The Skiathos Bulletin Board

bee · Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 82 Location: Leicestershire

Hello all. We have been in Skiathos for a few days now - the journey was hard work most of the time, mainly because of the massive camper we were driving and also our dogs who are naughty ALL of the time!

The weather here is wonderful - the house we have rented is lovely but on top of the mountain so there is a very bad drive up there. We were planning on buying a moped but it just won't cut the mustard - so we are a bit stranded vehicle wise and having to rent a battered old jeep till we can sort something more permanent out.

We are cleaning the Kazbar up at the moment, due to open around 7th May - lots to be done, including all the legal paperwork stuff for health cards, tax numbers, etc etc. It is all worth it though - Skiathos is as beautiful as ever.

We have no internet access at the house so I am using a very noisy internet cafe! Not good...
Will get online as often as I can though - look forward to meeting whoever gets out here this season - and I think I may have already met a few of the people on this forum who live here...

Speak soon - Bee.
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We welcome you to visit us at the Kazbar, Skiathos Town - Probably the best bar in the world!
www.skiathoskazbar.com

Foxy · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:43 am Post subject:

Good to hear from you. Was interested to hear how the drive went, especially with having the dogs on board.

I'll be expecting a fuller report, next time you post!

june · Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 96 Location: preston

Glad your there safe and sound with your dogs, good luck with all the legal stuff.
will be giving the kazbar a try this summer.

bee · Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 82 Location: Leicestershire

Hi Foxy - fuller report for you....

The drive was good from UK/France across Belgium and into Germany.
We took an overnight Eurotunnel so first night was spent in a Calais car park! Dog's were fine. Obviously didn't realise they had left the UK and thought they were going on an extra long walk (although not much walking involved).

Second night was spent at a wonderful camp site in the Rhine Valley in Germany - the dogs loved it there! Third night started to go down hill (or rather up hill !) as we headed into Austria to stay at my brother's house. The drive was a nightmare as we got lost (even though we had been there before...) but once there, the deep snow more than made up for it. My Bernese Mountain Dog was in her element, and I think she would have been happier staying there than moving onto Greece, as you can imagine.

Then we went onto Lake Garda in Italy and although the drive was hard work as our camper had started to rattle and roll, the camp site again was lovely and the dogs got to paddle in the lake and chase the ducks.

We then changed our plans of driving down to Bari and instead went to Ancona for the ferry, as the dogs had started to hate the camper. The ferry was ok, quite smooth and because we had booked camping on board, the dogs stayed with us rather than gong into the kennels (which are awful). They didn't mind the ferry at all, amazingly.

Then the holiday was over. The drive from Igoumenitsa to Volos was dreadful. I have to admit, the scenery was stunning, particularly Meteora, but the mountain roads in a 7-berther were awful.

Made up for a bit when our final night was spent at yet another campsite just outside Volos. The dogs got their first taste (literally!) of the Aegean Sea and they were happy as, well dogs in the sea! The weather was great too.

We then had a bit of hassle getting the camper onto the Skiathos Express the next morning, although pre-booked (we ended up having to pay extra as they classed us as a lorry!) but to see Skiathos around the corner an hour later was heaven!

My advice: Don't drive over in a 7-berther! Make it a smaller camper or a car if possible. It was good for camping, and on the ferry, but the roads just aren't up to scratch to take such a big vehicle easily.

We had a nightmare getting it to the cottage we have rented as it is at the highest point in Skiathos, and getting it back down was even harder, Steve's sets back for the UK in the morning to do that all over again (poor thing) but once he is back on 5th May it is all go!

Hope that report is full enough for you!
All the best, Bee.
_________________
We welcome you to visit us at the Kazbar, Skiathos Town - Probably the best bar in the world!
www.skiathoskazbar.com

Foxy · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:53 pm Post subject:

Blimey - you don't half prattle on Wink

Didn't realise you had a Bernese...they're lovely dogs.

Not sure if I fancy driving to Skiathos after reading that...I always thought it would be great fun, driving a camper across Europe.

adrianxw · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 2:41 pm Post subject:

<fx>wanders off to google to find out what a "Bernese" is</fx>
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Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

Foxy · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:36 pm Post subject:

Like a small St Bernard without the droopy face.

suejet · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:30 pm Post subject:

What a great idea Foxy - you take care of the camper van, pick me up and I'll share the drive.

Bee it's great that you're finally there and verys best of luck to you all in new knew life there. See you in 6 weeks, make sure you get some apricot liqueur in
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you heard it here first - BOJAN!

Foxy · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:40 am Post subject:

A Bernese Mountain Dog...........that's a warm coat for the summer Shocked

adrianxw · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 10:57 am Post subject:

Cheers, I looked them up. I've never heard of that type before.

I've never been in the KazBar.
_________________
Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

Foxy · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:24 am Post subject:

Honestly? Always a cheerful atmosphere in there. Always a last port of call for us before we head home.

MrsWhicker · Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 1013

Neither have I but that could be about to change; might be a few of us popping in on the 17th.

adrianxw · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:31 pm Post subject:

Yup, honestly. Of the "known bars" in town, we have visited the Rooftop once, and Benbows probably 4-5 times. I don't think we have been in any of the others.
_________________
Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

suejet · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 12:18 pm Post subject:

niether have I Laughing

_________________
you heard it here first - BOJAN!

louisa · Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 3 Location: north east UK

Hi, was wondering if Claudia, Phil., Colin & Midge will be working At Kazbar this season.
It was always such a laugh and look forward to popping in on 16th May to say hello.