The Skiathos Bulletin Board

Merlin · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:34 am Post subject: A walk down memory lane

Well Skiathos 2008 was a bit of a lottery both with the weather and the travel situation.
Sun and Rain, March was more like September with the warmth of the sun in the day and a distinctive chill in the evening and September was a wash out, rain like no one has ever seen before! I know a few years ago there was a flash flood but constant rain for over 2 week’s and then at the same time came the collapse of XL a pretty miserable end to the season and it only goes to show that there are no guarantees in life. So as Skiathos closes the door on yet another season we can only look forward to next year.

Please take that last walk with us one early October evening/morning.

Well it’s that time again!
I will never come to terms on how quickly it all happens as one day its summer and the next winter? There are even Christmas decorations in some shops and the whole place has that winter intermittency once again, with everyone talking of relaxing and next year.

We casually strolled along the Old Port and despite a busy day, not a soul was to be seen anywhere and up the empty steps where only a few days ago people sat casually sipping cocktails and listening to music, but I had to smile. You see I can remember a time before the cocktail bars, a time when small gift shops mingled between Tavernas and businesses were almost hidden as if they were deliberately trying to hide, a time when the whole place had a very much mixed up feeling with no defined areas of where to do business.

I do hope they are careful!!

Anyway stumbling into the square as we had previously been to the Kentavros bar for a few farewells, Kostas was shutting up shop early and his mother was waiting on the corner laden with bags, doing the gentlemanly thing and having previously consumed several large Bacardi’s, I gently removing the bags from her hand we wandered further into the small street’s chatting and laughing, you see it was me that had become the joke as the bags were full of rubbish and were destine for the nearest street corner and I was happily carrying them to her home! Finally we reached a place where we would part kisses and hugs were exchanged and we headed off in our own directions.

Just for a moment we stood and listened, not a sound to be heard anywhere; no motorbikes; no music just complete tranquillity and the sky was full of stars as we stared into the night sky. There had been very little night sky over past few weeks and we remembered back to times when we lay out at Zorbas staring into the night sky star spotting with our children and the goats eating my daughters straw hat as it hung on the line and the chickens we used to feed only to discover later they had been eating all Geof’s vegetation and was in fact his neighbour’s animals even the lion in the garden that later turned out to be a cat stalking a lizard, What happy memories.

We slept uneasy this night as in the morning we awoke to peace and tranquillity again but with sadness in our hearts as today we will leave this very special place and soon this will become just a distant memory, we never talk much at this time as Julie starts to prepare for the journey ahead and I wander around to say my farewells, There were tears of sadness as this year is the last year we will see Hellene in her little shop on Skiathos she was quietly pack boxes for the journey to Salonika as this is her last year and I will miss her immensely but wiping the tears aside I helped her load her life’s work in little brown boxes onto the direct ferry to Salonika where she will start again.
Somehow I know I will not be the only one sad to see her leave.

One casualty of the changing times
Adios friend xx

Our journey home will be yet another adventure as the sad demise of XL and the annual exodus of the island had created a shortage of seats on the remaining available direct flights couple this with pushing our stay to the maximum and having to be in the UK sooner than later we were left with very little options but we had to leave.

I do admire the early pioneers such as Geof, Jackman and so many who dared take the leap into a place that may not be possible ever again and wonder what they think of the changes.
On a positive note I was never able to eat prawns or shrimps manly due to the fiddling around and them being complete creatures with eyes and things, but now thanks to Alex, Mike and six bottles of Tsipouro I have now found a way to eat them, whole!

Just one last thing before you all fall asleep, drink six Tsipouro in the afternoon take 1hrs sleep and you will be perfect, what not to do is drink six Tsipouro followed by several glasses of organic wine take 3 hr’s and awake with a banging head. It must have been the seafood.

Anyway I’ve rambled on enough and I’m sure you all have better things to do.

Elle · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 10:41 am Post subject:

LOVELY lovely lovely Arthur! It was like I was there... strolling down the empty paralia... the quiet... the 6 tsipouro... Wink

thank you!
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Kriandos · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:54 pm Post subject:

Arthur , I've had a really bad day, but that cheered me up no end.

Thank you Very Happy

Have you got any pics of Mrs Whicker ?????

Merlin · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 4:08 pm Post subject:

Have you got any pics of Mrs Whicker ?????

Sorry no! and I'm not sure she would appear on film anyway Shocked

Only Joking Laughing

Ian · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 7:46 am Post subject:

The lovely Helene, I will miss her so very much ...
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