Post by katet on Jun 27, 2023 7:32:48 GMT
Friday
I decided to have a quiet day round town as the heat had really ramped up - and the humidity was reading almost 80% on my weather app. I had a walk round the back streets, starting in the main church square zig-zagging round those pretty streets at the back towards Papadiamanti, crossing over and walking past Secret Garden, Marmita & Artesanal, then towards the square where Cuba taverna was (now called something else) and past Dionysus, then on to the new port and an ice cream at Fregio🍦before I actually melted! I took loads of photos, discovered some new apartments called Skiathos Senses (very modern looking) and re-discovered Entelia which also look really nice. Later that afternoon I went to Mood cafe opposite the ferries, to have a last drink with my friend, Joan, and to wave her and her partner off to the airport. My turn on Monday 😏
I decided to go to Fresh for my evening meal (spaghetti bolognaise and a half litre of rosé) and had the intention of watching the Greek dancing festival in the square by the bus terminus but friends came along (as per usual!) and we sat chatting over a couple of glasses of wine for ages - bang went my early night!
Saturday
Up early, breakfast at Mood and 10 am ferry to Skopelos town… a first for me and an adventure. I’ve previously been to Skopelos several times on smaller boats, but never on the ferry. Skopelos town is quiet, charming and very pretty (if hilly!) with lots of backstreet churches & alleyways. I took lots of photos, stopping for a herb ice tea, meze lunch and ice cream before catching the 4 pm Cat1 back. The morning one was the Sporades Star and was fairly basic but the Cat1 is really smooth and luxurious - like being on a cruise ship! It was an even hotter day and climbing all those steps was extremely hard work so it was blissful to get back and have a long, cooling shower.
I had arranged to go to for dinner with a friend in Koukounaries and we ate at the Panorama to say hello to the family there and see what changes there have been. I last stayed there in 2020 and each winter the family works hard to improve the facilities. The municipality has reduced the height of the chain-link fence by the nature reserve and removed weeds along the boundary, so the hotels there now have a lovely lake view. A big improvement. The restaurant area has had a makeover for this year with very comfortable seating and Dina’s eldest was helping her behind the bar as she’s now 13! Apollo now has three children and we worked out that he would have been 18 when we first met in 2004 … gosh, that makes me feel old! After dinner we had an hour in the Agustera then I said my goodbyes and caught the bus back to town at midnight - not quite sure how I managed to stay awake!!! A long but enjoyable day.
Sunday
Last full day! I had a coffee and pastry in my room, then dragged the suitcase out reluctantly and threw a few things in. I intended to catch the 10.15 water taxi to Kanapitsa but got chatting to Dimitris, the hotel manager, and a friend of his and missed the boat 😂 so waited with a fresh orange juice in More and caught the 11.15.
I spent a really pleasant and lazy day on my very comfy sun bed with a break at 2pm for a beer and a generous slice of walnut cake with ice cream at the restaurant. I went back on the 4.15 and did a few errands in town - including the cash point again. This has been an expensive holiday!
That evening I met up with friends who live on the island for a cocktail in Goldfish … a lovely hour of catching up and then on to dinner at Vesuvio, where I had a delicious cheese and spinach tortellini dish. (I haven’t mentioned food prices much this time for two reasons - 1) I have mainly spent just under €20 in most places for a main course and wine/water, with a couple of meals at €25 in the more expensive restaurants and 2) I’m not as much into food as I used to be and quite honestly can’t always remember!!!)
On the way home I stopped off at Turquoise to say goodbye to my friend and was pleased to hear that they had had a better evening. I’m not sure why people are suspicious of the new bars, but I’ve noticed that the three new ones along the old port (Turquoise, More and El Greco) have always had fewer customers than the others 🤔
In was back in the room just before midnight … decided to pack in the morning 🙈
Monday
Up early to pack and have a light breakfast and was ready to check out at by ten o’clock. Dimitris helped me with my case and had booked me a taxi from the port at 10.45, so I trundled off to wait. The weather gods were kind to me and it was cloudy, so I was spared the searing heat for my half hour wait. I arrived at the airport by eleven and had an hour to wait before check in opened so waited in the comfy upstairs cafe and had an early lunch of spanakopita and a passable cappuccino.
I waited until the queue for my flight was really small and checked in, then walked straight through security and passport control … much better than standing in line! The gate was packed - we were gate 1 and a Luton flight was in 2 so I went to sit down the other end where it was nice and quiet. The Luton passengers were then told that their flight had been cancelled and they would have to return next day - there was then a long announcement, the gist of which was that they would have to find their own accommodation - you can imagine the chaos! No idea what the reason was, but I’m sure it will be mentioned on some of the FB sites.
Our flight arrived almost on time and we were soon loaded and away. All smooth and uneventful and back at Manchester where Martha was waiting for me. After the long delay last time I was pleasantly surprised that all went to plan … and there were no nasty surprises back at home either! (Returned to a small but damaging water leak from an adjoining property in my hallway in April - insurance job.)
Well, that’s it for now … it was a fab holiday where I met lots of old - and some new - friends and socialised a lot! Time for some P&Q now (plus gardening & decorating). It was lovely to actually get to meet you and your lovely wife for real EGG … luckily we didn’t disturb each other by getting in late, as we were next door-but-one neighbours! Enjoy your last full day and Kalo taxidi ✈️
I decided to have a quiet day round town as the heat had really ramped up - and the humidity was reading almost 80% on my weather app. I had a walk round the back streets, starting in the main church square zig-zagging round those pretty streets at the back towards Papadiamanti, crossing over and walking past Secret Garden, Marmita & Artesanal, then towards the square where Cuba taverna was (now called something else) and past Dionysus, then on to the new port and an ice cream at Fregio🍦before I actually melted! I took loads of photos, discovered some new apartments called Skiathos Senses (very modern looking) and re-discovered Entelia which also look really nice. Later that afternoon I went to Mood cafe opposite the ferries, to have a last drink with my friend, Joan, and to wave her and her partner off to the airport. My turn on Monday 😏
I decided to go to Fresh for my evening meal (spaghetti bolognaise and a half litre of rosé) and had the intention of watching the Greek dancing festival in the square by the bus terminus but friends came along (as per usual!) and we sat chatting over a couple of glasses of wine for ages - bang went my early night!
Saturday
Up early, breakfast at Mood and 10 am ferry to Skopelos town… a first for me and an adventure. I’ve previously been to Skopelos several times on smaller boats, but never on the ferry. Skopelos town is quiet, charming and very pretty (if hilly!) with lots of backstreet churches & alleyways. I took lots of photos, stopping for a herb ice tea, meze lunch and ice cream before catching the 4 pm Cat1 back. The morning one was the Sporades Star and was fairly basic but the Cat1 is really smooth and luxurious - like being on a cruise ship! It was an even hotter day and climbing all those steps was extremely hard work so it was blissful to get back and have a long, cooling shower.
I had arranged to go to for dinner with a friend in Koukounaries and we ate at the Panorama to say hello to the family there and see what changes there have been. I last stayed there in 2020 and each winter the family works hard to improve the facilities. The municipality has reduced the height of the chain-link fence by the nature reserve and removed weeds along the boundary, so the hotels there now have a lovely lake view. A big improvement. The restaurant area has had a makeover for this year with very comfortable seating and Dina’s eldest was helping her behind the bar as she’s now 13! Apollo now has three children and we worked out that he would have been 18 when we first met in 2004 … gosh, that makes me feel old! After dinner we had an hour in the Agustera then I said my goodbyes and caught the bus back to town at midnight - not quite sure how I managed to stay awake!!! A long but enjoyable day.
Sunday
Last full day! I had a coffee and pastry in my room, then dragged the suitcase out reluctantly and threw a few things in. I intended to catch the 10.15 water taxi to Kanapitsa but got chatting to Dimitris, the hotel manager, and a friend of his and missed the boat 😂 so waited with a fresh orange juice in More and caught the 11.15.
I spent a really pleasant and lazy day on my very comfy sun bed with a break at 2pm for a beer and a generous slice of walnut cake with ice cream at the restaurant. I went back on the 4.15 and did a few errands in town - including the cash point again. This has been an expensive holiday!
That evening I met up with friends who live on the island for a cocktail in Goldfish … a lovely hour of catching up and then on to dinner at Vesuvio, where I had a delicious cheese and spinach tortellini dish. (I haven’t mentioned food prices much this time for two reasons - 1) I have mainly spent just under €20 in most places for a main course and wine/water, with a couple of meals at €25 in the more expensive restaurants and 2) I’m not as much into food as I used to be and quite honestly can’t always remember!!!)
On the way home I stopped off at Turquoise to say goodbye to my friend and was pleased to hear that they had had a better evening. I’m not sure why people are suspicious of the new bars, but I’ve noticed that the three new ones along the old port (Turquoise, More and El Greco) have always had fewer customers than the others 🤔
In was back in the room just before midnight … decided to pack in the morning 🙈
Monday
Up early to pack and have a light breakfast and was ready to check out at by ten o’clock. Dimitris helped me with my case and had booked me a taxi from the port at 10.45, so I trundled off to wait. The weather gods were kind to me and it was cloudy, so I was spared the searing heat for my half hour wait. I arrived at the airport by eleven and had an hour to wait before check in opened so waited in the comfy upstairs cafe and had an early lunch of spanakopita and a passable cappuccino.
I waited until the queue for my flight was really small and checked in, then walked straight through security and passport control … much better than standing in line! The gate was packed - we were gate 1 and a Luton flight was in 2 so I went to sit down the other end where it was nice and quiet. The Luton passengers were then told that their flight had been cancelled and they would have to return next day - there was then a long announcement, the gist of which was that they would have to find their own accommodation - you can imagine the chaos! No idea what the reason was, but I’m sure it will be mentioned on some of the FB sites.
Our flight arrived almost on time and we were soon loaded and away. All smooth and uneventful and back at Manchester where Martha was waiting for me. After the long delay last time I was pleasantly surprised that all went to plan … and there were no nasty surprises back at home either! (Returned to a small but damaging water leak from an adjoining property in my hallway in April - insurance job.)
Well, that’s it for now … it was a fab holiday where I met lots of old - and some new - friends and socialised a lot! Time for some P&Q now (plus gardening & decorating). It was lovely to actually get to meet you and your lovely wife for real EGG … luckily we didn’t disturb each other by getting in late, as we were next door-but-one neighbours! Enjoy your last full day and Kalo taxidi ✈️
