The Skiathos Bulletin Board

adrianxw · Last edited by adrianxw on Sun Sep 16, 2007 4:38 pm; edited 4 times in total

Sorry, I never got around to enterng my review of May 15th - 22nd Embarassed

Anyway...

Tuesday 4th
Got up at 02:45 to catch the 03:16 night bus into Copenhagen and the all-night shuttle train from the centre out to the airport at Kastrup. Flight more or less on time, bit of a tail wind, arrived around 11:00 AM local time.

Avoided the farce with the "baggage truck" by dumping our packs on the bus for the Villa Nina. Got off there and walked the 200m up to the Olive Grove. Unpacked a bit changed into suitable gear and went out to the town, passing the others en-route hanging around waiting for the baggage truck.

Quick check to make sure my Visa card wasn't working in the cashpoints, it wasn't, been here before. Into the bank to grab a few hundred € then off to Dino's for lunch as is out tradition. Dino not present, but the woman serving seemed to recognise us anyway, and we got our drinks free, and a small desert thrown in - nice welcome.

Bit of shopping for essentials, then back to the room to chill out a bit and let the wine cool.

Shower, change, open wine, olives and pistachios and sit on the balcony until the wine is gone, then walked to the Lenio for dinner. Great welcome there, he's a real nice guy. Was quite windy, but very warm, so fine.

Relatively early night.

Wednesday 5th
Spent a good while wandering around town to see what, if anything, was new since May. Not a great deal really, apart from the swanky new post office. Posh yacht, Zaliv II, tied up by the war memorial. Told later Meryl Streep was on board.

Average lunch at Meteora on the Paralia. Bit more shopping then walked back the long way to the appartment. Read a little. Shower, change, open wine, olives and pistachios, (from now on SCWOP as it features often!). When wine finished, wandered back into town.

Dinner at "To Steki" which was again, pretty average though, lamb from the spit was fatty and had a good few bone fragments in it.

Back to the appartment. Too windy for candles, but had a couple of long Ouzo's before retiring.

Thursday 6th
We'd written our token 3 post cards, so into town to admire the new post office and post them.

Down to the bus station and out to stop 13. We'd rung the bell for 12, but the driver and conductor were away in a world of their own, so it was 13.

Instead of backing up along the road, we went up the road opposite 13 to the very top of Nostos. Nice views from up there. We then walked all the way down through Nostos commenting to each other on the apparent lack of maintenance visible. Sure, the big building at the top and the pool area were nice, but the "chalet blocks" were crumbling, and reallly needed some attention.

At the bottom, we turned right and headed out for our intended destination, Kanapitsa. V had a swim in the sea, I sat on the sand admiring the carefree arrangment of the empty bottles and cigarette ends which decorated the back of the beach. Black smoke rising at one point from above Meg. Amm. but didn't seem to spread.

We had lunch at the taverna there, from memory, tuna salad, tsatsiki, courgette balls and "flogeres" which are new this year, (excellent, like a spring roll stuffed with cheese and ham/bacon), that with some draft Alfa made this our lunch of the trip - excellent food and service.

Caught the water bus back to town, €3 each, and wandered down to the port to watch the SAOS II ferry unloading - I'm afraid I love watching the big boats, V sat in the shade somewhere.

Bit of shopping and back to the appartment. SCWOP. When wine finished, wandered out to En Plo for dinner. Never had dinner there before, only lunch. V is an Italian fan, me generally less so, but I have to admit the pasta dish I had was excellent, and that turned out to be our best dinner of the trip.

Best lunch and best dinner on the same day - not bad.

Still a bit windy, but a couple of Ouzo's on the balcony before lights out.

Friday 7th
Another trip to the bank followed by the bus out to Koukounaries, (26). Didn'nt bother with Banana, instead went to Abelakia. Got decidedly cloudy and after a while, V cancelled her swim plans and we walked along KK beach and up to Michaels for lunch.

As usual, a huge welcome, reprimand for not staying at his hotel then into the food. As usual, we had vague ideas of what we wanted, but Michael knew better of course and produced 2 different, and excellent dishes from the oven. Sadly, he had to go out, so instead of the usual boozy afternoon, we only had a boozy hour or two!

Was raining when we got off the bus, so quickly up to the appartment for a bit of reading and SCWOP.

Was still a bit iffy weather wise when we went back into town. Had a chat with Claires uncle Michael on the way down PapaD.

We decided on a quick Gyros at the end of Papadiamantis. No Name and the other one on that side were very busy so we went to the slightly less busy one on the other side of the road, behind the ferry office. Took an absolute eternity to get served, an age before the food arrived then another extended wait to pay. The gyros wasn't bad I have to say, but the fast food evening lasted longer then some of our taverna visits.

Weather was a bit better by then and V had an ice cream from the corner before we went back to candles and Ouzo's on the balcony.

Saturday 8th
Walked into town and decided to take the minibus up to Evangelistra. Bus was due at 11:30 but arrived 11:40, presumably the driver was applying some more duct tape to hold another loose bit on. I don't think I've ever ridden in a more ramshackle old cronk, at least not in Europe. Still, it got us up there, €1.20 each way.

Wondeful place, spent a couple of hours wandering around the site, and the exhibition in the museum. Could easily have lingered longer, but were a little hungry so took the 13:30 bus back dow, also running about 10 minutes late.

Had a nice lunch at the Folia, then went out to the Champion supermarket for a few things to bring home. Since it changed from Balis to Champion, it has been a shadow of it's former utility.

Back home, bit of reading/chilling out, SCWOP, then back into town for dinner at O' Batis. Good welcome, we always have a chat with the guys there, good food.

Back to the appartment for candles and Ouzo's.

Sunday 9th
Wandered around Plakes, went down to the old taverna/boat yard, and had a serious nose about. Is really in a tragic state now. Went out and sat on the rocks at the point for a while before heading into town. Walked round Bourtzi then along the tout free front to the Yachting Club for lunch - very pleasant.

Wandered up to the windmill and clock tower before heading back. SCWOP.

Into town to the Boomerang meet at Alexandros - that will have it's own thread on General so I won't duplicate here. Late evening, although a few were still there when we left and they went onto the Chocolate Bar afterwards.

Monday 10th
Took the bus out to Aghios Paraskevi, (stop 16). V likes to have a swim there. The fire damage stretches from the back of the beach up the hills as far as you can see in places.

After V's tour in the water, we wandered up the hills a bit to get the full impression of the damage. Several lucky escapes for buildings, but the area is truly devestated. Very depressing.

Had a nose around Green Park as it appeared frequently in threads, looks nice.

Nice lunch at Jimmy's Pizza. Nikos there estimated 15-20 years before the hills were recovered. Several "burnt out" trees did seem to be showing some re-growth however, so maybe it will be a little greener after another good growing season. Let's hope.

Another chill out afternoon followed by SCWOP. Longish "last evening" walk around town, and having "parked" V down at the Bourtzi, I dashed back into town to buy her a nice piece I'd seen at one of the jewellers on PapaD. She'll get that for her birthday probably, amongst other things!

Went to To Glifoneri for dinner. Always have a nice meal there, and the chap always comes and sits with us chatting about the up's and down's of life.

Back for candles and Ouzo's again.

Tuesday 11th
Up a little early to be packed and still have time for a long breakfast on the balcony before hiking back to Villa Nina to catch the bus back to the airport.

Plane arrived about 30 minutes early. but by the time the mucking about with the seating was sorted out, we'd lost 20 minutes of that head start. At Lemnos, everyone off while they clean and re-stock the plane - dragged on for about 90 minutes, longer then in May.

Back onto the plane and the driver announced a further 30 minute delay before we could leave due to local traffic. This consisted of various MD F-4 Phantoms and GD F-16 Fighting Falcons taking off, flying circuits then landing again.

Arrived back at Copenhagen about an hour late, and an above average baggage reclaim delay plonked us into rush hour. Home at about 18:00.

Observation
For anyone still reading! We weren't once approached by touts along the front where they have lurked for the last few years. On several occassions, we were, however, "touted" around bus stop 4 at the West end of the Acropolis. They've never been there before.

Same approach as in May on the front, "doing a survey". One very persistant twit actually got an expletive from me after he decided to follow us down to Meg. Amm. beach as we were on our way back.
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Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

Ianb · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 536 Location: Lancs

Thanks for that adrian now I'm getting excited Very Happy

roll on Friday , first stop Helinikon after "SCWOP ing".
I can almost taste that first Mythos Cool

and last Ouzo of the night .
Ianb
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A holiday a holiday & the first one of the year

Foxy · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 9:26 pm Post subject:

Enjoyed that write up, mate......very bullet pointy & no waffle.

One question - where's Villa Nino?

adrianxw · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:51 am Post subject:

Foxy · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:01 am Post subject:

I looked at it every day from our balcony at the Lalaria Rolling Eyes

the Troll · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Norway

Hi! I'm a newbie to the forum and on my way down to Skitathos for the first time

You wrote:

Foxy · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:08 am Post subject:

There's 3 or 4 cashpoints in town. Sometimes your card will work in them & sometimes it won't.

I've used a certain cashpoint & it declined my card, walked down the road and a different machine accepted it.

If it's a credit card, you should tell your card issuer that you'll be using it abroad and tell them the dates. Sometimes your card issuer will decline it in case of fraud.

Darrell · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:30 pm Post subject:

My card got cloned at Gatwick in July and wouldn't work in Skiathos.Someone used it in Toronto.

adrianxw · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 4:23 pm Post subject:

the Troll · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Norway

Thx adrianxv and Foxy!

I'll just cross my fingers and hope the Norwegian cards are better than the Uk ones. (And no worry, since you've told me how to get cash anyhow)

8 days until deparure, ciunting down!

Lindyloo · Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 118 Location: Skiathos

I could go on all night regarding problems with Lloyds TSB & using our cards abroad, needless to say its very late so another time, we did however close our account after banking with them 30 yrs due to the highly disatisfying way they treated us!!!

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