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Post by cariad23 on Sept 7, 2021 5:54:01 GMT
Loved monastery so tranquil only been once
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Post by kevb on Sept 7, 2021 19:47:36 GMT
So what did we get up to today? Not a lot as Paul Daniels used to say. The forecast was iffy so mum took an option of tennis club with a shopping fall back. Muggins hete went fir it thinking I could just fit in a walk. In our defence we did go to the port to get tested. Only asked for our outward plf, passports not required. Better still i only had to create 1 email and put both mine and mums names on bottom then single email sent to me with pdf attachments of both mine and mums results. Doddle, the return to UK plf may be a different issue. Back to Morfo for brekkie (godsend it being 5 min walk from port) then off on our separate ways.
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Post by kevb on Sept 7, 2021 20:23:23 GMT
Id done the punta walk in 2019 but with the forecast and where i was it seemed only option. Trudged to near end of runway, turn right past boatyards then right again at sign for punta hotel. Its a bit of a climb initially but levels then a decline to punta hotel. Despite an imposing lobby they are happy for you to go to the pool bar area and it has great views of the channel down which the planes come. Had a frappe, total of 3 people round pool which is 1 more than last visit in 2019. Off again, up drive to main path. Chaffinch, great tit and spotted flycatcher all present here. In fact the flycatcher seems to be the signature bird of Sporades. Should have just gone back to hotel but stuck it out walkjng as far to end of punta that i could safely go. Sky looking increasingly dark then a steady drizzle turned to full rain. Skiathos finally let me down. Back to hotel to change then late lunch. Nickos. Sorry Dennis but hes too busy to start complex tabs. As it was he totally forgot wed made a food order and asked for it again when wed virtually finished the house plonk. He also conveniently forgot he owed us 6 euro change when we settled the bill with a 20. Brought it when prompted and id given him some of my baclava from over the road too. Bought a t shirt that may be of use gigging. Later we went out but due to late lunch only managed an ice cream then it started raining again. Made it to old port house for a couple but wed had enough.
A few photos from my punta walk
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Post by kevb on Sept 8, 2021 13:13:26 GMT
Wednesday. Another rather dismal day. The main options discussed over breakfast were could we either a) get a small car at short notice for 1 day without being quoted prices from fantasy island or b) get a ferry to Alonissos. We achieved neither so with form filling to do tomorrow I continue my barren run of no vehical hire on Skiathos. Ferry ticket selling man say no when I enquire about a return ticket to Alonissos (weve done Skopelos enough). The timetable suggested it was a goer but ferry man say no return do that was that. We explored the backstreets, we had a coffee in the little shop called something imaginitive like 'coffee coffee' on the harbour near souvlaki yogurt which doesnt look to have opened. Then on round back of paralia and cut back in to avoid as much main road as possible to get to the Spar so I could hunt down some stuff I needed but didnt want to pay mini market prices for. Mum picked up a cheap bottle of rose to take home. She had her hand on a particularly nasty looking bottle of retsina until i guided her away from it. As we were in the area i suggested finally checking out somewhere thats been on my radar for years but never had time to call in. The Oasis! Its actually bigger in total land than I expected and though a bit tatty at the edges still has a bit of a vibe. Pool not huge but adequate. Maybe somewhere to consider for 2023. I got the wheels going when we ordered drinks that I knew Judith Jenkins from FB group Old Boomers. Thats how it works in Greece still, its who you know. Owner Mike soon appeared and ushered us into a more sheltered area when it started raining. Hed actually got a wood fire going! We chatted with him and then another couple of folks who it looks like will be on our flight on Friday. We left back way to get back out onto Paralia and went to Amoretto. It was past 1pm by now, where does the time go? More drinks and a nibble combo of feta and a few chips as we watched a few planes come and go. Then a steady stroll back to town so I can prepare myself for an audience with the one and only Katet tonight😉
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Post by katet on Sept 8, 2021 13:17:49 GMT
Prepare!!?? 🤣
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Post by katet on Sept 8, 2021 13:21:10 GMT
You make me sound like a headmistress, Kev! I only got to head of department in a department of two!!!
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Post by kevb on Sept 8, 2021 13:24:24 GMT
A head of department? This holidays getting weirder by the day. I'll explain later 😉
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Post by dennisn on Sept 8, 2021 17:32:53 GMT
Head of Department?!!! She must think me a right berk inviting her to my birthday parties!
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Post by kevb on Sept 9, 2021 5:27:58 GMT
Just to round off Wednesdays activities, mum and I got to meet Kate finally.'Finally' for me anyway as we both seem to have been on this forum some years without actually crossing paths on the island. Rendezvous at Main St not quite to plan as it was full so after introductions it was decided to head straight to restaurant. Id thought about Basilikos in town but that was full too. 'Full' under current weather is a bit different from 'full' a week ago. You really need a table inside, nit really warm enough to be out on street. Passed a few more before opting for To Palouki which ive walked by plenty of times but never eaten at. Appears to be run by Italians but offers plenty of trad Greek stuff among others. Bit of bread to nibble while chatting, main course each and a litre of house rose a very reasonable 20euro each inc tip. I had the meat balls by the way. Then off to Blind Dog as we are well into home straight of the holiday and mum hasnt seen it yet. It was still fairly early into live music when we got there so slightly subdued atmos but it picked up and by time we left after more chatting and drinking it was in full swing. Then the big surprise as we hit the bottom of steps out to the street. Rain, and plenty of it. We all just had to say our hurried goodbyes and leg it. Fortunately the Morfo isnt far away and neither is Bourtzi hotel so only slightly drowned rat mode by time we got to Morfo. Thoroughly enjoyable evening with one of the stars of the forum. We are not worthy 😀
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Post by katet on Sept 9, 2021 6:59:04 GMT
Oh Kev - I’m blushing here! (And could say exactly the same about you). It was a lovely evening - and it was a bonus to meet your mum. Thank you, both, for being such excellent company 🤩
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Post by kevb on Sept 10, 2021 11:12:24 GMT
This will be my final round up. Another poor start to the day yesterday meant more general mooching about. Showed mum where Mystery and La Piscine Art hotels are. We had a coffee in the trendy place thats actually the front of Katets Bourtzi. Two of the most luke warm coffees you could imagine so may not go back on future visits. Rush of blood I said lets go say goodbye to Dino at Agustera. Bussed it all way there to find entrance blocked and a full sign up. Dino can be a bit of a joker so wasnt sure what to make of it but no, quite serious and not particularly friendly getting the message across. Left a bit of a bad taste tbh so i wont feel compelled to go say hello on future visits. Went next door to Sunset, had drinks and shared an omlette. Walked up to Caravos to take some pics, they are on FB now but will reproduce some here eventually. Its totally gone, pool drained the lot. Went over road and through scrubland track to the little bridge over the lake outlet and walked just on to the end of an eerily almost deserted kouk beach. When no mr sun then everyone stay away. Back to road just in time for arrival of bus. Well it killed an afternoon. Back for showers and the weather was settled so we took pot luck and called in at R&P. No table immediately but he could get us in at 9pm. Accepted it, went to ginfish to kill an hour then back to R&P. Full bottle of proper rose and 5 tapas dishes including the infamous belly pork 55 euro inc tip which i think is still value for the quality of the food. Mum back to hotel, me back to Totem and Kentavros to say goodbyes and its suddenly all over bar the shouting. Final day just spent filling in paperwork, helping another old fella at the hotel sort his paperwork which he still was having issues with when i needed to pack myself. Packed and off saying goodbye to lady at Morfo. We have arrived at tennis club to SHOCK HORROR A closed gate. However another brit lady pitched up and we undid the chain, stormed the gates and persuaded them to open in a sort of peoples revolt. We shall be doing numbers from Les Mis later from behind a barricade of sun loungers. Initially he said drinks only but now hes totally caved there are double figure numbers here i can smell the pizza oven being fired up! The Tui site keeps crashing when i try to check in online but im past caring we will just turn up early. Im not paying any extra if their site isnt up to the job. So there you go. Visit number 7 and possibly a life changing one depending on how things develop with the fair Helen. We are already trying to synch diaries to meet up in UK asap. Watch this space.
The state of disrepair now at the Caravos
An eerily quiet Kouk beach when the sun goes away
The church up above R&P
R&P's famous belly pork
A last look at the tennis club before taxi to airport
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Post by balddave on Sept 10, 2021 12:06:08 GMT
Really enjoyed your posts Kev, shame our paths didn’t cross, sounds like you may be the male equivalent of Shirley Valentine?, good luck with your new friend. Safe flight for you and your mum
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amy115
Full Member
Posts: 340
Visits to Skiathos: 5
Accommodation Stayed At: Thymis House Hotel
Dream House
Elizabeth Studios
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Post by amy115 on Sept 11, 2021 9:41:04 GMT
Great reports Kev, thank you. Fingers crossed for the budding romance :-)
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Post by katet on Sept 11, 2021 15:19:07 GMT
Awww Kev, please keep us updated - love a good romantic ending 🥰
I was very surprised to see what you said about the Agustera. I’ve never seen it full - tho I suppose they may have maximum numbers due to COVID these days. I wouldn’t think Dino could afford to alienate anyone!
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Post by dennisn on Sept 11, 2021 17:56:38 GMT
Thank you Kev, you have done us real proud.
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