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Post by dennisn on Sept 11, 2022 18:26:16 GMT
As we rather rabbited on in my previous thread, I thought I’d start a new thread for my feedback.
Sorry it’s taken so long, end of our second day and I haven’t spared any of you a moment’s thought. My dislocated shoulder and Vera’s bad leg were the opening story. Things looked up when Vera’s son Ian took me to the airport day before for the advance bag drop. In addition to his cases, he brought their daughter to do slavery with ours and it was a dream. Next morning, contrary to Vera’s worries, taxi arrived spot on time, 3am, and we had a lovely smooth ride in. I popped Vera into a wheelchair and one-handed zig zagged her to the Assistance desk. That worked fine, but when the bloke took the wheelchair he didn’t pay me any attention and buzzed off smartly so I struggled a little to keep up. He pretty much ignored me for the rest of the process, but it happened. The lifty truck business was different this time. A woman appeared and said OK, all walk out here. I protested that I wanted Vera in the wheelchair, but she insisted, so we walked out to a minibus. In June, we had been wheeled out and into the lifty truck but this time she drove the minibus off amongst all the parked planes whilst I worried about the boarding steps. Eventually, she pulled up beside one ghostly dark plane and wandered off, came back muttering that the crew were not here yet and drove off for another circuit, ending parked behind what turned out to be a lifty truck - all out and stand on the lift, then inside and sit down. A man came and his driver pulled away a matter of yards to pull up against the previous ghost plane, announcing there was nobody about. And there we sat for a very long time until eventually the plane came to life and we were hoisted up to go walk to our seats. We didn’t get there before all the normal passengers arrived and stood clucking at us blocking the aisle! The crew had turned up five minutes after our scheduled departure so we were late setting off. Then I met the final odds. They were not offering Baileys, changed to Malibu which I’ve never tasted, so I ended up drinking a little bottle of wine. Incidentally, the Assistance service at Bristol was in my opinion very jaded and uncaring - I think they must all have had a belly full of us during previous months. Skiathos was totally different. Despite the lifty thing not available, they treated us with kid gloves, through security, got our cases at baggage reclaim and wheeled us carefully to the transfer coach. Top marks!
Sorry, bedtime, more later.
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Post by yorkshiremouth on Sept 12, 2022 9:09:05 GMT
Thanks for the updates. I hope you have a smashing time.
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Post by cariad23 on Sept 12, 2022 9:26:26 GMT
Good to know you’ve got there safely
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Post by balddave on Sept 12, 2022 9:37:20 GMT
Glad you have arrived, bad service at the uk end not so good but you made it. No baileys that must have thrown you as it’s part of your holiday routine. Hope you go on to have a wonderful holiday and am looking forward to further updates of your visit
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Post by dennisn on Sept 13, 2022 6:41:39 GMT
And after another inexcusable passage of time. I’ll try adding some more - I can only imagine how annoying I am, but it’s difficult finding the time when I’m only half the party, a quarter even some of the time!
First arrival day. In our room in recognition of the fact that during our absence from Skiathos since July, Vera had celebrated a landmark birthday, Angela had graced her bedside table with a huge bouquet, really beautiful. And recognising that I hadn’t, I received a bottle of Mavrodaphne! Due to my non functioning left hand I had to ask Angela to open it for me and I replaced the cork with an easy stopper thing (actually, an easy unstopper thing for convenience). I tested it and it’s perfect for the odd gulp in passing. Vera had us unpacked in her usual fashion and gave me time to get the right side of a bottle of beer at the poolside. After another gulp, off we went to meet Ian and Lesley at Vareli where we had tzatziki for four then we all had the kleftiko. Beer and wine with meal brought the total cost to €96.50, a good omen for food as we normally find Vareli our dearest venue. What with gulps, beer and wine, I hit the pillow without a pause and had a solid night’s sleep.
Saturday we went into town, waving two new buses by in favour of a good old green bus, complete with the happy man and we joked and laughed all the way to “Number four, Acropolis”. First priority was the essential bit of shopping, in which I actually participated, getting a lovely new costume with elastic in the waist, maroon (costume, not elastic). Gyros and beer - only one of each - in Nikos taverna (Vera had frappé), then as time had sped by, gave the Bourtzi a miss and headed back, surviving a new bus journey with some consternation. When we got off, we were called at by Ian from the upstairs poolside of their Skiathos Premier hotel so we went up to join them for a visit. Up in the lift, which only goes to second floor, just right for the pool. It’s such a posh place the barman brings your beer to your table! That night we ate alone at Jasteri, tzatziki then calamari for Vera, lamb in plum sauce for me. Scrummy. Vera thought perhaps her portion size might have be a bit smaller this time but my lamb was OK. Can’t remember cost, but less than Vareli.
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Post by yorkshiremouth on Sept 13, 2022 7:23:08 GMT
Thanks for that.
You update us as frequently or infrequently as you wish.
I’m very interested hear how the island quietens this year. Also if/how long the buses keep running a full service.
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Post by dennisn on Sept 13, 2022 18:35:42 GMT
Sorry YM, I can’t help you with either of those - not being party animals we only use the buses during the day and we don’t participate in noise. Out of interest, last night we were in town late (for us, 10pm) and walked through streets which are our normal route from Papdiamanti street to old port and I was astonished at how busy they were - we almost had to slalom through tables loaded with food all the way.
Sunday we went into town to get (some of?) the shopping we had overlooked on Saturday. I was so pleased with my wonderful new cozzie that I went in and got another, green one this time, not pale, not dark, just right. After beer and gyros in Nikos, we wended our way over for our first visit to the Bourtzi for beer and orange juice. We pushed our luck and returned to Troulos on a new bus, one of the ones with cast iron seats. Ian and Lesley joined us for evening meal in Ratatouille. I had spaghetti bolognaise which proved too large and I can’t for the life of me recall what the others had. We split the bill as usual and again paid no more than normal. I had two bottles of coke, Ian and Lesley shared house wine and Vera had tonic.
Monday was boat trip day. Our treat for them. Lesley doesn’t get on with waves boats, but said it would be okay with a larger one. When I looked out at dawn, there was a decent breeze, so I dreaded the prospect for Lesley. With good reason! They announced that due to the weather, we’d go first to Alonissos and Lesley endured over two hours of tossing and rolling. In Alonissos we had a snack which she managed after we had walked her back to life. Then we sailed to Skopelos and from the start, a crew member took Lesley to sit at a side where there was fresh air, so she survived. A two hour stay there sufficed to revive her and the weather calmed down so much that the return by the southern protected route was a dream. Calm enough to pull into a bay for the intrepid passengers to jump overboard and swim. Ian did it and was happy as all get out with it. We arrived back at base as the sun was setting, I don’t think my photos will be worth the pixels, but I’ll see. We climbed the cushion steps to eat at Grill George, next door to Stamatis Fish place. Tzatziki and grilled aubergines starters, mixed grill for two Ian and Vera, peppered chicken for Lesley and pork chop for me. Idiot, I had to have Vera cut it up for me. Frappé for Vera. Litre of house white for other three. I still can’t believe the price, €79.50, which Ian insisted on paying instead of half each, as his repayment for the boat trip. We came home on a new bus in the dead of night, the lady ticket seller cum marshal grabbed Vera’s arm to shove her onto the bus and now she has another bruise to blame on the new buses! It was packed even fuller than I’ve seen in a very long time and unable to see anything I worried about getting to BS18, but Ian, never having done it before, covered it perfectly.
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Post by kelso on Sept 13, 2022 19:53:43 GMT
So Dennis, you went to Skopelos and didn’t tell us in advance so we could watch you on the new webcam. Right, that’s you off my Christmas card list! Sorry, just remembered that you aren’t on my list in the first place. 😟
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Post by *Di* on Sept 13, 2022 22:23:29 GMT
So Dennis, you went to Skopelos and didn’t tell us in advance so we could watch you on the new webcam. Right, that’s you off my Christmas card list! Sorry, just remembered that you aren’t on my list in the first place. 😟 He’s being quite the naughty lad this trip Bob I’ve noticed!! We will let him off THIS time but he has a lot to answer for so far. Good job we like him. A bit 🙄😁
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Post by dennisn on Sept 14, 2022 5:23:53 GMT
Listen, none of you understand just how difficult it is with only one hand - I can’t hold my phone to see when I’m on camera and hold onto Vera to stop myself falling over.
Let’s try this morning if any of you are awake. Submarine service is about 11am and when it’s over I’ll see if I can persuade all four of us to go to the Bourtzi approach to wave. I’ll be in a white shirt but I don’t know what the others will wear. It crosses my mind that I can try putting my phone light on. Thaty11am our time, 9am yours. Cantremember how long it lasts, but the crowd will start dispersing when it does - you’ll just need to pick us out of them.
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Post by dennisn on Sept 14, 2022 5:50:48 GMT
Quick look at the webcam, the submarine is not visible - presumably parked beyond the Bourtzi. However, the accompanying minesweeper is on the jetty by the ferry place.
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Post by kelso on Sept 14, 2022 12:05:20 GMT
I’ve only just caught up with your post Dennis. Didn’t check earlier as I thought that the memorial service took place on Sundays. This excuse about the one hand doesn’t work as I bet it doesn’t stop you have the odd drink! I’m sure that a man of your ingenuity could work out how to keep a hold of Vera and to wave to your admirers! 😉😉😉
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Post by dennisn on Sept 15, 2022 6:34:35 GMT
I tend to drink sitting down!
So, Tuesday, nothing to report. We decided to have a day in, so eventually made it to the pool, where I had cheeseburger and chips and beer. Vera had sensible stuff. Then a swim. For September, the pool has been less than warm, refreshing would be the nearest description. Of course, I don’t feel the cold because I wear a swimming T-shirt.
Eating at Sunrise. Vera had lamb shank with jacket potato and I had shrimp spaghetti with red sauce and bits of olive, tasty but too big again. Oh, by the way, unless specifically stated otherwise, meals always start with tzatziki. Beer, of course, always helps fill me up. €40.
Wednesday was submarine service day. I did say it wasn’t visible on the webcam, so it must be parked hiding behind Bourtzi, but it wasn’t. Simply not there at all. Aiming for “about 11am start” we (all four) went in on a bus about 10. And when we got to old port, the ceremony was more than halfway finished. But enough to give Ian and Lesley the idea. Bob, last year the ceremony was carried out on the calendar anniversary of the loss of the Katsonis, 14th, and so again this year. I personally feel Sunday is more fitting, but they don’t ask me. Afterwards, FB’s Robert and Hilary Lear caught us - very nice couple, he constantly has his camera at the ready and I would be surprised if he didn’t have a photo of anything you mention. And Katet came to us too, lovely lady and what a great hairdo, impressive!!!
Evening meal just the two of us again at Vareli. Kleftiko for Vera, day’s Special grilled sea bass for me. We both had fresh orange juice to dilute my earlier naughtiness. €49.10 before tip.
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Post by dennisn on Sept 15, 2022 6:44:29 GMT
PS. Sorry, I forgot to say that on the Bourtzi I spotted mayor Tsoumas hosting the dignitaries from submarine service. So I went across and thanked them for it, and asked why the submarine wasn’t there. A suit man answered but I didn’t understand - he was sort of nudging his nose in a “between you and me” manner, so maybe he was saying the sub was out subbing. The white uniform covered in gold braid didn’t say a word. So I admonished them all to make sure it comes next year, said thank you again and bade them farewell. Earlier during the service we were hosted by an old lady standing next to us, told me about it all and offered her sympathy for the loss of our Queen. She was holding the traditional sprig of leaves which some throw into the sea at the end of the service.
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Post by cariad23 on Sept 15, 2022 7:35:24 GMT
Nice report Dennis, thoughtful of the greek lady to offer condolences.. As our queen was married to a greek i think they feel some affinity. One year in Crete we were standing reading a war memorial to british troops and paying our respects a very elderly greek man came up obviously lived through the very hard times in crete during the war, he nodded to the memorial, nodded to us, shook my husbands hand and left.. well nearly a week gone and all is going well for you both, when you went to sunrise did you get that free desert some white stuff , not yogurt, i dont know what it was but it was nice.
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