Well, the Greek Islands have not let us down. They are everything we remember and more.
3 inebriated ladies and various teenage children were partying on the beach late afternoon; lots of dancing and singing and falling over in the sea! One of the lovelorn Greek songs they were singing along to (loudly) Jacky remembered from some 30 years ago and could sing along to it herself! The beach bar music is somewhat behind the times, but we like that.
Lunch in Andros town was a winner, stuffed tomatoes, squid, fava bean nuggets, potato croquettes and carafe of local wine in the prettiest taverna shaded by styled trees (don't know what type) , surrounded by a marble topped wall engraved with visitor's initials in the corner of the main square above the sea and a river which greened its surroundings. Couldn't get much better places to while away a couple of hours. The local priest was there enjoying his lunch too. A good sign, we thought.
Late afternoon swimming as the hills turn golden, then into the port for dinner. A taverna by bobbing brightly coloured fishing boats at quieter end of town.
A wonderfully helpful waiter/owner talked us through all the goodies and we eventually settled on local fish and pastistio - none of us wanting huge quantities of food......wine however; even the waiter raised his eyebrows but entering into the spirit we were in, brought us a half carafe on the house to end our meal. Jacky and Pete mused over a group who came in.....a girl on her own first, who kissed the waiter ( we guess she knew him) telling him that 'he' (some revered member of her party) wanted some meat tonight was it on the menu?! and asked him if he could seat 6, whereupon 4 other ladies and one man appeared. Was he an artist with his fawning followers? Flamboyantly dressed with a powder blue pashmina casually draped around his neck. After Simon had observed some graceful hand posturing by him and a couple of the girls, we decided he was a dancer and they were his troupe. Either that or he was a very lucky man with a doting hareem.
Greeks talk very loudly. On a beach one day a lady held a whole conversation pretty much all afternoon with a friend who was 3 yards away and it was loud! And Greek always sounds slightly angry to me. Why she couldn't have just gone and sat with her I don't know, but she would still have been loud I suppose, they all seem to be. We have encountered some very helpful friendly people however - wandering along the front at a port looking for the ferry ticket office, a man on a moped stopped and showed us where the bakery was, very kind and thoughtful of him seeing some dozy tourists that obviously need a hand, but unfortunately bakeries don't sell ferry tickets!!
Before we hired a car we wondered why people were driving in the middle of the road, we soon discovered the reason - the road edges are pot holed and ragged. Its a pretty bumpy ride in Fiat Puntos and Chevrolet Matiz - roller skates. The first car we hired in Kea had broken or missing hub caps and was thick with road dust......wonder why? As with everything, the hire car companies seem totally laid back - not a lot of inspection of scratches etc goes on, we just trust they are road worthy! Anyway these two little cars got us around fine.
Back to Panos' taverna (facebook.com/thiriotrofeio) for a local sausage and lentil salad lunch, before boarding the Fastferries to Rafina. Don't want to be seasick on an empty stomach after all! We now have more information on our mystery man in pashmina that makes us think it was a photo shoot for Elle magazine, but this is gleaned from Panos' Mum whose English isn't as good as her son's (who apparently used to be a fashion photographer).
Ferry at 2.45, boarded with Jack and Simon, late leaving therefore its 5.15 before we disembark having said our goodbyes on the ferry because J and S flight later than ours. Taxi to airport, arriving 5.50, bags checked in and through in time for flight at 6.50. Flight made up time despite not leaving until 7 (Greek time) because a bag had to be found that had been put on the wrong flight. Arrive Heathrow on BA at 8.20 (UK time). Taxi home by 9.45. And the UK weather is wonderful.
Great holiday.
Efharisto and kahleeneekhtah.
3 inebriated ladies and various teenage children were partying on the beach late afternoon; lots of dancing and singing and falling over in the sea! One of the lovelorn Greek songs they were singing along to (loudly) Jacky remembered from some 30 years ago and could sing along to it herself! The beach bar music is somewhat behind the times, but we like that.
Lunch in Andros town was a winner, stuffed tomatoes, squid, fava bean nuggets, potato croquettes and carafe of local wine in the prettiest taverna shaded by styled trees (don't know what type) , surrounded by a marble topped wall engraved with visitor's initials in the corner of the main square above the sea and a river which greened its surroundings. Couldn't get much better places to while away a couple of hours. The local priest was there enjoying his lunch too. A good sign, we thought.
Late afternoon swimming as the hills turn golden, then into the port for dinner. A taverna by bobbing brightly coloured fishing boats at quieter end of town.
A wonderfully helpful waiter/owner talked us through all the goodies and we eventually settled on local fish and pastistio - none of us wanting huge quantities of food......wine however; even the waiter raised his eyebrows but entering into the spirit we were in, brought us a half carafe on the house to end our meal. Jacky and Pete mused over a group who came in.....a girl on her own first, who kissed the waiter ( we guess she knew him) telling him that 'he' (some revered member of her party) wanted some meat tonight was it on the menu?! and asked him if he could seat 6, whereupon 4 other ladies and one man appeared. Was he an artist with his fawning followers? Flamboyantly dressed with a powder blue pashmina casually draped around his neck. After Simon had observed some graceful hand posturing by him and a couple of the girls, we decided he was a dancer and they were his troupe. Either that or he was a very lucky man with a doting hareem.
Greeks talk very loudly. On a beach one day a lady held a whole conversation pretty much all afternoon with a friend who was 3 yards away and it was loud! And Greek always sounds slightly angry to me. Why she couldn't have just gone and sat with her I don't know, but she would still have been loud I suppose, they all seem to be. We have encountered some very helpful friendly people however - wandering along the front at a port looking for the ferry ticket office, a man on a moped stopped and showed us where the bakery was, very kind and thoughtful of him seeing some dozy tourists that obviously need a hand, but unfortunately bakeries don't sell ferry tickets!!
Before we hired a car we wondered why people were driving in the middle of the road, we soon discovered the reason - the road edges are pot holed and ragged. Its a pretty bumpy ride in Fiat Puntos and Chevrolet Matiz - roller skates. The first car we hired in Kea had broken or missing hub caps and was thick with road dust......wonder why? As with everything, the hire car companies seem totally laid back - not a lot of inspection of scratches etc goes on, we just trust they are road worthy! Anyway these two little cars got us around fine.
Back to Panos' taverna (facebook.com/thiriotrofeio) for a local sausage and lentil salad lunch, before boarding the Fastferries to Rafina. Don't want to be seasick on an empty stomach after all! We now have more information on our mystery man in pashmina that makes us think it was a photo shoot for Elle magazine, but this is gleaned from Panos' Mum whose English isn't as good as her son's (who apparently used to be a fashion photographer).
Ferry at 2.45, boarded with Jack and Simon, late leaving therefore its 5.15 before we disembark having said our goodbyes on the ferry because J and S flight later than ours. Taxi to airport, arriving 5.50, bags checked in and through in time for flight at 6.50. Flight made up time despite not leaving until 7 (Greek time) because a bag had to be found that had been put on the wrong flight. Arrive Heathrow on BA at 8.20 (UK time). Taxi home by 9.45. And the UK weather is wonderful.
Great holiday.
Efharisto and kahleeneekhtah.
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