|
Post by Woody (Admin) on Sept 10, 2016 12:02:38 GMT
Anbody come to say hello from the forum yet Dennis? Or are they avoiding you?
|
|
|
Post by derbyshirelass on Sept 10, 2016 18:20:08 GMT
We had a lovely chat with Dennis and Vera yesterday. We were preparing to leave for home. As our pick up wan't until 15.50 we decided to have lunch and went to Chrystakis, just down the road from where we had been staying in Troulos, as their sign outside said, Lunch served til 3.00pm. As it was only 13.45 we went up the steps to be greeted by this guy and I asked if we could have lunch to which he replied, 'everything cleared away' and when my husband told him about the sign saying until 3.00pm he got quite shirty and asked if we believed the board or him. Rather than argue I left him to it but I will point out we will not return to this place again. So we strolled through the goat field to Byzantium and were greeted by a lovely young lady. The Greek salad was very good so we will be back there one day. Pick up was on time and after we saw our plane land we made our way across the road. Before too long our flight was called, we got on the bus (driven by Costas, Dennis). After about 20 minutes it was obvious we were going nowhere, then the pilot explained the decision had been made to refuel in Skiathos so we didn't have to touch down in Kavala, happy faces now and by 7.30pm we were off. All went well, lovely flight and we were happy to be landing 1.5 hours earlier. Of course all our pick up folks would be looking online wouldn't they to see we were landing earlier, Yes they did but it showed we were dropping off at Kavala. Which meant quite a few passengers were waiting at the airport)us included) until our lifts arrived. Fortunately the person collecting us lives only 25 minutes away and after a phone call to say we had landed we didn't have to wait long. He had watched our flight but the times didn't make sense. I didn't dare make a phone call from the plane when we were told what was happening but it would have been good to have permission to do so to save a lot of folks waiting for pickups. We still got home one hour earlier than planned. It was a great two weeks with good weather. A couple of cloudy days that turned warmer but it didn't spoil our holiday. Yes we will be back.
|
|
|
Post by dennisn on Sept 10, 2016 18:45:11 GMT
Well, Woody, today was the first on the Bourtzi and nobody turned up. However, back at Troulos when we came back, I went into our usual supermarket for the paper and when I turned round I saw a bloke with hair that could only belong to Mr jlo (see her avatar) and when challenged, Mrs jlo confessed and we chatted happily for a while. She didn't meet Vera who had hurried on ahead for urgent personal reasons . We had been into town - arrived at bus stop 18 about 2 yards behind the departing bus, so we got the next one with the conductor boy with modern hair. As we got off at Acropolis stop 4, two ladies came to get on and I said 'Do you realise you're just about there and most people will walk from here - we are walking in there now". One said they had thought that, but her friend wanted to ride, so I shrugged OK. The other one then decided they'd walk after all, but I think I may have earned very negative brownie points with her. We had a delicious gyro, then did a bit of shopping, plastic sandals for me for the pool and beach, a cozzie and something else for Vera. Then off to the Bourtzi for a chill out, a couple of beers and a couple of frappés, where we saw they had some rather nice twirly things- see photo in Photo of the Day. I forgot to go look to confirm the diving board has been removed. When we went to the Loo with a View as we left, the entrance gate (I've never noticed one before) was closed and there was a queue. A cleaner lady appeared so I demonstrated my urgency by crossing my legs and doubling over. She seemed unimpressed, but let us in soon afterwards. The bus back was conducted by the lady conductor bloke. Some think she's a bit miserable, but over the years I have trained her to be cheerful and smile. She has a waistline to match my own, so we don't pass each other in the aisle! Back at Villa Maria we went for a pool swim. Stamatia could not be persuaded to join us, saying that yesterday I had reported it to be proper cold. Instead, she came to supervise my big girls blouse entry. It's OK once I'm in, just challenging to get in - especially under Vera's disapproving gaze - she marches straight in, both sea and pool. We went to Salt and Pepper at six o clock (ish) and had our "usual" - kalamari for Vera and sea bass for me. The drinks lad presented himself complete with our "usual" drinks without coming to ask for our orders. That's how good they are there. The table waiter also knew what we wanted to eat. Some people find their behaviour a bit over the top, but we think they have just the right balance of low profile and attentiveness. 29 Euros before tip.
|
|
|
Post by dennisn on Sept 11, 2016 17:59:33 GMT
Sunday 11th September.
We rose very early this morning and even taking time for breakfast, reached the beach very soon after 8am. Before we even put down the swimming bag, we were greeted by the sight of a great big shoal of skittering fish AND their pursuers. Don't know what they were, but they reminded me of Bream and the Dorado our fisherman caught once. They were all going hell for leather across the bay, jumping like mad including the big ones. That's the first time we've seen the chasing monsters and unless there were bigger ones chasing the big ones chasing the little ones, confirmation that it's not Jaws.
There was a shaggy dog wandering along the beach. Fortunately it didn't approach our bag, but I think somebody at the far end of the beach may get a surprise. Its owner eventually turned up and happily walked along the beach with it.
Our swim was great, I almost got in without hesitating, as the water seemed a little warmer than yesterday. Again a line of clouds came into view, occasionally giving us some relief from the sun glaring up from the sea surface as we swam. But no rain. As the day developed, the sun took over completely.
Sandwich up at the Plateia today, some shopping - bum bag and work trousers for me, women's stuff for Vera. Then a lazy slouch on the Bourtzi.
We ate at Jasteri tonight, lamb shanks (actually, BIG lamb shanks). With tzatziki, water and beer, 34 Euros.
I should have said yesterday that there was no sign of the submarine, so no Katsonis Memorial service today. Now we know we shall go to it next Sunday.
|
|
|
Post by kelso on Sept 11, 2016 18:07:46 GMT
Dennis, I don't recognise the name "Plateia" where you had your sandwich. Where is that? Enjoying your updates. Bob
|
|
|
Post by dennisn on Sept 12, 2016 4:01:01 GMT
Opposite Tries Hierarches.
|
|
|
Post by derbyshirelass on Sept 12, 2016 7:41:18 GMT
Lovely photo of you two. So the fish are still jumping at Troulos, scared me last year as they swam towards me.
|
|
|
Post by kathos on Sept 12, 2016 12:52:58 GMT
Is Plateia the same place where you can get proper pancakes? A couple staying in our hotel inisisted we joined them for pancakes with sugar and lemon .. sure it was there, think it was owned by Chicken George's family.
|
|
|
Post by amy114 on Sept 12, 2016 17:21:10 GMT
That is a lovely photo of the two of you. Looks like Vera has retained a lot of her tan from your June holiday! Think that is the cafe that I sat at opposite the church in my earlier holiday this year.
|
|
|
Post by kelso on Sept 12, 2016 17:22:43 GMT
That must surely be you and your daughter Dennis. Bob
|
|
|
Post by dennisn on Sept 12, 2016 17:27:41 GMT
Well, he does them (although I believe they call them crepes?). That's glop swirled around flatly on a flat round thing. We've had one there out of interest but we're no experts so can't judge. I believe they are obtainable at several places.
|
|
|
Post by dennisn on Sept 12, 2016 18:03:23 GMT
Monday 12th September.
We woke at 6:15am to the sound of grumbly thunder and thought uh oh. But when I looked out from our balcony, it sounded to be moving further away, with one final flash of lightning somewhere over towards Koukounaries. So we confidently decided to do our morning swim as usual. Quite a bit of evidence of overnight shower, but no great floods.
A very pleasant walk to Troulos Bay, where we found the sea beautifully calm, warm and hosting four white swans (the black one has disappeared, perhaps when the others ganged up on it yesterday it decided to relocate elsewhere). I almost walked straight in, but I have to give Vera something to talk about so I pretended to do big girls blouse. The little fishes skipped again and there was a (cormorant?) out there again. We usually see that bird, long neck, suddenly flips over and dives down for a snack.
The sea was best so far and we thoroughly enjoyed almost an hour of flat calm swimming. I've heard so many reports mentioning a terry pin pool, so we got out and went to look behind the boat renting shed. All we found was a decent sized stagnant looking pool rather heaving with small fishes, so mark that down as a fail.
In town later, having finished our shopping yesterday, we bought a few things. Trousers and shorts for me and for Vera dresses, sandals, squirty smelly stuff and I don't know what else. Then we got a t-shirt each from a shop which charges a mega fortune for everything! In the Bourtzi I only needed to order "the usual".
We ate at Sunrise tonight. Chicken souvlaki with bacon for Vera, lamb stiffado for me. Hers was delicious, mine was out of this world. I thought we had the best tzatziki in the island the other night, but theirs was incredible. With water and beer, 33 Euros. Complimentary small sharing bowl of white glop topped with honey, and a handful of sweets with the bill. Yet another place where they recognise us and say "welcome back again".
|
|
|
Post by dennisn on Sept 12, 2016 18:09:29 GMT
PS. I have forgotten to say the weather has been kind to us. It's not stinking hot, but warm enough to make sleeping outside the sheets the norm.
|
|
|
Post by Tre on Sept 12, 2016 20:12:13 GMT
Great pic Dennis. I'll now recognise you at the Bourtzi next year! Enjoy your stay.
|
|
|
Post by *Di* on Sept 12, 2016 20:48:10 GMT
Great reports as per Dennis, thank you... tell Vera I love her dress she has on in the photo...
|
|