The Skiathos Bulletin Board

Val & Kev · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 137

When we arrived on Saturday evening it was really windy and raining we thought we would freeze in the house, but our lovely developers had been in the house for us and fired up the central heating , it was lovely and 'toasty' warm! The next day was very choppy too and we have never seen such enormous waves in the harbour , it was really refreshing. Diamond - we walked over the Plaka and we found the hotel you have booked , the Orsa, it is indeed in a very good position and very convenient. It is clear that there are some rooms with brilliant aspects.
On Saturday evening Mike ( Skiathos lad) very kindly opened his bar at the Oasis so Kev could watch the rugby and on the Sunday we found a bar on the Paralia to watch the Grand Prix.
We took a couple of the dogs from the sanctuary for a walk and talked with the wonderful ladies there. We had some really sunny weather after the first couple of days equivalent to a British Summers day! The Autumnal colours as we drove to the North of the Ireland were stunning and we even did a bit of paddling on some of the beaches. We can see why so many people say that October is a lovely month on the island. The real 'tourist' shops had shut but all the main supermarkets and many of the restaurants are still open we ate at En Plo one evening which was lovely. The pace is very relaxed and the roads very quite, it's complete chill zone!
One lunch we bumped into Geof and had a couple of drinks with him and Lida, he seems too be doing really well.
Our lovely Greek neighbours gave us some freshly laid eggs and fruit from their trees . It is lovely finding we are beginning to know quite a few local people now. We met briefly with Paul and Suzie ( from IMP) and although they have had a hard time they seem as positive as ever. If any of us can help them with any contacts of any kind it would be great.
We went to Evangelista and also to our favourite little church Aghios Taxiarchis.
We bought warm quilts for our beds for when we go back on Boxing day, but are hoping we won't need them!
Olympic changed the time of our flight out of Skiathos so it no longer connected with our Manchester flight( also Olympic) so we had to leave the island on Friday instead of Saturday. However they put us up in a really nice hotel in Voulagemeni ( sorry spelt wrong!)and arranged the transport both ways from the airport and provided dinner and breakfast. It meant we could get the tram and the metro into Athens on Saturday and meet our developers Eleni and Thanasis. We had a great day at the Acropolis and then a late lunch at a restaurant on the Plaka and then returned to Manchester in the evening. It was a fantastic end to a lovely week. Can't wait to get back again!
I stared Greek language night school a few weeks ago and was amazed that I was able to read most of the Greek signs, albeit slowly and building the words up like a child, I even had the courage to practice a few bits!
If I can do it anyone can!

Ian · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:14 pm Post subject:

Thats a great report, Plenty of nice local info, too.

What happened with the flight off the island ? Was it a late change or did it just not connect. Seems like Olympic did a good job looking after you ...
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Val & Kev · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 137

They changed the time of the Saturday flight and made it later so that it no longer connected with their Manchester flight, to be fair they changed it soon after we booked but still agreed to arrange a hotel etc. I know Olympic often get bad press and they are not always easy to get hold of but on this occasion they excelled themselves.
I know Elle is concerned about the shuttle flight to the Island for November and it being cancelled but we can only speak from experience, and every time we have used it , it has been on time and nearly full.

Ian · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:01 pm Post subject:

The Saturday flight is said to be safer than the Wednesday flight cancellation wise. The winter timetable starts this week so it will be interesting to see if the flight remains at 16.45 when the Skiathos flight goes on Saturday ...
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Foxy · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:45 pm Post subject:

I love reading stuff from people who've actually moved there than anything else. Makes me jealous but also gives you that little bit of hope.

Regular reports please, folks.