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Post by amy114 on May 16, 2015 16:28:40 GMT
Day 1 - Friday 15 May
Well I nearly didn't make it partly due to my pre-holiday malaise (veering between "I've got lots of time" and sheer panic when I realise I have left it so late I will be lucky to be ready by the time my taxi arrives) and partly due to nearly becoming the filling in a lorry sandwich! However, I was just about ready when the taxi arrived 3 minutes early and due to his driving skills you are not reading about a tragic accident at around 6.10 am.
Arrived at MIA around 6.30 am and thought I would have 30 minutes to queue for the TC check-in desks to open. No, they were already so I joined the shortest queue ever and was all done within 5 minutes. I had a charity bag for the SCWS which had to go in the hold via a different desk so I trotted down and presented it to the chap in charge . I had wrapped it up in black bin bags and used a lot of wrapping tape to secure it. When I asked the chap if I was at the right desk for depositing my charity bag he asked me (jokingly) if I was sure it was for charity as it looked to him like a big bag of marijuana! My response was to the effect that I am sure there is someone somewhere who wished that it was but unfortunately it was items for the SCWS
Proceeded through security which seem to take forever and had roughly an hour before boarding flight. Boarded on time and quickly and plane ready for ttake-off 10 minutes early. 25 minutes later we were finally airborne. Flight was good but experienced a lot of turbulence and landed in Skiathos 10 minutes earlier than scheduled with a really smooth touchdown. didn't have to wait long for my case and was totally surprised to see that it was accompanied by my charity bag! Things were picking up!
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Post by amy114 on May 16, 2015 17:24:19 GMT
Still Day 1
Apologies but I have to split my threads as I keep getting "oops there has been an error " and I then lose everything I have typed and have to start again! :-(
So 5 minutes after leaving the terminal the owner of the apartment arrived , we loaded my luggage and off we went. My first impressions of Skiathos was that it was very green and seemed really peaceful. My apartment was located in the harbour directly opposite the ferry terminal and as I was on the second floor had a great view. The apartment consisted of 3 rooms, bedroom, bathroom & living area. There were no cooking facilities but a fridge, kettle, crockery & cutlery. The bedroom was done out in white - walls & furniture & the living area had a while sofa but it was the bathroom that was the most unusual creature in that it was the brightest shade of green - ceiling, walls and had a concrete shelf that ran practically the length of the room with a modern sink at one end, a concrete shower base with a low wall surrounding and the wardrobe behind the door! No shower curtain and a handheld shower. I do so like quirky!
The balcony was big and had a white basin with a quirky shaped tap but no idea what it was there. The Bourtzi was about 100 yards to the right and I was told that the bus terminus was 200 metres to the left so all I needed to do was shower and get ready for dinner as I had been invited by my brother (who is a boomeranger & had flown out 2 hours before me). I had strict instructions to arrive at bus stop 16 at 8.00pm. Right, I better get a wriggle on and get ready. Calamity, no water! Three phone calls and one hour later water restored! Phew what a relief.
Was out of the apartment and found that the bus left the terminus on the hour so sent text that I would be on the 7.00 pm. I walked down the harbour and after about 200 metres saw a road to the right with 2 buses and a coach parked up and wondered whether I was at the terminus. It was confirmed by a couple sat in the shelter which had been blocked from sight by the first parked bus.
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Post by amy114 on May 16, 2015 22:21:33 GMT
Driver arrived on time, boarded the bus and paid the fare when the conductor got on a couple of stops later. Text brother to say I would be there early and was told to get off at stop 15. Nearly missed the stop as so close to 14 but managed to ring bell in time. Conductor looked surprised as I had paid to stop 16. Met up with brother near his apartments (Demitrios) had a look around (not bad) before we went back to main road via the lane. On the way up the lane I had passed a tanker delivering water via a pipe to one of the houses and on the return we watched him negotiating a passage that was barely wider than his vehicle was poetry in motion! To see him literally inch forward then back then repeat the process again and again until he was lined up with 2 inches off space between his vehicle and the wall on each side and slowly negotiate the lane without damage to either vehicle or walls was something else. After that excitement a drink was required and we dropped into the Kohyli for a glass of red (me) and a mythos (brother) and I was introduced to Christos the owner and his son, whose name I can't remember.
Left Kohyli and headed for the Pegasus where we were to meet up with a party of people, one of whom is an ex-pat who has been living and working on the island for 20 years. Turned out that there were 10 of us in total. The starter was bread with a very tasty spread which came in miniature jars and was a very pale orange in colour but so more-ish I could have eaten it all night! I ordered the plaka, a dish of beef in tomato sauce with rice and fried potatoes (chips). It was so tasty and tender, the meat just fell apart when I touched it with my knife & fork - just delicious. We agreed to split the bill equally and it came t 165 euros which included wine, beer & one large water.
I finally managed to connect to WiFi at the Pegasus only to learn that I had missed handing over the charity bag at the kiosk in the town that evening. But all was not lost, one of the party was seeing Sharon of the SCWS over the weekend so gave me a lift back to town picked up the goodies. The kindness of strangers...
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Post by dennisn on May 17, 2015 7:21:32 GMT
I think you're REALLY gonna like it.  The conductor wasn't surprised you got off earlier than you had paid for - the fare is probably the same from the start right to the end. I imagine he was surprised because he remembered you asking for 16 and was poised to remind you. Meal price - 165 Euros for two of you or ten of you? It sounds like your "oops, error" is down to dropping the connection. I overcome that problem by regularly copying what I've typed (Ctrl+C), then if it happens, I can re-paste (Ctrl+V) it in a blink of an eye. Sometimes I surprise myself with what a smarty pants I am! I'm looking forward to the next report, keep them coming. |
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Post by amy114 on May 17, 2015 13:34:05 GMT
Hi Dennis you may be right 're the conductor. The price for the meal was for the ten of us. Unfortunately my tablet does not have the control facility on the keyboard so I am left with split threads.  |
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Post by amy114 on May 17, 2015 13:52:55 GMT
Day 2 - 16 May
Woke after 7 hours of straight sleep, a coup for me as the last time I slept through was 6 months ago! Was it the ambience of Skiathos or a combination of no sleep in 48 hours, flight & alcohol the night before. I will leave it to you to decide.
So first hour of the morning watching the locals coming & going before getting ready for the day ahead. Left apartment and purchased ticket for the flying cat to Skopelos at 16.15 and headed up papadiamantis for breakfast. Didn't get far before I saw a sign at the FoodieCafe offering free WiFi so took seat outside & ordered breakfast of cheese omelette and tea. Had a second cup whilst writing post but suffice to say the post I lost it and as it was nearing noon by this time I paid (7.10 euros and left 8) and .headed back to apartment to meet up with owner & pay for my stay. She was there when I returned and told me I could leave my bags & pay her when she returned at 3.30 pm. Brilliant, problem of what to do with luggage solved :-)
At this point decided to check out the old port.
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Post by kelso on May 17, 2015 14:02:28 GMT
Really enjoying reading your posts Amy. I've stay at Demitris Studios many times and can't praise it highly enough. I'm sure that your brother will enjoy it. hope that you continue with your posts, if it isn't too much of a chore for you.
Bob
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Post by amy114 on May 17, 2015 14:45:27 GMT
Hi Bob thanks for your comments and yes,I will continue even if it means bite size portions! Get ready for the next one. :-)
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Post by amy114 on May 17, 2015 15:12:27 GMT
So I ambled round the corner into the old port and took a seat about 3/4 of the way up and sat for 5 minutes just enjoying the sea view and the peace. Decided that as I had a couple of hours to before the flying cat arrived I would go and check out more of papadiamantis to familiarize myself before I returned in 6 days time. However fate had something else in store for me in the shape of Spiros,one of the taverna owners (unfortunately as the taverna name was written in Greek,I don't remember it but I can say that it started with an E). He stopped me as I was about to pass and suggested I come in for a drink and meet his wife Touli. It appeared that she had noticed me passing and was really taken with my handbag! So I settled down for a chat and ordered a cuppa and this arrived with a small water but I have to say that it was the smallest tea I have had in my life!
Before long we were joined by the Skiathos fisherman - Touli said he was the last one left in the port and supplied all the tavernas with their fish. He told me of places I should visit whilst on Skiathos but when he found I was heading out to Skopelos he wasn't impressed. Suggested I check out the water in the port when I arrived as it wasn't as clear as the port in Skiathos. Apparently this is due to the fact that domestic waste products are emptied directly into the sea! No swimming for me then!
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Post by amy114 on May 17, 2015 15:47:15 GMT
Soon we were joined by two young musicians, one with a clarinet (at least I think it was) and the other with a bongo drum who proceded to belt out a Greek folk song. Immediately the fisherman started to chair dance, waving and clapping his hands in the air and calling ella, ella, to people in the next taverna. When the song ended tips were given and a second song started. It was obvious that the fisherman loved his greek music as the chair dancing and clapping continued. Now I don't speak greek but the fisherman said something to Spiros and two beers arrived for the musicians before the second number was over. Looked like they would be staying a while! Alas, not me, and I paid for my tea (3 euros) and left the taverna but not before Touli had extracted a promise from me that the following sat I come back and we have a night of food and the famous tspouro!
I met the owner of the apartment, paid and collected my luggage and waited in a bar close by with a small draft greek beer (3 euros) until the flying cat was due.
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Post by amy114 on May 17, 2015 16:24:45 GMT
The FC5 arrived more or less on time and the usual chaos ensued. All boomerangers and travellers to Greece who use the ferries are aware that they have a very short time to turn around and set sail so they have a specific timetable of events they have to adhere to for packages, passengers & luggage to leave the ferry before boarding all 3 of the above. So why do those waiting to board decide that they must push their way on while people are trying to exit causing even more chaos? The ferry is not going to leave you behind! Stern looks and shouted instructions from the seamen soon put a stop to the rudeness.
Boarded the FC5 with only one small mishap. The ticket collector must have thought I was traveling with someone as he tore off the receipts for both my outbound & return tickets but this was later rectified by one of the crew sticking both parts of the return ticket together.
Set sail for Skopelos and 10 minutes out of Glossa a mist appeared partly obscuring the island. Within a few more minutes the island had completely disappeared behind a wall of mist. I started t think that maybe Skopelos had not been such a good idea but needn't have worried as by the time we arrived the sun was shining.
Met by one of the owners of the apartment that I would be in for the next few days and off we went driving through the town down some very tight lanes before hitting the main road and arriving at our destination within minutes.
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Post by dennisn on May 17, 2015 19:31:50 GMT
Hi Dennis you may be right 're the conductor. The price for the meal was for the ten of us. Unfortunately my tablet does not have the control facility on the keyboard so I am left with split threads. Pantene? |
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Post by dennisn on May 17, 2015 19:50:59 GMT
Woke after 7 hours of straight sleep, a coup for me as the last time I slept through was 6 months ago! Was it the ambience of Skiathos or a combination of no sleep in 48 hours, flight & alcohol the night before. I will leave it to you to decide. I find that the minute we hit Skiathos, my Vera undergoes a transformation. Any stress or care showing in her face (from packing, checking, making sure all goes well, including the world) disappears as if wiped by a magic wand. Honestly, it's miraculous to see. Mind you, I remember the first time my daughter slept through and it sure felt like I'd had the benefit of alcohol! Give us a wave at the webcam in Skopelos, please. |
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Post by Woody (Admin) on May 17, 2015 19:58:20 GMT
Amy, keep the reports going if you can, great to read up to date info regarding your visit.
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Post by *Di* on May 17, 2015 20:34:43 GMT
Oh, I'm really enjoying these reports Amy, every bit of them, thank you and please if you can, keep them coming....  |
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