Parga

30th August 2017
Horribly early start at 2.30am to get to Gatwick for our 6.15 flight to Preveza. Boiled eggs and coffee for breakfast whiles away some time in the airport, then we sit on the plane for an hour, delayed by air traffic control/bad weather? Pete's knowledge makes him suspect there is another reason.
We finally leave rainy England and 3 hours later disembark into hot sunshine and sleepy Preveza airport.
While Pete is organising the car hire, I discover I have left my glasses on the plane. This being such a small airport, I was able to find a kindly check-in lady (the handling booth was unmanned) who made a call and had it confirmed that a cleaner had found them. 5 minutes later she had personally retrieved them for me. Now that wouldn't happen at Gatwick!

We travelled in our Smart car to Parga where we are staying for 4 nights before moving on to Lefkas and the villa we have booked. Our accommodation here is basic but adequate, funny how the Greeks don't think you need mirrors, and the towels, whilst beautifully clean and white are like cardboard - I guess they have been drying in the baking sun!

Parga town is touristy and bustling with its narrow alleyways and hilly roads, and a castle on the cliff. A beautiful harbour one end and a town beach the other and plenty of cafes, tavernas, food shops, bakeries (mmmm, spinach and feta filo pastry pies) and greengrocers. Fat juicy peaches, melon and Greek yoghurt for tomorrow's breakfast purchased and a Mythos beer consumed in a bar overlooking the glittering clear turquoise sea. Ah, we are in our favourite environment.

My first day somewhat marred by an ear problem though. Again as with my glasses, I was lucky enough to be directed to a health centre by the pharmacist, but when I got there there wasn't a soul around. As I was about to leave a taxi driver called to me to ask if I needed a doctor and kindly walked me a few yards up the road to Dr. Padiotis, who saw me straight away and confirmed an infection. 90 euros for this and a follow up appointment and prescription for antibiotics was a well worth the spend. I was very relieved to be able to start treatment this quickly. Pete had parked the car and been directed to me by a receptionist in the health centre. Kind people offering help when you need it and the doctor recommended an evening follow up appointment because as he kindly pointed out, we could then enjoy a drink and evening meal down the road on the waterside, he pointed out. We had a brief conversation with him about our stupid brexit situation and off we went.

A friend back in the UK when I had texted her and bored her with this story ( she did ask how I was!) said she had just made an appointment at our GPs for herself and the earliest she could get was 3 weeks time. Hmmm, my Greek experience was a good one. Sometimes it pays to pay sadly.


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