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Post by exgreekgod on Sept 3, 2022 19:38:27 GMT
Should have built the wall just above The Wash š
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Post by katet on Sept 6, 2022 2:51:18 GMT
As itās the middle of the night and Iām wide awake (grrrr) thought Iād best catch up here while I can remember whatās been happening! Before I do, though, thanks Bob for the brilliant tip - I was going to unplug the darn thing but the socket is behind furniture so itās awkward.
After a pleasant first day here in the Swell garden I was invited to have a g&t with some friends (whom Iād first met last year) on their balcony at the Aphrodite next door. They are higher up than I am at Angeliki and have a spectacular view over the bay here ā¦ stunning. I then bussed into town (one of the new buses with a very pleasant driver, no speeding Dennis so your feedback has worked!) and met my fellow-music-loving friends at Anemos for dinner. We had a rooftop table with a stunning views; it was about 9pm and fairly quiet. They both had seafood linguine, which looked good but something I canāt eat, and I had kleftico which was also very good. We all drank a couple of glasses of rosĆ© and had a very convivial time. Not sure what the bill was - I wasnāt allowed to chip in.
Afterwards, I popped in to the Blind Dog to see if Kev, Helen, Ann and Anne were still there and was in luck. I got to pass on my congratulations in person to Helen and Kev and met Helen for the first time. She is lovely, Kev ā¦ but of course you already know that! I found that I knew their friend Anne - we had met in Totem through a mutual friend in May. Skiathos is like that ā¦ itās small enough that you will keep seeing those who get out and about and itās one of the things I love. Every day is a new adventure if youāre prepared to smile and be friendly.
I digress, after saying Kalo taxidi to Kev and party I went over to Totem (surprise, surprise!) to meet my dinner companions. The music was great and we had a lovely few hours, leaving at about half two when it closed. I got a taxi back āhomeā - ā¬11, so dearer than the bus but I didnāt fancy walking!
Slept like a log!
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Post by katet on Sept 6, 2022 3:55:06 GMT
Sunday: for some very strange reason I felt a little tired and so slept in until about ten thirty. I then de-camped the short distance to a sun bed in the garden and had a nice, lazy day there, snoozing and reading, just with a break for lunch at Swell and a dip in the sea. I got myself together late afternoon and caught another of the new buses at about five pm ā¦ jam-packed, which I wasnāt expecting. The driver was happy to take my ā¬2 ~ very expensive from Meg Ammos but they only seem to have one fare. I bought ten euros worth of tickets from the kiosk at the terminus, for future use.
I had a wander round the shops and purchased some flip flops for the beach as I stupidly forgot to pack mine. I had arranged to meet a group of Facebook friends at To Palouki at seven thirty but received a message that the restaurant had messed up the booking and so the seven of us met for a pre-dinner drink at Mythos while we booked somewhere else. Everyone was in favour of Lynhari, at the top of Papadiamantis Street, and we all really enjoyed our meals plus a lot of chatter. I had moussaka, which was absolutely delicious - I would thoroughly recommend Lynhari. The courtyard setting and service are both good and itās very reasonably priced at ā¬30 a head for shared starters, mains and wine.
Afterwards, my friends from next door & I strolled back to Meg Am and said goodnight as it was about 12.30 ā¦ an early night!
Monday: after another less-than-good sleep, thanks to the terrific overnight storm, I awoke to rain and grey skies. I read for a while and went for a wander when it started to clear late-morning. I was quite surprised to see that large chunks of the beach had been washed away where the rain torrents had come down the little side paths from higher ground. The beach looks quite wintry now!
I walked down to town and all the cafes and restaurants were packed. A very late breakfast in 7-Sins - omelette, coffee and juice - and then a wander around Plakes, which is my favourite poor-weather walking area. It started to rain quite hard again, so a very quick dash back into town to source a cheap brolly and then back to the hotel via CafƩ del Mar (where I had my first Repi of this holiday).
A speedy get-ready and then out again to nip down to Mylos to say farewell to my Totem friends who were sadly flying home to Munich at six-thirty. We didnāt overlap by very long this time, but at least I got to see them. I walked back into town in the lovely sunshine and had some retail therapy ā¦ I ādefinitelyā needed some new clothes š«£ haha! I ate at Pasta Pizza, opposite the taxi rank, and really enjoyed ravioli with spinach and Gorgonzola and a glass of sangria. (I can see some eye-rolling at the mix of Italian/Spanish ā¦ but it was exactly what I fancied!). It was ā¬20 including a tip.
On tipping ā¦ I always tip unless I have really poor service but this used to cause heated debates when there were two of us. The other opinion is to only tip if you have really good service and I get why, but the island is seasonal and most workers here seem to rely on the extra they make in summer to get by in winter. So Iāll keep tipping š
It was only about nine thirty by the time I got back, but it felt later so I turned in early ā¦ only to be awoken at midnight by a herd of š š jumping around in the room above š They must be new arrivals, as I havenāt heard anything until now. For some reason they seemed to be re-arranging all of their furnitureā¦. aaarrrggghhh! Between them and the fridge, not a great sleep.
Itās now nearly 7am, so Iām probably going to be first on a sun bed today š ā¦ tbc ā¦ā¦
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Post by cariad23 on Sept 6, 2022 10:27:55 GMT
we usually ask for upper room to avoid noisey people above, this year didnt get it, and as you say beside non stop grizzling child, furniture movers. i cant figure what there is to move only chairs surely you pick up and put down not drag. so thoughtless, our people did it early morning and late at night. The view from aphrodite is superb, stayed there on the second floor loved sitting on the balcony watching the sea, always something to see including the planes dropping down to skim over the sea. Nicos and his wife who own it are lovely, when i mentioned we had friends dropping in he brought us a tray of glasses and extra plates up without being asked. it is strange how you bump into people you know on holiday, one year in Thassos talking to a couple from london who said a friend of theirs had moved to Leicester and worked at the hospital. It was the lady i sat next to in the office and had been out with several times. TWilight taverna at the end of the beach is good if you dont want to walk far one night, or a little further on through the trees little balcony just down from bus stop 4. Kurt russell went in their last year.
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Post by kevb on Sept 6, 2022 11:51:46 GMT
Glad to hear you are getting into the general rhtythm of things now :-) Hope the weather picks up, for the time of year it has probably been the most mixed I have experienced over a 2 week run and the worst 2 days were in the first rather than the second week, so unpredictable. Whilst having lunch with the 2 couples who live there permanently the guy from the couple who have been there 7 years now said though it might mess up peoples holidays a bit they really could do with some rain at the moment, sounds like it has been a pretty dry winter/spring so the island is looking a bit parched in places.
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Post by dennisn on Sept 6, 2022 13:10:20 GMT
Itās not chairs that upstairs are moving about. Late at night and early morning, the guy moves the twin beds together and she moves them apart again! By āmovesā I mean drags them making that screeching noise.
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Post by katet on Sept 10, 2022 6:00:31 GMT
Just re-reading this, and had thought it was only a couple of days since my last post - oops! What a speedy week that was. Itās now Saturday morning and Iāve moved from the Angeliki to a lovely big room at Casa Blue Marine on the New Port.
Last week was a blur of sunbathing in the Swell garden, a brilliant sailing day with a bunch of solo Facebook friends on Argo III and late-ish nights in town. I had to resort to unplugging the fridge at night, Bob. The temperature dial had been removed from inside so it couldnāt be turned down. Great news - the fridge in my new room is unnoticeable š„³
Am getting ready for a beach day, so promise to continue this later š
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Post by exgreekgod on Sept 10, 2022 8:22:25 GMT
Great reports Kate, be interested to hear your thoughts on your new room in the port as we are looking to book in the town again and we're used to your recommendation!
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Post by yorkshiremouth on Sept 11, 2022 12:54:05 GMT
I' very interested to hear how the news from Balmoral has gone down on the island, both among the holidaymakers and the locals.
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Post by katet on Sept 13, 2022 8:59:54 GMT
The room is great, EGG - the only slight criticism is that Iām on the first floor and Pizza Pazza directly underneath the balcony has music between 9.30 am and 1am. Itās not boom-boom music, just āmoodā music and isnāt too loud, but if youāre a light sleeper and go to bed early it may not suit you. Iām pretty sure this wouldnāt be a problem on the floor above, though. Iām fine with it, but my son in the next room to me says it bothers him a little.
Our rooms are really large and modern - a huge bed, fridge, kettle, hairdryer, air con and a brilliant shower. The rain head part fell off mine on the first day, but it was replaced with a new one the next day. The cleaner is excellent and replaces the towels every day and the sheets every couple of days, by the looks of it. The balcony is a good size and great for sitting and watching the hustle and bustle of the port. Just had breakfast at Ariston bakery next door and Meltemi brunch cafĆ© is two doors away ā¦ so no need to starve! Itās probably slightly more central to everything than the Water, although doesnāt have quite such a fabulous view. All in all, am very happy with it and would definitely stay here again.
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Post by katet on Sept 13, 2022 9:04:08 GMT
I' very interested to hear how the news from Balmoral has gone down on the island, both among the holidaymakers and the locals. Iām not too sure about the locals, Steve - havenāt spoken to anyone about it. Iāve spoken to a few other holidaymakers and (like me) they are sad to see the end of an era but feel very removed from everything at home over here. Itās not on Greek tv much (not that I sit watching it!) and everyone is more preoccupied with getting on with their holiday š
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Post by katet on Sept 19, 2022 6:51:54 GMT
Home today - will be able to sit and round this holiday up when Iām back. Itās been excellent, but I need a rest!
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