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Post by balddave on Aug 31, 2021 18:42:56 GMT
Bags packed, been to the local for tea, now just double/triple checking we have all correct paperwork etc. flight from Manchester at 13:40, not been advised of any pickups en route, don’t arrive till mid evening so will probably just drop bags and head out.
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Post by katet on Sept 1, 2021 23:28:46 GMT
Safe travels, Dave and Sue ✈️
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Post by balddave on Sept 2, 2021 7:29:20 GMT
Excellent flight with jet2, absolutely no issues either end of journey. Arrived at the Atlas about 8pm , normal warm welcome , dropped bags off and headed across to Main Street, surprised at how busy the island is , Heading to kanapitsa this morning, will report in more details later
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Post by katet on Sept 2, 2021 11:05:38 GMT
Have a fabulous day! Who was on on reception at the Atlas? We never got to meet Olga during our stays, although she was there once when I popped in to say hi.
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Post by balddave on Sept 2, 2021 15:43:13 GMT
Have a fabulous day! Who was on on reception at the Atlas? We never got to meet Olga during our stays, although she was there once when I popped in to say hi. George was on reception ( don’t know if you’re aware Alkis has left) ,however Nikos saw us out and about last night and was pleased to see us, ( unsure about man hugs/cheek kisses, but when in Rome so to speak) to complete last night’s outing, we had a couple of drinks in Main Street then headed out for something to eat, our destination was Baskilos, but unfortunately it was full, we wandered towards the port and ended up in pouvlaki ??, we have ate here many times and never been disappointed, fabulous Kleftico. after finishing our meal we thought we’d venture to the old port house , possibly not my favourite venue, as they advertised a new Guinness IPA, I am a big real ale fan so thought I would try it out, again ‘ no room at the inn’ we ended up having a nightcap with our good friend Phed in phedrock, one thing that has become clear is that many businesses are just covering overhead and wages this year, however no detrimental effect on service or smiles. today we awoke later than we usually do, put this down to our body clock not yet adjusted, breakfast in Ergon, smoke salmon and scrambled egg on sour dough toast with avocado , a favourite of mine. caught boat taxi to kanipitza , I would describe it as comfortable busy, majority of sun bed occupied but not all, strangely nobody came to collect money for our sun beds . Lunch in the taverna snack bar then 3:20 boat back to town. we left the girls in SeaU and wandered up the slope to book a table in Richie pouvorie ? For Monday which is our travelling companions wedding anniversary, quick drink in both SeaU and Fresh bar then back to the hotel, Couple of hours to rest before this evening, venue for food yet to be determined, but Fish was mentioned. so good to be back😎
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Post by balddave on Sept 2, 2021 16:31:53 GMT
Just an add on to yesterday’s arrival, to comply with covid rulings we disembarked the aircraft strictly a row at a time to allow social distancing, and then got crammed like sardines onto the transfer bus
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Post by dennisn on Sept 3, 2021 7:37:36 GMT
I do wish they’d adopt that method of disembarkation for ever! I join the rest of the sheep in standing up bentwise in my seat and struggling to be unnoticed getting bags off the overhead and winning a place in the aisle. But only because I don’t have the bottle to sit in my seat smugly counting the passing sheep! I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out to be just as quick.
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Post by yorkshiremouth on Sept 3, 2021 8:12:51 GMT
I think it’s quicker.
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Post by balddave on Sept 3, 2021 16:46:34 GMT
This morning was overcast early on but cleared up by mid morning, due to collect the hire car, (Jimny) this morning, all loaded up with beach stuff etc only to be disappointed, the previous renters returned the vehicle several hours late so it wouldn’t be ready , valeted etc; till 2-30,. Days plans scuppered so drops bags back at the hotel. We headed to the bourtzi and spent a pleasant couple of hours watching the ferry in and out , and generally chilling out, it was very busy , I suspect due to people departing killing time. Eventually picked jeep up and headed to the monastery, even though we’ve visited many times , it was still an enjoyable visit. We then headed to Vrom beach and had an early evening meal in Porta Rosa, whilst the food was good the service left a lot to be desired, we found the waiter to be blunt and lacking any charm, also our main course arrived before we had finished our starters, not good. Now parked up and getting prepared for this evening’s adventure
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Post by katet on Sept 3, 2021 18:38:36 GMT
No Dave, I didn't know that Alkis had left. Haven't met George, but Nikos was great. He used to admire Paul's collection of loud shirts and Paul used to admire Niko's perfectly coiffed hair!
Shame about the Jimny - hope they didn't charge you a full day! Vromolimnos is a beach I've never visited ~ is it good? I know the young and trendy crowd like to go there ... obviously, as that's where you went. Keep up the good work!
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Post by balddave on Sept 3, 2021 22:14:56 GMT
No Dave, I didn't know that Alkis had left. Haven't met George, but Nikos was great. He used to admire Paul's collection of loud shirts and Paul used to admire Niko's perfectly coiffed hair! Shame about the Jimny - hope they didn't charge you a full day! Vromolimnos is a beach I've never visited ~ is it good? I know the young and trendy crowd like to go there ... obviously, as that's where you went. Keep up the good work! Vrom was our go to beach in the late 90s, there used to be a family ran taverna which was very hick, singer sowing machine tables etc, younger sons ran the bar, grandparents ran the food side of things, dad used was a wannabe DJ, fabulous sunsets and whilst the sun was going down he’d play Bob Marley, absolute bliss. We stopped going once it became a party beach. , last year we decided to revisit and liked how it had developed, well worth a visit. This evening we met our friends in portobello, if ever an establishment wasn’t operating to its full potential this is it, fabulous quirky building, huge bar ( many bar stools all unoccupied), location excellent. But quality of food and drink coupled with unenthusiastic staff doesn’t work. we left and headed for Mythos in the old port, comparison completely different, attentive friendly service, quality drinks, spent a couple of hours here (table snacks of crisps, nuts ,fruit etc plentiful), we then called into Main Street for a nightcap or 2, all in all an enjoyable day
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Post by katet on Sept 4, 2021 8:54:26 GMT
What a perfect day! If I can befriend someone with wheels I'll go and check Vrom out - it looks like a long-ish trek from the main road. Mind you, next week's weather looks pretty variable! Regarding Portobello, Dave, I totally agree. I'm always surprised at how empty it always is, as it's such an attractive bar and they have a lots of space. Even in early August, when everywhere was really busy, it wasn't. I had lunch there on my last day, as it was inside and I desperately needed to get out of the heat. The waiter was really nice and the food was good - however I have had some poor meals there on previous visits. We stopped making use of the Atlas breakfast discount (don't think they do it now) as the breakfasts weren't well-cooked.
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Post by balddave on Sept 4, 2021 15:56:47 GMT
Atlas discount now at the foodie cafe kate. Just returned from a fabulous day out, one of our travelling companions has both respiratory and mobility issues, as such has never managed to visit megali ammos from town, however today because we have the jeep we picked her up from the top of papadiamanti and drove down past the cemetery, our intention was to spend a few hours on the beach, unfortunately every single sun bed as either occupied or reserved, didn’t let that spoil our enjoyment, walked down the beach to swell bar where we had coffee before returning to Cafe del mar, one of our favourite spots, delighted to find they now stock the new Skiathos golden ale ‘Repi’ so not to be rude we tried one, really good. From there we journeyed to AGP a beach we’ve not visited before, had lunch in the bamboon beach bar, good service and food well priced, being the weekend it was busy as expected. Again we wanted to show our friends places they may not have otherwise visited, with this in mind we headed back to town and called into the tennis club for a drink, again good service but the actual place itself doesn’t have the same ambiance as when Christos owned it, however it was quiet although several other customers, from here we drove around the corner to Mylos, I could spend hours here watching planes arrive and general sea traffic, It is a near perfect setting, spent a chilled hour or so before playing spot the parking place at the top of town. Tonight’s agenda is very much ‘ suck it and see’ being a weekend it’s unpredictable as to which restaurant has availability.
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Post by balddave on Sept 5, 2021 15:04:02 GMT
We decided to eat at Polycratis at the top of papadiamanti street, used to be a regular place for us, however it’s changed hands over the years and standards have dropped, delighted to say the original owners are back and normal service is resumed, I opted for the pork chop (XL) which was huge but perfectly cooked. This morning we took the jeep to kanapitsa, we happened to be first on the beach at 9am, wonderful early morning sun, our friends caught the boat taxi and joined us just before midday. In the afternoon we headed to Troulos, the beach was busy but not overcrowded, we had a drink at the Troulos taverna and the waiter was obviously perturbed we didn’t want food, will think twice before returning. From there we headed back to town and Cafe del mar, here we ate a late lunch and sampled more of the new Skiathos golden ale. Today’s weather has been far better than forecast, just hoping the trend continues for the next few days
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Post by katet on Sept 5, 2021 19:37:56 GMT
The Foodie Café is a far superior breakfast haunt, Dave! Chris is such a lovely man and his wife (?) too - though she doesn't say much.
I've heard good reports of Polycratis this year & will definitely eat there later in the week. Café del Mar is another favourite - and I want to try the Repi ale, too. I was hoping to spend Tuesday there, but will have to see what the weather decided to do.
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