Post by Woody (Admin) on Jul 6, 2013 11:20:39 GMT
Skiathos 19 June – 3 July
After 4 hours sleep we were up at 00:30 for a 01:00 departure to Manchester Airport where we arrived at 03:00. A speedy drop off of our luggage and we were in the departures lounge having a deserved coffee. The Thomas Cook Flight left a few minutes late and after breakfasting looking down on a clear Alps we arrived in Skiathos 5 minutes late. After collecting our luggage we walked out of the arrivals hall to see Magda waving franticaly at us and after the greetings, she quickly signed over the Jimny 4x4. We arrived at the Diamond Apartments 55 minutes after the aircraft wheels touched the ground.
After being shown to our room by Christos and unpacking we went around the pool for a few hours and then ate with Soula and Christos at the Diamond Taverna, followed by a few drinks at the Theodora Bar just up the road.
On most days we spent our time on Small Banana Beach which was very busy by 10:00, but luckily we were down there by 08:15 when it was nearly empty. Spending some time every morning collecting Skiathos Pearls (see my Avatar), from the beach. This year we ended up with over 100 and now have over 400 at home. On one day the wind was just too much and we were getting sandblasted at SB, so we headed off and tried Troulos Beach, the first time on there since our first visit in 2004. The only other day we did not go to the beach was when we visited the town first thing in the morning for a walk around and to have breakfast on the old harbour watching life go by and the day trippers setting off on the tourist boats. We then went up to the Skiathos Cat Welfare Society to see Sharon and the Cats for three hours.
The places we ate out at were:
Wednesday 19 June – Diamond Taverna
Thursday 20 June – Oliveland Taverna
Friday 21 June – Green Park Taverna
Saturday 22 June – Vareli Taverna
Sunday 23 June – Taverna Alexandros
Monday 24 June – Kanpitsa Taverna
Tuesday 25 June – Platanos Taverna
Wednesday 26 June – Diamond Taverna
Thursday 27 June – Nectar & Ambrosia
Friday 28 June – Taverna Agnadio
Saturday 29 June – Green Park Taverna
Sunday 30 June – Taverna Anatoli
Monday 1 July – Taverna Avli
Tuesday 2 July – Infinity Blue
Of the places we ate, 3 were new for this year, Platanos, Avli and Anatoli. Platanos was excellent for its food and views high over the town. Avli was excellent for its food and hospitality. We were however disappointed with Anatoli after it was recommended. The atmosphere was not particularly friendly and the food below standard compared with all the other tavernas we visited. Agnadio was, as always brilliant, the food deliciously home made and the views great, our favorite taverna this year, follwed by Avli and Platanos. Post evening meal drinks were usually taken at either the Xanthi pool bar or the Theodora pool bar, except for the day we visited the cat santuary, when we met up with Sharon and friends at the Tennis Club in town for a few drinks.
It was good to see that most places now have WiFi which you can connect to, which was very useful at times.
The flight back left 5 minutes early and arrived back in Manchester 20 minutes early followed by a very busy 2 hour drive home. 12 hours after arriving home at 05:30 the next morning I was unfortunately back at work saving for next year!
After 4 hours sleep we were up at 00:30 for a 01:00 departure to Manchester Airport where we arrived at 03:00. A speedy drop off of our luggage and we were in the departures lounge having a deserved coffee. The Thomas Cook Flight left a few minutes late and after breakfasting looking down on a clear Alps we arrived in Skiathos 5 minutes late. After collecting our luggage we walked out of the arrivals hall to see Magda waving franticaly at us and after the greetings, she quickly signed over the Jimny 4x4. We arrived at the Diamond Apartments 55 minutes after the aircraft wheels touched the ground.
After being shown to our room by Christos and unpacking we went around the pool for a few hours and then ate with Soula and Christos at the Diamond Taverna, followed by a few drinks at the Theodora Bar just up the road.
On most days we spent our time on Small Banana Beach which was very busy by 10:00, but luckily we were down there by 08:15 when it was nearly empty. Spending some time every morning collecting Skiathos Pearls (see my Avatar), from the beach. This year we ended up with over 100 and now have over 400 at home. On one day the wind was just too much and we were getting sandblasted at SB, so we headed off and tried Troulos Beach, the first time on there since our first visit in 2004. The only other day we did not go to the beach was when we visited the town first thing in the morning for a walk around and to have breakfast on the old harbour watching life go by and the day trippers setting off on the tourist boats. We then went up to the Skiathos Cat Welfare Society to see Sharon and the Cats for three hours.
The places we ate out at were:
Wednesday 19 June – Diamond Taverna
Thursday 20 June – Oliveland Taverna
Friday 21 June – Green Park Taverna
Saturday 22 June – Vareli Taverna
Sunday 23 June – Taverna Alexandros
Monday 24 June – Kanpitsa Taverna
Tuesday 25 June – Platanos Taverna
Wednesday 26 June – Diamond Taverna
Thursday 27 June – Nectar & Ambrosia
Friday 28 June – Taverna Agnadio
Saturday 29 June – Green Park Taverna
Sunday 30 June – Taverna Anatoli
Monday 1 July – Taverna Avli
Tuesday 2 July – Infinity Blue
Of the places we ate, 3 were new for this year, Platanos, Avli and Anatoli. Platanos was excellent for its food and views high over the town. Avli was excellent for its food and hospitality. We were however disappointed with Anatoli after it was recommended. The atmosphere was not particularly friendly and the food below standard compared with all the other tavernas we visited. Agnadio was, as always brilliant, the food deliciously home made and the views great, our favorite taverna this year, follwed by Avli and Platanos. Post evening meal drinks were usually taken at either the Xanthi pool bar or the Theodora pool bar, except for the day we visited the cat santuary, when we met up with Sharon and friends at the Tennis Club in town for a few drinks.
It was good to see that most places now have WiFi which you can connect to, which was very useful at times.
The flight back left 5 minutes early and arrived back in Manchester 20 minutes early followed by a very busy 2 hour drive home. 12 hours after arriving home at 05:30 the next morning I was unfortunately back at work saving for next year!