Goblin beach

27th September
With the help of the Scottish lady in Carrefour supermarket and with Olly's reccy, we found Ammousa beach. Small, only 20 minutes away and down a pretty quiet olive tree lined road which was not too steep. The beach has bamboo umbrellas, cheaper than the other beach at 4euros per pair and a bar and a taverna. Quiet and secluded except when R decided to race along the boardwalks shouting loudly. We played making zoos and space rockets and towers from the pebbles which quietened him for a short time at least. We were aware of older folk dozing on their loungers!

In 1995 or thereabouts we drove to a beach here and an old lady requested a lift from us. She sat in the back of the car in her traditional black dress and headscarf, not saying a word and we thought she would alert us to where she wanted to be dropped. She didn't and got out of the car with us at the beach and sat on a low wall, where she remained for most of the day. We wonder to this day what she was up to and whether we completely misinterpreted her intentions and had dragged her to somewhere she had no desire to go to. We now believe Ammousa is the beach as it has a low wall and the road enters it as in our memories. We half expected to find her still sitting there!

So we have renamed this beach Goblin beach. This is because on that same holiday, the lovely Yorkshire family next door to us in our apartments told us that their 8 year old son had seen a black attired old lady with her walking stick and asked, "is that a goblin?" That stuck!

Beach umbrellas slowly being taken down as it is the end of the season, the pole gets pushed down into the ground up to table level:

Charades

26th September
On the beach in front of us was a young foursome of we know-not-what nationality, possibly Croatian. It was hard not to watch their game of charades after their lunch and before they resumed their snorkelling as one girl was particularly good. Her mime was elegant and precise. She raised her right hand and indicated something rising from it and also indicated that she was wearing a robe: first word. Then second word; mimed eating, and a triangular shape on her plate - her friend cried 'torte' and then got it.

American Pie. Funny how I got it too! She was good!

Lefkada old town

24th September
We assisted OFRL back to the airport as we doubted they would be able to get all their clobber in their car. I was quite tearful saying goodbye especially as R had grown so quiet after a wrestling match back at the villa to get his clothes on him. He had got used to running around naked and wanted to go on the plane like that. We told him he would have to tell all his 'hanimals' about his holiday adventure when he got back to London, but he still looked confused.

Once we had said goodbye at around 11am, we drove into Lefkada as we had never been there. Two waterside strips are lined with touristy eateries with moored craft on the seaside. Very pleasant but the menus were dull and not particularly Greek: club sandwiches,crepes and pizzas. So we headed for the old town where fisherman and their families would have lived years ago when this was a tiny fishing port. Most of the streets were alleyways and pedestrianised and it was immediately quiet apart from the odd TV playing in a house. A cyclist and a motorbike went by but no one else - it was coming up to siesta time. Little houses with pretty balconies of flowers and shuttered windows. We found the centre square with its church, where children were playing football surrounded by bars and tavernas. It all made such a change from the beach and we spent some time wandering around just taking in the buildings, churches and a library square. We ate in the centre in the shade from the blasting sunshine : 'shrimps' (more like langustine) and fennel salad. Fantastic. This felt like the real Greece - not too touched by tourist demands.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Family visit

17th - 24th September
Drove to Preveza airport after dark to meet O, F and the children. Their plane was on time and we saw it land as we neared the airport. So exciting to see them. R whizzed about, L smiled.

The week with them has been a sharp contrast to our so-far lazy holiday. Early mornings in the swimming pool with R and 'Mr Skinny Legs' ? His name for his inflatable turtle. It was a lucky thing that this was still inflated as our visiting cats had stretched out on it and punctured it with their claws! Mended by yours truly with a dozen plasters and much determination! R was swimming with his armbands on by day 3 and delighted with his achievement.

The sleeping arrangements at the villa didn't quite work as we had intended as R is still getting used to being in a bed and was in danger of falling out, so his mezzanine bedroom wasn't right for him. He slept on his mattress on the floor of his parents room, with L in a cot beside their bed. Just as well the room was big enough.

Lots of fun all week, bbqs, late dinners with O and F in the balmy evening cooked by O, more lunches and dinners on the beach and at Stavros' in the harbour. We were able to take our grandchildren to the bakery for a morning out. R having a very large freshly squeezed orange juice and fruit pancakes. A joy to be able to do this. And O and F managed a night out on their own, whilst R had a late supper with his grandparents.

I had a mad session with R in the shallows at Mikros Galios beach as the pebbles and gentle waves plus my dodgy knees were enough to stop me being able to get to my feet after my swim. Neither of us could quite manage to stay on our feet and R was not happy when he got a sip of salt water! Of course I got the giggles which made it even harder to get upright. We rolled about for a short while like this , R sitting on my legs, and eventually found our way out. R appeared to have enjoyed it but sadly didn't want to go in again. Certainly not with unreliable Granma.

Games on the turtle and with water balloons were the best fun. Funny how grown men take to this hilarity as much as 3 year olds. O hurtling a water balloon over the trees by the use of the enormous pool sieve. Pete deciding it was just as much fun to squirt the water out of the ballon before tying it.

L took all of this in her stride. Her running entertainment is watching her brother whom she clearly adores especially when he sings and dances. Broad smiles for him and for us whenever you talk to her. The Greeks are so fond of children, lots of comments about her chunky shape and smiley disposition and waiters chat to them both. R is very shy and not willing to tell them his name, but they pat his head and chat to him anyway.

F's gentle way with both their children pays off, I know I am biased but they are the best. O provides the madness games and clever distractions - transforming R into a chicken souvlaki wrapped in bread (a towel) stopped some tears over a grazed toe.

As for Granpy, his bonkers games with speed boat turtles and counting shoes in R's hammock 'shoe shop' whiled away some hours and kept R engrossed. Not so good when F tried to have a relax in the hammock, (not knowing the game) and got covered in beach shoes.

A frenetic week, but so enjoyable.






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Porto Katsiki and honey

16th September
We decided to take a trip to the west side of the island, where the beaches are backed by high cliffs and the sea is open.

The journey up and down hills took us past many honey and oil seller stalls, the products glowing gold in the sunlight. What inticing hand written signs these are: honey, olives, olive oil, wine, thyme, oregano. Of course we had to stop at one. We bought dark oak honey and 4euro plastic bottle of local rose wine. The wine little rough but great when properly chilled.

On to the beach, glaring white pebbles in the sun. The trip boats were coming in when we arrived. Nidri Star blaring Greek music whilst its passengers disembarked onto beach and into the sea. Then 2 more big boats came in, one playing Macarena on a loop, which was a little peace shattering! People diving from the top deck! Happily they all sailed off to leave the beach layabouts like us in peace. The climb down here is a long steep one, so a taverna at the top offers a food and drink delivery service which was helpful. The conveyors must be fit - I wonder how many times a day they walk up and down those steps. Their alert when they bring food is a daft hooter or they just call 'beep, beep', which amused us of course. Great system.

A few swims and a lounge book-reading and we headed back along pine scented roads sticky with sun cream and salt (us that is, not the roads!).

Freshly squeezed orange juice

14th September 2017

Our friends flew back yesterday. We had a meal on the terrace of Stavros' taverna the night before and wished Simon a happy birthday for the 13th. J and S not happy to be going home I don't think - their 10days on this island was only just enough for them to have unwound from their incredibly busy lives.
We had been somewhat blown off the beach earlier - the wind quite strong so that umbrellas had to be closed and the sea pushed you about if you dared to swim, quite fun though. Back at the villa, the wind was welcome, the pool barely ruffled.

The Internet connection at the villa is practically non existent - weak and in and out, so frustrating. However it gives you the excuse to go down to Syvota Bakery where the connection is fast and you can have a coffee and a pastry or a freshly squeezed orange juice in a jam jar. Most of the yachts had left for the day by the time we got down there today; 11. So the little streets were very quiet. There is just the faintest of breezes and the sea looks very calm, viewing from the villa the white sails were abundant. A rowdy bunch of Greek youths took off in a catamaran with eeky deeky music blaring and girls dancing - that's gonna be a riot of a day!

We are still confused as to the islands we are overlooking here. We are at the most southerly end of Syvota and can see Meganissy on the horizon, but in our foreground are 2 islands that someone told us were Ithakas, although one is called Akouda. Then further to the south there are more, the furthest being Kefalonia. Oddly the paper Lefkas Map we have (which is very basic) does not show them and we have struggled to find them online on google maps. We may have to resort to a shipping chart to really identify them.

Karya and Katouna

9th September 2017
We took a trip inland to Katouna where a house was for sale. This little village was once inhabited by fishermen but now is a tiny hamlet of only 50 or so people. That said there were 3 tavernas to service them. The little narrow streets were flanked with shuttered windows in pale blues and greens and windows adorned with the local cut work lace, so pretty. I imagine some properties are holiday homes or owned by non Greeks. I could hear a radio through a window with commentary in English. The house for sale would have lovely views from top windows and balconies and it had a sweet little garden. Certainly a place to consider if you wanted to live here.

On Saturday we chose to travel up to Karya where we have been before as it was overcast and windy. Another little village where we bought some bread and then had coffee and cake in it's verandah town square. Several touristy shops here selling rugs, clothes, olive wood products and olive oil toiletries and hand made lace. I bought a piece.

Back down to the villa and a meet up with Jackie and Simon, who had spent their day at the beach - off for dinner in Syvota. It's a hard life!