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Post by katet on Jun 29, 2017 18:51:08 GMT
Really enjoying this, Amy! Next best thing to actually being there
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Post by balddave on Jun 29, 2017 19:21:11 GMT
Amy, you're in Skiathos, no such thing as only one day, need to add till next time, enjoy
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Post by yorkshiremouth on Jun 29, 2017 20:27:04 GMT
Every time I see this thread I wonder how I'm going to start one called Wichita Lineman, Macarthur Park, or Galveston.
If I ever start one called By the Time I Get to Phoenix you'll know I've completely flipped.
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Post by katet on Jun 29, 2017 21:47:20 GMT
Hahaha ... been singing 'in my shiny red balloon' all evening... and I don't even know if they are the right words!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by amy114 on Jun 30, 2017 9:38:35 GMT
Thursday A 9.30 am start to the day! Half heartedly started my packing for my trip home tomorrow. Mixed feelings between wanting the holiday to continue for at least another couple of weeks and wanting to get away from this heat and back to the Manchester weather! It was 3.30 pm before i made it off the balcony and for once i was really hungry, so off to the bar for a much needed egg and bacon meal. It fit the bill nicely. I also took the opportunity to pay for my stay. Eventually joined friends in the shade by the pool and spent a pleasant hour or two chatting. We decided on the Mistrali for dinner this evening. On the walk down the lane i called in at the Dream House to drop off my Avon SOS for Efi. She was not there so i left it with Costas and said my final goodbyes. There were eight of us dining tonight. Some of us were at the stage that we could only eat starters for our meal. I choose the shrimp saganaki with garlic bread. Along with water, wine and various other drinks, we were brought toasted bread and dips as we we informed there would be a wait for our food. Fine by us. The food eventually arrived and we all tucked in. I did enjoy my saganaki but could not say the same for my garlic bread. It had been put through the microwave and was very soft and so hot i could not pick it up! Following the meal we were given complimentary liquers which were followed by complimentary chocolate cake! The bill came to 136 euros (18 each) but we all rounded it up to 20 each. The evening had turned pleasantly and we walked back to the studios for a nightcap in the bar. Every so often, a breeze blew into the bar and it was so welcomed but after about 30 minutes, a really warm breeze started to blow which wasnt so pleasant! I was so tired i needed to go to bed so said my goodnights and left the bar to throw a few more things in my case before trying to sleep! :-):-)
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Post by Tre on Jun 30, 2017 22:43:19 GMT
Loved reading your reports Amy. Thank you.
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Post by amy114 on Jun 30, 2017 22:48:58 GMT
So looking forward to your reports Tre. Hope you enjoyed your trip via Athens and didn't melt along the way! So, so hot in Skiathos at the moment. :-):-)
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Post by amy114 on Jul 2, 2017 9:28:20 GMT
Friday
Final day!
Having set my alarm for 8.30 am i woke at 6.30 am! No electricity! Dozed off and woke again at 7.30 am. Tried to stay in bed but 20 minutes later kettle on for my final ritual with kitty! Yes, the electricity was back yay!
Finally finished my packing with kitty watching my every move. Cleared out fridge and took a couple of goodie bags to my ex-pat friend and brought case round for lift to airport. Her partner has three trips to the airport today!
Into the bar where i ordered a full breakfast. Unfortunately, i could not do it justice and left most of it. Before long it was time to leave so we piled into car and off to airport. When we arrived the queue outside for passport control was three lines deep and even inside there was a contained zigzag queue!
Five gates open for TC flights to Manchester and Newcastle so joined the queue. Went down pretty quickly and off to Desires.
Our flight home was delayed by over an hour so we spent some time in a very quite Desires watching planes landing and taking off. Finally said goodbye to our friend who was off back to the studios to pick up his last 'fare' and made our way back to the airport.
Pleasantly surprised that the passport control queue was very short outside so joined and before long were back inside the building. However, the queue inside snaked halfway down the building and a chap who was alongside us heading in the right direction, informed us that it would take 25 minutes to get to his point in the queue! Oh joy!
All was not lost though, they have a third scanner that they opened and were directing people there so it did help with the ever increasing queue. Eventually through to the passenger lounge and a quick trip around the duty free section. Then a surprise, Kurt and Goldie stood in the Gate 1 area! By the time our flight was boarding through Gate 1, they had managed to get seats and we walked passed them and through the door.
Once boarded, captain announced we were taking on fuel in Kavala, and soon after we were airborne. Landed 35 minutes later, took on the fuel, then airborne again for Manchester. I was quite surprised by the airport there, looked quite forlorn. Was later informed that it was a military airport.
Uneventful flight with some slight turbulence. Nightmare queue at passport control but got through and bag off carousel pretty quickly. Said goodbye to my friends and off to phone my taxi, a farce in itself! When he finally arrived, off we went only to hit the motorway to find a massive queue as junctions 6 - 12 closed! After following the diversion and going miles out of our way, i finally got home at 10.00 pm!
Now doing my washing now for next trip. :-):-):-)
Hope those of you now in Skiathos and those of you looking forward to your trip this summer, have a fabulous time. :-):-):-)
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Post by kelso on Jul 2, 2017 12:19:44 GMT
Thanks for your enjoyable posts Amy.
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Post by *Di* on Jul 2, 2017 14:58:00 GMT
Thank you Amy.. as usual I enjoyed your holiday with you! Much appreciated ππΌπ
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Post by katet on Jul 2, 2017 18:56:23 GMT
I' m sorry your holiday is over, Amy - have really enjoyed it! Thank you x
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Post by amy114 on Jul 2, 2017 21:07:00 GMT
Thanks Bob, Di and Kate. Looking forward to the next one! :-):-)
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Post by kevb on Jul 3, 2017 11:08:33 GMT
Sorry Amy, I've only just caught up with these posts and now you're home! I think if I did a 2 week holiday I'd be seriously looking at a couple of nights on Alonissos if the ferries were sensibly timetabled. I did the Skopelos/Alonissos day trip like you when I first went on my own in 2012. I too was a bit frustrated at the inevitably brief stop at Alonissos and as I've had a 1 night stopover in Skopelos in 2015 I shuold really do the next island along some justice too but I think it would need to be part of a 2 weeker and work/other commitments doesn't really fit a 2 week break at the moment. I'm determined to get mum over to see Skopelos just for a day this year so I will check ferry times as soon as we get to Skiathos. As she's never been to Skiathos either I thought a 'round the island' day trip on a boat would give her a better idea of its geography, not done that trip since 2014 so happy to do it again.
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Post by amy114 on Jul 3, 2017 22:35:38 GMT
Hi Kev you may be surprised to know that this year there are 4/5 ferries plus flying cat doing Alonissos so like Skopelos, it would be quite doable for an overnighter! I was surprised myself as last year only one ferry out and one back both departing at 6.00 am! The size of ferry denotes the speed to the island but you could go out on a morning ferry taking approximately 2 hours and come back on the flying cat the following evening! Not sure how your mum would feel about your kind of a packed, sightseeing trip but one for you to think about if coming out yourself.
Plus, not sure of timings but I think you can actually catch a ferry from Alonissos to Skyros but would think you would need to bypass Skiathos if only going for 7 days! A trip I quite fancy - 3/4 days on Alonissos, 3 days on Skyros then 7 days on Skiathos! Something to plan around for a forthcoming trip. :-):-)
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Post by kevb on Jul 4, 2017 11:03:16 GMT
Yes that would be a good 'getting away from it all' week hopping from Alonissos to Skyros (which I've never visited) then back to Skiathos. I did a quick check of the Skopelos ferries but whichever system I tried I could only get a max of about 4hours on Skopelos if I was coming back same day because there arent any leaving Skiathos early as they have come from somewhere else already. Still it might give mum a bit of a look at the place, just maybe not enough time to go out to Panormos unless we get a taxi, could be a bit pricey. Alternative would be going to Glossa instead of the main town on Skopelos (as Glossa is an earlier stop so gives that bit more time on land) but I'm not sure how much there is to look at in Glossa? She's over 70 now so I don't want to wear her out, by the time we go she will have already done 2 weeks in Malta and 2 weeks in Crete (she's there now)so might just want a week of resting.
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