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Post by cariad23 on Jun 2, 2018 7:38:57 GMT
wonderful reads so entertaining. you could be a writer. Your pussy sounds like one i had a vet hater, i once tipped pet carrier upside down cat was hanging upside down clinging on for dear life, then bit the vet through the thick gauntlets he always wore to handle my moggy! Now worried for my lovely new 4 wheel suitcase, i havent used yet. Well done TC for once ! I fall asleep like that often, i would have got up gone out to eat and made a late night of it! Cant wait for next episode, with you on here and marg (pinky girl ) on TA we have a treat in store
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amy115
Full Member
Posts: 340
Visits to Skiathos: 5
Accommodation Stayed At: Thymis House Hotel
Dream House
Elizabeth Studios
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Post by amy115 on Jun 2, 2018 11:15:12 GMT
Dennis you are quite correct, I don't have a clue 😅 but when I saw your response I burst out laughing 😂 I think it would make a great Ticker!
Bob, I think I wrote something like "room still dark, too early to get up". Typing too fast and predictive text will get you every time!
PS guys, please tell me how I take a snap shot of a response I want to respond to 😎
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amy115
Full Member
Posts: 340
Visits to Skiathos: 5
Accommodation Stayed At: Thymis House Hotel
Dream House
Elizabeth Studios
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Post by amy115 on Jun 2, 2018 11:18:52 GMT
Hi Cariad, same experience for me apart from the attack. Both her and her sister (when alive) are scaredy cats and have managed to hang in caskets when tipped upside down! 😹
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amy115
Full Member
Posts: 340
Visits to Skiathos: 5
Accommodation Stayed At: Thymis House Hotel
Dream House
Elizabeth Studios
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Post by amy115 on Jun 2, 2018 12:09:18 GMT
Day 2, 31 May
I eventually woke at 5.30 am to hear, with my sleep befuddled brain, late night revellers calling to reach other! I thought it was very unusual for such raucous behaviour in the valley. It was about 5 seconds later when my sleep befuddled brain kicked into gear and I realised it was the cockerel across the road calling and being answered by another further down the valley! Definitely losing the plot!
I reckoned I had probably been asleep around 12 hours so up and kettle on. Out on the balcony to watch the sun rise and listen to the cockerels singing out their morning song! Very peaceful at that time of the morning if you discount them. Slowly, the morning came alive. A pair of swallows flying in and out of the tree in front of my studio. They were joined by a crow, such noisey birds, and managed to somehow chase it out of the tree! It landed on the road in front of the gates and I had to smile when the swallows took to dive bombing the bird. So funny to see a bird that large ducking and diving whilst being swooped by two such tiny birds. Poetry in motion. It eventually got the message and flew off and the swallows returned to the tree.
Next came the butterflies, blue and brown, and of course, the sun rose. It wasn’t long before I started itching behind my ear and j realised that I had forgotten that mosquito’s are active at dawn as well as dusk, and i had not considered putting on my SSS! Big mistake, I have about 10 bites around my ears and down my throat and a whopper on my right thigh!
Then peace shattered, cars and people on way to work, another day has begun. Around the making of my fourth cup of tea, who should appear but my little companion from last year. So good to see her as I had only asked V the day before if she had seen her and she had said not. I thought she might be long gone but glad to see that she was still here. She came for a little nosy but when she realised there was no food, she left. After getting ready for the day, I went to the bar for breakfast and enjoyed fried eggs, bacon, tomatoes, toast, tea and orange juice, which set me up for the day. Later I set off down the lane and called in to see Costas and Efi (who was back but not around) at the Dream House, then on to say hello to Voulla and family at Pegasus and finally Cristos at the Kohyli. Made my way towards Kolios and just opposite Villa Maraki, i turned onto some wasteland and down towards AP beach. Came out at the back of Bamboom Beach Club bar and sat under a spreading pine tree and ordered a latte. Nice little beach taverna, music playing quietly, white wicker chairs and tables, and a lovely view of the sea. Very popular, the club sandwiches were going down a storm. I stayed for an hour as becoming quite cold in the shade and continued on my way towards Kolios. Unfortunately, I only got as far as the Yiadim Studios and decided to turn back but not before I registered that there was an ATM right outside.
Lovely slow amble back along the road occasionally stopping to smell the beautiful scent of the flowers overhanging garden walls. I especially enjoyed the scent of the Jasmin as I turned into the lane for a quick drink at the Pegasus. Bliss, ice cold Strongbow cider! It was so good I had a second as I got chatting to a couple who were staying across the lane opposite the restaurant. I was surprised at how expensive it is here. As an imported drink you can pay more but at 4€ a small bottle I would consider it a small luxury.
After nearly 2 hours, I said my farewells and eventually arrived back at Elizabeth’s. I mentioned earlier that there had been some changes, one of these was that they had extended the kitchen and got the licence to provide dinners. Before this, they only provided breakfast and snacks throughout the day. The special that night was advertised as beef stew and it was very succulent, fall apart beef in a tomato gravy served with puréed potatoes and rice. I opted out of the rice as it came already mixed with veg. I do like my veg but what I don’t like is the cardboard, cubed, carrot which far outweighs any other veg per scoop of rice! I had sliced tomatoes as a substitute. It was very good but I cannot tell you what it cost as it has been added to my tab.
Here I have to confess that I was the last but one to leave the bar at 5.45am! 😆
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Post by kelso on Jun 2, 2018 14:14:11 GMT
PS guys, please tell me how I take a snap shot of a response I want to respond to 😎 Just click on "quote" and it will transfer for you. If it is a large post and you only want to respond to a part of it, you can delete the rest. Bob.
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Post by dennisn on Jun 2, 2018 14:15:50 GMT
Dennis you are quite correct, I don't have a clue 😅 but when I saw your response I burst out laughing 😂 I think it would make a great Ticker! Bob, I think I wrote something like "room still dark, too early to get up". Typing too fast and predictive text will get you every time! PS guys, please tell me how I take a snap shot of a response I want to respond to 😎 You click the Quote button at the top of the post itself (if that doesn't make sense, say so and I'll do a picture for you).
Keep up the good work, Amy, you are firing up my anticipation very nicely - less than four weeks now!
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Post by exgreekgod on Jun 3, 2018 5:48:23 GMT
Great reading Amy, it's almost like being there! 25 days and counting.
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Post by dennisn on Jun 3, 2018 7:39:53 GMT
Great reading Amy, it's almost like being there! 25 days and counting. EGG's timer is beautifully optimistic - 29th less 3rd = 25. He'll be getting as bad as me soon (not counting hair which he's in advance of me with)!
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amy115
Full Member
Posts: 340
Visits to Skiathos: 5
Accommodation Stayed At: Thymis House Hotel
Dream House
Elizabeth Studios
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Post by amy115 on Jun 3, 2018 10:59:17 GMT
Day 3, 1 June
It was a late start this morning so chilled out for a while on the balcony drinking tea and reading my kindle. Puss made an appearance and wandered into the studio. Some time later when I went in to change, there she was curled up on my suitcase, very much at home! Not for long though, I put her outside and got myself sorted for the day and when I left the studio, she was nowhere to be seen.
It is very hot today with very little breeze so sat in the bar and ordered breakfast and settle down with my tablet to write another post. I really like this new one, so much faster than the Asus but my, it does play around with predictive text, something I am still chuckling about. Even with this post, when I typed in the word 'puss' it changed it to Lisa! When responding to Cariad, it changed to Clarissa. At least with the Asus you had the option to add the new word to the dictionary. Unfortunately, that does not exist on this one.
I also thought I would take the opportunity to update my avatar but there appears to be no plugin on the forum so thought I would create my own from the internet. No offence Bald Dave, but we look like twins at the moment. 😁 Well I tried but didn’t succeed so will have to wait until I get home and see if I can resurrect my old avatar.
Too hot for me to sit in the sun so back to my shaded balcony with my kindle. Dinner tonight was at Pegasus. Small water (which I foolishly left on the table), small carafe of red which I couldn’t finish) and sea bream with oven potatoes topped with tzatziki and black olives and a salad. Lovely meal. Complimentary cake topped with yoghurt, very moist with nuts, and tasted like Christmas cake, and a shot of almond liquor. Wonderful. Cost 20€ plus tip.
Made my way back to Studios, It was after midnight and I was their last customer, lane very quiet. The Dream House was shuttered and Calma closed and the only life was at Elizabeth’s, so popped in for a nightcap! Hmm, left the bar at 2.45 am. Tomorrow night I am going to be in bed by midnight.
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amy115
Full Member
Posts: 340
Visits to Skiathos: 5
Accommodation Stayed At: Thymis House Hotel
Dream House
Elizabeth Studios
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Post by amy115 on Jun 3, 2018 11:09:47 GMT
Thanks Bob and Dennis for the tip.
EGG, I only made the decision to come to skiathos 16 days before I arrived. I had been checking the flights for a long time and they were so expensive this year that I decided I would give it a miss and look at another Greek island. I narrowed it down to Thasos and found a holiday with Tui but when I checked a couple of days later, that had gone. I checked prices going independently but it worked out more expensive then here so I then kept an eye out on the various flights offered on internet. TC were cheapest and flying out on 30 May, just flights and bags, was £312 as opposed to 1 June flight and bags £459! No contest! So with 16 days to go the anticipation was short lived as the time flew by and before I knew it I was heading to the airport.
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amy115
Full Member
Posts: 340
Visits to Skiathos: 5
Accommodation Stayed At: Thymis House Hotel
Dream House
Elizabeth Studios
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Post by amy115 on Jun 3, 2018 12:25:24 GMT
Day 4, 2 June
Another late rise this morning and a peaceful couple of hours on the balcony with tea and kindle, I could get so used to this. The valley is a wonderful, peaceful area, it sucks you in and although you have the occasional sounds of a motorbike, a delivery truck to the supermarket, the refuse collector emptying the bins, cars going up and down the lane, in between all is quiet and as still as can be if you discount nature – birds and butterflies going by, gentle breeze ruffling the branches of the trees and hedgerows, but I don’t want this holiday to be a fly and flop (not that I don’t need it to recharge my batteries) so I got to thinking about a Skiathos bucket list.
All those places to visit that I have not gotten around to in my previous visits to the island. For instance:
• I have never walked around the lake in Kouk • Nor have I taken a look around that area of town above the very end of the old harbour • Not yet visited Maria's taverna on one of the northern beaches (think it might be Hidden beach) but not sure • I have not had a meal in any of the restaurants in Troulos • Or Tre's much loved Diamond apartments in Kolios, and • Never been to the Monastery
Just a few new adventures to contemplate this trip and if I only do one of these the others I can do another time 😃
I thought I would catch some time around the pool so donned the costume, slathered myself in cream and made my way. Didn’t last long, 30 minutes in I found myself nodding off so nothing for it but take myself back to the studio and a siesta! Much needed sleep after my late nights! Two hours later I woke feeling much better. Back on the balcony with a cup of tea and kindle.
I'd experienced a couple of cold showers in the last few days so wanted to get ready a little earlier before the hot water ran out so went in bathroom and turned on the shower. Cold! Left it running for a couple of minutes, checked and still cold! No, not again! Stepped into the cubicle and picked up the shower head and held it above my own and braced myself, yes still cold! Lathered up with shampoo and as I went to rinse it off, I had hot water! Yay, could now enjoy my shower instead of dreading it.
Dinner again at studios as it was pizza night. Really lovely pizza and for the first time, I actually managed to eat it (minus the crusts). This was accompanied by a small jug of wine and as I stayed in the bar, a few liquors. Total cost for the evening was 34€. Earlier in the day i had paid my bill for food and drink that had accumulated since i had arrived (80€ with the resolve that I was going to pay on a daily basis from now on). I left the bar, again at 2.45 am making a mental note to have an earlier night tomorrow.
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Post by kelso on Jun 3, 2018 13:23:27 GMT
Amy, if you go to the Skiathos Diamond restaurant, which is great, look out for the wonderful Xanthi Bar as you head back down the track and just before you come to Infinity Blue, my favourite restaurant. Xanthi is a great place for a night cap and Matina and Bill will make you very welcome. Bob
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Post by Tre on Jun 3, 2018 18:31:54 GMT
Amy, loving your updates. Enjoy every minute. We still have over 5 weeks to wait! Really missed our early hol this year. To add, yes, the Diamond at Kolios is really good for meals, however, I am reliably informed that Theodora, where we stay, just up the lane from Diamond, have a new bar & kitchen this year and are now doing evening meals. Not that I like to “share” our fave accommodation 😉 but the pool area there is beautiful. If you get the chance do call in. Happy hols
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Post by dennisn on Jun 3, 2018 21:08:44 GMT
Thanks for the information Amy, I’ve often wondered what that external noise was as we drive down that valley - now that you mention it I recognise the butterfly noise! I shall not be puzzled as we pass by in four or five weeks time.
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amy115
Full Member
Posts: 340
Visits to Skiathos: 5
Accommodation Stayed At: Thymis House Hotel
Dream House
Elizabeth Studios
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Post by amy115 on Jun 4, 2018 8:24:23 GMT
Day 5, 3 June
So another late rise this morning as my good resolve to leave the bar early last night did not materialise. Never mind, there is always the possibility of carrying it through tonight. Puss made an appearance this morning, bypassing me and straight into the studio. Cheeky little madam but that is a cat for you! When I went in to make a second cup of tea, there she was ensconced on my suitcase. As soon as I went to the kitchen area, she was up and after me. Purring and rubbing her face against my legs and generally being very affectionate. No good puss, still got nothing for you. I picked her up and put her outside. Brought my tea out and she was still on balcony. She hopped onto a chair as though she was going to keep me company then decided to get on the table and lie down, as near to me as possible without actually being on my knee. She lay there quite contentedly whist I drank my tea and did a little reading and was still there when I went in for a shower.
I am staying in my favourite studio, it is stand alone and approximately a 75 yard walk to the supermarket door to door. It can sleep three, two single beds on a slightly raised dias and a further single bed as you walk through the door. The kitchenette is just beyond the bed, separately by a low wall and opposite the kitchenette is the bathroom, quite compact but with a generous shower stall. This year there is a new shower head. Still hand held but sporting two shower sprays. There is one more standalone studio and the rest are in rows of differing lengths. All look like little houses, 22 in all, whitewashed with orange tiled rooves. There is a bar and a pool, and pretty gardens. Outside seating close to the pool. A compact, small complex run by a lovely family, friendly and helpful.
Once ready I came to the bar, puss nowhere to be seen, to write up my post and order breakfast. Today I opted for fried eggs on toast and the ubiquitous cup of tea – PG tips no less. As friends were expected today and I had no idea what time they were due to arrive, I wanted to stay around the studios, so back to mine, slipped into my costume, did the whole splish, splash, splosh thing and came back to the pool. I actually managed to stay in the sun for over an hour (an hour is usually all I can muster) and at some point enjoyed a lovely ice cream, the Greek version of a Magnum, coated in chocolate and almonds. Yummy. I did’nt want to spoil my appetite for dinner so I considered this a late lunch. ☺️ Had plans to visit Avli this evening but Matoula informed me this morning that her menu special for this evening was moussaka, a Greek favourite, so eating here again tonight.
Back to the apartment to get ready. Saw V heading to airport at 6.30 pm, our friends were nearly here. A little hand washing and in the bar for 8.00 pm. No V or friends! I learned shortly that their plane had been delayed but they had landed around 8.00 pm and would be on way shortly. They eventually arrived around 8.45 pm.
Sat down to dinner an hour later to Matoula's moussaka and three little dips with brown dinner rolls, the latter baked by Elizabeth this morning. The dips were olive, a cheese and onion and a Matoula special, rocket and garlic, which became my instant favourite. All accompanied with red wine and a small water.
Stayed chatting with friends, and more guests arrived but by 11.45 pm I said my goodbyes and went to bed. 😀 At last, my first 'early night’.
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