up her arms and eyes in mock horror that it was me, told Vera (in Greek) she doesn't know how she puts up with me and asked her how long we've come for this time. I help her with bus stop numbers and names sotto voce in tandem with her. She now comes and stands near us to chat - mostly to Vera who doesn't understand a word, only the smiles, eyebrows and hands. We get on better with her than any other conductor.
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Post by dennisn on Sept 13, 2017 8:30:44 GMT
Oh, Three, I just realised you might take that wrongly to heart. It wasn't really meant for you, it just happened to be a great opportunity to set the world to rights, not even a W comment! I have to be kind to you - after all, I'm here in two beers weather whilst you're back there desperately trying to hold on to your brass monkey bits!!
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Post by katet on Sept 13, 2017 8:55:33 GMT
Oh Dennis - wish I'd met you & Vera to admire your great taste in t-shirts and Vera's humour! We met the lady-bus-conductor-bloke the other day - but she was in a red dress and, we guessed, on her way home as she got off at bus stop 3. She was very smiley
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Post by dennisn on Sept 13, 2017 12:27:27 GMT
Kate, I wish we'd met you - I don't know anybody else who has posh hair and a blue thing over their arm. I expect you shop at Marks and Sparks.
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Post by Tre on Sept 13, 2017 18:02:52 GMT
Dennis, not sure who "Three" is but I wasn't offended! Everyone needs a soapbox moment from time to time! Today, in this awful uk weather, we've had the builders in!!! Tea brewing all day & not many bricks laid! And..... I've had to deal with videos from Treason of a calm Mandraki beach. AND.... photos of Mamma's patatas:( Enjoy Dennis & Vera x
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Post by dennisn on Sept 13, 2017 18:06:06 GMT
Wednesday 13th September.
Goodness, were we ever late up this morning? Ambled down to the beach for 8am. The sea was better than yesterday, although still too choppy for the skittering fishes - during my lifeguard stage, I'm taking my iPhone to see if I can possibly catch a video of them, but no chance today! Vera swam a bit more, but it was still not as easy as we like.
We decided to have a leisurely day 'at home' after breakfast, which is home made. For Vera, half a grapefruit, weetabix with joghurt and banana. For me, four digestive biscuits each with a slice of well salted tomato - sure, salt is bad for you, but what's it going to do to me? Knock twenty years off my life? I haven't got twenty years left to knock off!! Then we demolished half a kilo of seedless white grapes out of the frig. Does the queen eat better than this?
Sit around doing very little apart from magazine puzzles until lunch time. Vera had a bunch of bread sticks dipped in Philly cheese spread. I had a bag of origami crisps and a small bottle of sour white wine (a gift, I wouldn't buy that myself).
We had the latter part of the afternoon by the pool, for me to torment the other guests who were partly northerners (but south of Wakefield, so barely qualifying). One claimed to have lived 18 years in The Rhubarb Triangle, but no longer, so again only barely qualifying.
Vareli taverna tonight. Tzatziki with pitta bread then we both had the special, pork tenderloin. One litre of water and one large beer, β¬43.50. Really delicious. Complementary fruit to finish. I would have gladly accepted a lift the 300 yards back to Villa Maria to carry my groaning belly!
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Post by dennisn on Sept 13, 2017 18:10:55 GMT
HEY BOB. We're off on the Skopelos and Alonissos trip tomorrow, so be prepared to catch me/us waving to the webcam at Skopelos. I'll try to give you notice of timing - get it right this time please!
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Post by kelso on Sept 13, 2017 18:35:52 GMT
I've put that in the diary,but I have an appointment between 10.15 and 12.15, so I hope that it will be outwith these times. Hope to see you and Vera then. Bob
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Post by cariad23 on Sept 14, 2017 5:25:56 GMT
i get home from work 12-30 will look then, can you wear a distinctive tee shirt !!
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Post by dennisn on Sept 14, 2017 7:03:23 GMT
OK, we've just set off and should be in Skopelos from about 9:30 your time, for two hours. Cariad I fear you are likely to be too late. Bob, I think we should go to the waving camera as soon as we get there so get your bib and tucker on ready to leave for your meeting as soon as you've waved to us. Vera is in black shorts and a pretty white top with nice coloured stuff on it. I'm in dark shorts (obviously, at my age!) and a black t-shirt with Centerparcs logo (no, not a free handout).
PS isn't it great when Scottish people say "out with" - that's because they are fairly posh and nice to know and regard as role models.
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