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Post by *Di* on Aug 22, 2022 8:32:24 GMT
Where are you Bob, why no holiday posting? I know you are there Ive seen the odd post on FB! Come on your audience awaits š
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amy115
Full Member
Posts: 339
Visits to Skiathos: 5
Accommodation Stayed At: Thymis House Hotel
Dream House
Elizabeth Studios
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Post by amy115 on Aug 22, 2022 16:33:44 GMT
i was thinking the same thing Di. Would be nice if he started a thread being a veteran and all
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Post by *Di* on Aug 22, 2022 16:35:34 GMT
i was thinking the same thing Di. Would be nice if he started a thread being a veteran and all Yehhhh and one who berates Dennis if he is ever found slacking! Not good enough Bob! š«šš
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Post by dennisn on Aug 22, 2022 16:42:02 GMT
Yep, I reckon Iāll get my berating thingy out.
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Post by kelso on Aug 23, 2022 14:53:35 GMT
NO - IāVE SPENT THE LAST HALF HOUR WRITING A DETAILED REPORT, PRESSED REPLY AND ITāS GONE AAAAAAGH,
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amy115
Full Member
Posts: 339
Visits to Skiathos: 5
Accommodation Stayed At: Thymis House Hotel
Dream House
Elizabeth Studios
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Post by amy115 on Aug 23, 2022 15:03:55 GMT
Oh no Bob, so frustrating. That's happened to me in the past so I started typing into a document then copied over to the forum. Dare I say better luck next time?
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Post by kelso on Aug 25, 2022 6:56:19 GMT
Well here goes for a second attempt and Dennis, just you keep your berating thingy under control. My trip didnāt get off to the best of starts with the taxi driver insisting on taking another couple as well. They were dropped off at a villa at the edge of town. I donāt know what they paid, but I was expecting to pay ā¬20/22 and had a stand up row with the driver when he charged me ā¬27! It was the worst taxi ride I have had on the island as he overtook everything and almost ditched a couple of quads! Anyway, that over, the rest of the week was fantastic. I stayed at Xanthi Studios, Kolios. I usually stay at Demetris Studios, just a little up the lane, but it has been sold to Bulgarians or Romanians, or so I was told. I had never stayed at Xanthi before, but had had the occasional beer or ten there, and was greeted like a long lost friend by Matina when I arrived. She and Bill are excellent hosts. I normally go in September, but Olympic wanted Ā£1300 for a week then, which,asa cost conscious Scot, I thought was ridiculous for self catering basic accommodation for one. I went back and back on their site, until I came to Ā£720 for the w/b 17th August, which I thought was much better. It was only after I had confirmed my booking that it dawned on me that that would be about the hottest week and mea peely wally Scotsman! I also realised that it would be much busier than September, and probably full of Greeks and Italians! How dare they. It is five years since my last visit, three years because of a health problem, now resolved and two years because of Covid, so I noticed quite a few changes - some good, some not so. My biggest disappointment was what the Evil hotel ( they call it Elivi, but I know what I think) has done to the beautiful olive grove and the way they have ruined Little Banana beach. That said, and with most beaches being really busy, I spent more time in town this year, than previously and discovered bits I had never seen before. I also seemed to spend a lot of time eating, this visit. My first evening meal was at Avli, in Ag Paraskevi, as is my habit. The food there is always lovely, but the atmosphere has lost a little with the death of Costas last year, but still a pleasant experience. The next night I tried to book for the wonderful Infinity Blue, but it was booked up until Sunday, unless I wanted to eat at 22.30, which is a bit late for āa veteranā - Amy, so I ended up going to Kohili, again in Ag Paraskevi. My all time favourite dish is Kleftiko, but this was not the best Iāve had. Next night, I went to another favourite restaurant, Mesostrato, just opposite Kohili and had a wonderful Chicken Souvlaki. I was highly amused watching a couple āprocessā into the restaurant. āThey look like troubleā I thought and I was right. They didnāt wait to be seated, but marched over to a table and sat down. The first thing the lady did, was to pick up a napkin and make a big display of wiping down the table. When the waitress approached, the lady made a fuss about her seat and insisted on it being changed for one at another table. She then sat, either holding firmly onto the table or drumming her thumbs on it. Unfortunately by this stage, I had finished my meal and people were waiting for a table so, much as I would have loved to stay and watch, I felt obliged to leave, but I day say to the waitress that I thought she would have her hands full with them. She tactfully said nothing, but gave a knowing smile! Back at Xanthi, I decided to make a start on sampling their range of cocktails, and really enjoyed it. I was grateful that I had opted for the aircon as it was very hot even at midnight. Next day, I decided to try another beach. It is a lovely, tiny strip, called Katarina, near BS 21. The approach is a very steep dirt track - so steep, someone has installed a long rope to help. Last time I was there I had the beach to myself but there was a young couple there when I arrived. By the end of the day I was sharing it with about twenty others, including a lovely Italian family with a young child. How they managed to get down and up with such a young child, I donāt know. The snorkelling there was really good and it is amazing how many fish there are, that you wouldnāt know without snorkelling. In town, next day, I relived one of my Friday night treats from when I was in the Boysā Brigade. I went into the Fregio Ice Cream Parlour, half way along the new port and asked for a Coca Cola float. They young girl didnāt know what I meant, so I told her how to make. She said that it sounded lovely and that she might add it to their menu. When she asked me again what it was called, I was tempted to leave my mark on Skiathos by saying that it was a Coca Cola Bob, but I couldnāt do that. Mind you, float and Bob are much the same. I went back to Fregio several more times and didnāt have to ask for what I wanted. Another great discovery in town was Little Balcony, neat BS 4 where, amongst other things, they do a great breakfast. From there, I sauntered around and stumbled across the Folklore House Museum, which is the ancestral home of two lovely young ladies who guide you around a most fascinating building full of traditional furniture, costumes, weapons, tools and other artefacts. It is the best museum of its kind I have visited and the girls are amazing. There is also a lovely complimentary aperitif at the end of the visit. The charge is only ā¬2, but I imagine that most people leave more than that. The museum is on Polytechniou Street, just along from The Admiral Benbow pub. It is really worth visiting - the museum I mean, although the Admiral Benbow may be as well. š Back to food again and the wonderful Infinity Blue. I really love it there, with the fantastic view, the smell of the pines and the over the top theatrical service, not to mention the food. I had a lovely veal dish with gnocchi in an amazing sauce. I would normally have a half kilo carafe of their house white to go with it, but that was not on the wine list this time, so I had to settle for a 75cl bottle instead. Just as well that I was staying next door but one. For dessert I had panacotta with cherry coullie and crumble. It was really lovely. The service is so attentive - itās one of those places where you donāt have to top up your own wine. It was my most expensive meal of the week, but, what the hell I was on holiday. The town was visited by another huge cruise ship again, anchored just off Megali Ammos and it was interesting to watch the passengers being ferried back and fro in a little tender. Not my cup of tea but, each to their own. Some lovely yachts anchored in the port again, as always, but are these mega rich people any happier than us poor people? I didnāt travel very far each night to eat as there are so many great places in Kolios/Ag Paraskevi. My next and best meal of the week was just a little up the lane from Xanthi, at the Skiathos Diamond. It is run by Christos and Soula and their wonderful family, who some of you may remember from their days in Troulos. The restaurant is in a marquee in the grounds of their beautiful studios, but is open to non-residents. I started off with fried zucchini followed by my favourite, Kleftiko and I can honestly say that it was the best Kleftiko I have had anywhere - beautifully tender, and just the right portion size. My dessert that night was a huge piece of chocolate cake with lashings of (no, not ginger beer) cream and ice cream. I managed to get my half kilo carafe of wine and finished off with a Baileyās coffee, so I was very embarrassed to have to decline Soulaās offer of a complimentary brandy. All of this for just ā¬35! I really enjoyed my meal there and the family are so welcoming, including their children who waited on table and were so friendly, talkative and polite - not at all like your typical sulky teenagers. š After another day in town, taking in the delights of another Little Balcony breakfast, the views from Plakes, a fresh orange at the Bourtzi, followed by a pee at the loo with a view and, of course, a final Coca Cola float, I decided to dine at Jimmyās in Ag Para. I had heard so much about the place but had never eaten there, in around 15/16 (Iāve lost count) visits to the island. I really enjoyed my Chicken Pizza but it was so big that I couldnāt finish it. Well I had to leave space for my pudding! I see how it is so popular, but again I didnāt want to linger as people were queueing to get in, including a line up of twelve motor bikes. Well all good holidays must come to an end and I decide to take the new airport bus this time, rather than risk my life with another mad taxi driver. The bus cost only three euros and you change at the bus terminus in town for the trip to the airport. Everything went very smoothly at checkin. In fact I was third in the queue. I went upstairs to the lovely cafe and watched with some trepidation as the rain started and then really tipped down, in spite of the flipping BBC local forecast saying 2% chance of rain! Well things got worse, when the approaching flight from Athens was turned back! The next flight due was from Italy - would he, wouldnāt he? Well he/she did and the flight from London also landed so I felt much relieved. The Newcastle flight landed just 30 minutes late, having taken off over an hour late. Right - time to head for security. Oh, oh, long queue, no movement. Staff just standing there. Eventually, after ten minutes, we started to move and all went smoothly. Loaded up - took off - back in Newcastle 5 minutes early. Brilliant holiday. Roll on the next one! If this disappears again when I press postā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦
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Post by kelso on Aug 25, 2022 6:57:35 GMT
Successā¦but flipping heck, did I ramble on. Sorry about that.
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Post by yorkshiremouth on Aug 25, 2022 7:15:41 GMT
Brilliant, that. Loads of thanks from me, and some good pointers.
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Post by balddave on Aug 25, 2022 7:27:49 GMT
Excellent post Bob, I admire your memory capability, I to remember what I did yesterday, that may be down to the measures of gin in Skiathos
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amy115
Full Member
Posts: 339
Visits to Skiathos: 5
Accommodation Stayed At: Thymis House Hotel
Dream House
Elizabeth Studios
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Post by amy115 on Aug 25, 2022 8:11:26 GMT
Great post Bob, really enjoyed reading. After a break of five years it must have been great to get back, if only for a week. Did you miss out on the new Lithos restaurant. It was always my first evening meal of the holiday when it was Pegasus. Maybe the next time
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Post by kelso on Aug 25, 2022 8:20:29 GMT
Yes Amy, so many on my list that had to be missed but I canāt say Iāve heard of the one you mentioned, by either name. I particularly wanted to eat at Maestrali, Calma and Green Park. As you say ~ next time. Xanthi wonāt be with Olympic next year, so donāt know if I will be able to book up with them again or go to pastures new.
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amy115
Full Member
Posts: 339
Visits to Skiathos: 5
Accommodation Stayed At: Thymis House Hotel
Dream House
Elizabeth Studios
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Post by amy115 on Aug 25, 2022 8:33:40 GMT
If you pass Avli, it is the next restaurant on the left. It is set back. There is a bar at the first entrance to the property that the old hosts didn't really utilise but the new owners now have up and running. Read good things about it.
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Post by cariad23 on Aug 25, 2022 18:25:33 GMT
Great report, we used diamond taverna several times 3 years agowhen we stayed at kolios, as you say children are delightful
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Post by *Di* on Aug 26, 2022 9:20:19 GMT
Great report worth waiting for Bob! So pleased you got back to our lovely Skiathos again.. šš
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