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Bike ride to Agios Petros

On Tuesday 25th July we went for a bike ride with Gill & Andrew to Agios Petros. We left at 7.30. am and had a steady ride up to the village stopping a few times to enjoy the view.

At Agios Petros we stopped at the cafe in the square for the usual frappe and several other groups from the various centres arrived after us. Ian was there too but riding on his own.

After the frappe stop we continued on up to the turning for the deserted village. We cycled back down to the olive groves, stopping at the well-looked after church, the only building still there. We took Gill & Andrew back on the route Mel had recently discovered, off the ‘P’ route and back to the ‘Swiss house’ road and out onto the main road by Andromeda.

We finished with another frappe stop at Livinaki’s and a pastry from the bakery – a very enjoyable morning’s exercise. Thank you, Gill & Andrew.

Bike ride to Sivros

On Saturday 22nd July we went for a bike ride to Sivros but we started off on a different route through the olive groves. We continued up the challenging hair pin bend (there are 12 of them with the eighth being the steepest) route to the village where we stopped at the Verani Cafe for a frappe as usual.

We continued on after the village on the road towards Fterno, stopping at the church on the way to enjoy the view. Mel is trying to identify a place to take night pictures of the Milky Way – this could be such a place.

We went back to Vassiliki via the Monastery road to Kontanera with one last hill climb before the long decent into Vass.

We felt we had earned another frappe stop so continued into Vass to stop at Livinakis where we also treated ourselves to a pastry for breakfast.

Cycle ride to Agios Petros with Sim

On Sunday 9th July we went for bike ride to Agios Petros with Sim, yoga teacher and bike guide from Neilson. We had a very enjoyable ride at a steady pace up to the village with lots of chatting along the way! We stopped for a coffee at the cafe in Agios Petros and then continued up to the Nikolis turning and then down through the deserted village of Roupakias.

Sim showed us a bridge over a dry gorge that we hadn’t noticed before, opposite where a Polish couple are renovating one of the deserted houses.

We continued back to Vassiliki via the olive groves – a very pleasant ride.

Run & Cycle ride to Sivros

We had a very early start on Sunday 2nd July! Mel had planned a run to Sivros with Sim, the yoga instructor and bike guide from Neilson but she had to do an airport transfer later so we had to meet at 7am.

 

We set off through the olive groves and up the main road to Sivros. It was pleasantly cool as the sun had not come over the mountain yet. Mel and Sim ran on up the short cut and I cycled round the hairpins to meet up with them at the Verani cafe in the square in Sivros.

After a frappe we continued on up the road towards the monastery turning.

Mel & Sim ran and I cycled back towards Vassiliki admiring the views as we went. I headed down to Kontanera and Mel & Sim went straight back to Vassiliki. We met up back at the Imperial Studios and agreed we had all enjoyed the morning’s outing!

Meal at T’Aloni Restaurant in Hortata

On Wednesday 28th June in the evening we drove to Hortata to go to the T’Aloni restaurant for a meal. We had booked a table on the balcony as the views from the restaurant are amazing and you can watch the sunset over the west side of the island. We arrived early and were made welcome by the owners.

We had a lovely meal which was a bit different from the usual menu you get at most Greek restaurants. We had a lentil salad and feta cheese in filo pastry and honey for starters; Mel had lamb cooked in the oven with cherry tomatoes and potatoes and I had Sofrito (slices of beef in garlic) for our mains.

Melon soup!

For desert we had a melon ‘soup’ with yogurt presented over a bowl of dry ice! Very different!

 

 

 

 

 

The restaurant was very busy later on and all the tables were taken. Mel took some pictures of the sunset which happened about 9pm. A very enjoyable evening made extra special by the owners, the food and the views.

 

 

 

Walk from Exanthia

On Saturday 24th June we went to the village of Exanthia and set off on a walk which Mike Edmonds had suggested. The start of the path wasn’t easy to find but eventually we took what looked like a path between some dry stone walls. The path was rather overgrown and we struggled to get through the undergrowth, scratching our legs and arms in the process. It was all uphill and a bit hot but a bit of an adventure. We carried on for about 40 minutes passing by some old vine yards and terraced areas.

When we got near to the road, we saw a pick up truck coming down towards us. It stopped and the couple got out and asked us if we wanted a lift back to Exanthia (no English language involved!) We gladly accepted and climbed into the back of the truck and sat on the bags of plant cuttings. They took us all the way back to the village and right up to the restaurant (H Rachi). We offered them a drink but they didn’t want one so we went inside and ordered a frappe.

Whilst we sat at the restaurant drinking our coffee we watched some paragliders jump off the cliff and fly down to Kathisma beach.

We were too early for lunch unfortunately as the menu sounded very nice. We will have to revisit this restaurant.

 

 

June in Vassiliki 2017

June in Vassiliki 2017

We arrived in Vassiliki on Monday 5th June 2017, a little later than usual due to the sad death of our great friend Dave Rowlands. We had a good journey and ferry crossing, this time in the VW T6 Transporter van. After checking into Imperial Studios and saying hello to everyone there we went along to the Cosmos Hotel. We were greeted by Vassiliki, Stelios’ wife and later Stelios along with several friends who were there on Peter Hart’s course – Andy Helm, Nicola & Sarah and Nick amongst others.

Welcome meal at the Cosmos

Later we went back to the Cosmos to join in the welcome meal which was excellent. Good food and good company.

 

 

On Tuesday Mel went to join Peter’s course and later I went along and had lunch with them.

In the afternoon I sat on a sun bed on the beach whilst Mel was out on the water. This was the general pattern for the rest of the week! The wind was quite light on Tuesday and Wednesday but it got stronger Thursday & Friday. We went out most evenings with the group for a meal and enjoyed everybody’s company but we found the late nights put paid to running the next morning! Mel did go a couple of times and I went for a bike ride on Friday to show willing!

On Sunday 11th Peter and the rest of the group departed and we had our first meal in the apartment! The next day we went to Lefkada and I had the wax removed from my ears by an ENT doctor. Hurray, I can hear! Afterwards we went to the Bazaar shop to get some kitchen equipment and then Lidl to do a food shop. We stopped off at Dimitri’s Taverna in Geni for lunch on the way back to Vass. We had a restful day so that Mel could recover from his first week on the water.

We both ran the ‘P’ route on the Tuesday and then went for a bike ride to Agios Petros on Wednesday.

There was some good wind in the afternoons for Mel to go windsurfing. On Thursday we went to our first Pilates session at Healthy Options. After a run on the Friday morning and a good windsurf session in the afternoon, we went to the Cosmos for a meal (fish night) which was very good (Mel had a burger, however!)

On Sunday we went for another bike ride, this time to Sivros where we stopped for a frappe and met Jean who had walked up. We came back via the monastery road.

 

We met a family from Ireland at the Cosmos this week who we had first met back in 2006 when the boys were only 6 and 8 – Charlie & Jack and their parents David & Mary. They remembered Mel taking pictures of the boys when they were windsurfing and it was really good to meet to them again.

It was a good week for wind and Mel enjoyed windsurfing on four of the days and resting on the others. We did some more running and Pilates and on the Saturday we went to the village of Exanthia and set off on a walk which Mike Edmonds had suggested. The path was rather overgrown and we struggled to get through the undergrowth, scratching our legs and arms in the process. When we got near to the road, we saw a pick up truck with a couple in who stopped and asked us if we wanted a lift back to Exanthia (no English language involved!) We gladly accepted and climbed into the back of the truck and sat on the bags of plant cuttings. They took us all the way back to the village and right up to the restaurant (H Rachi) where we had a frappe. Whilst we sat at the restaurant we watched some paragliders jump off the cliff and fly down to Kathisma beach.

We went to the Cosmos Hotel for lunch on the way back and then Mel went out for a good windsurfing session on the water. We had a drink with David & Mary, Jack & Charlie afterwards and then we went to Bazanaki’s restaurant for a meal in the evening. We were made to feel very welcome by Chrissa and had a lovely meal whilst looking out at the beautiful view of Vassiliki Bay.

On Sunday I cycled and Mel ran to Sivros, coming back via the monastery road. There was no wind and we sadly had to say goodbye to David & Mary but have arranged to meet them at their place in Donegal in September.

The following week new people arrived at the Cosmos including Paula and Simon who we have met in previous years but also bumped into in Rhosneigr in Anglesey last October. They happen to live in North Wales about 7 miles away from where we are hoping to buy a bungalow. It’s a small world!

On the Wednesday evening we drove to Hortata to go to the T’Aloni restaurant for a meal. The views from the restaurant are amazing and you can watch the sunset over the west side of the island. We had a lovely meal which was a bit different from the usual menu you get at most Greek restaurants. We had a lentil salad and feta cheese in filo pastry and honey for starters; Mel had lamb cooked in the oven with cherry tomatoes and potatoes and I had Sofrito (slices of beef in garlic) for our mains. For desert we had a melon ‘soup’ with yogurt presented over a bowl of dry ice! Very different!

 

 

 

 

Journey to Vass 2017

Journey to Vass 2017

We left Alsager in the VW T6 van on Wednesday 31st May and drove to Folkestone to go through the tunnel. We had a delayed start this year due to the very sad death of our great friend Dave Rowlands. At least we were able to say goodbye at his funeral before leaving for Vass.

We had a good journey although there was some congestion on the M25 but the weather was OK and we arrived at the Eurotunnel terminal at 13.45. to catch the train at 14.50. We disembarked in Calais at 16.25. French time and Mel drove to the hotel in Mons (Le Monte Cristo) arriving at 17.30. We checked in and booked a table in the restaurant for 19.30. We sat outside initially and ate our asparagus starter but then moved inside for the main course – a huge skewer of beef, which was very nice, but extremely filling. It was a bit expensive and the hotel was nice but a bit dated. The staff were very friendly though and we had a reasonable night’s sleep.

After breakfast we set off at about 9.30. and Mel drove towards Luxembourg. There were a few hold ups but we eventually stopped at the services in Luxembourg to fill up with cheap diesel (0.972 Euros per litre) and to have some lunch. We arrived at the next stop over in Dorlisheim in France at about 16.30. We checked into Le Dormeur Hotel and booked a table again for 19.30. for our evening meal. This was a lovely hotel, clean and modern and we had a large room with a balcony. We had a stroll around the town which was typically French with many old buildings and churches. After a rest we went for dinner and sat outside in the courtyard where we had a delicious meal – Mel had pork and I had prawns and scallops.

On Friday 2nd June we left Le Dormeur Hotel at 9.20. and headed towards the motorway which was very easy to get to. It was another hot and sunny day with cloudless blue skies. There was quite a long hold up near to Colmar due to an accident but after that we had a good run into Switzerland. We stopped for a coffee and sandwich at the services before the Gottard Tunnel and then carried on to queue to go through the tunnel. It only took about 20 minutes which is not as long as we have waited on previous occasions. We arrived at the Hotel Cruise in Lucino in Italy at about 15.30. The hotel is very close to the motorway and easy to find. Once again we had a rest and then went for dinner at 19.30. We had another good meal, Mel had spaghetti carbonara followed by pork and I had octopus and salmon.

Breakfast was very good – a wide selection of food including hot choices and only 5 Euros each. We left the hotel at 9.40. and immediately got into a long queue at the toll station. After that the journey was good despite the madness of the Italian drivers, especially around Milan. It was a very hot and sunny day but not too long on the road. We arrived at the Globus City Hotel in Forli at 2pm and checked in.

We were able to go to our room and have a rest even though we were a little early. We had another very nice meal in the hotel restaurant and a stroll outside afterwards. Although the location isn’t very picturesque it is near the motorway and easy to get to.

We had a leisurely breakfast which was excellent – a very good choice of food to set us up for the day – before setting off again at about 10.30. Yet again it was a hot and sunny day and we had a straight forward drive to Ancona. After checking in we went to the port to queue for the ferry which was about one hour late arriving. It took a very long time to load up and we eventually sailed out of the port at about 17.30. (one hour late). We found our cabin and then went for a drink. We had a call to go to the reception because the van alarm was going off so Mel went to turn it off. Later we went to the A La Carte restaurant for our evening meal and then retired to our cabin.

We arrived in Igoumenitsa on time at about 9.30. and quickly got onto the familiar road to Preveza and then to Lefkada. We stopped at a service station near to Preveza to fill up with diesel (1.189 Euros per litre), the first time after Luxembourg. The van does about 45 miles per gallon which is very economical. We arrived in Vassiliki at about 12.30. and after greeting everybody at The Imperial Studios we unloaded the van and unpacked in the same apartment which we had last year.

View from our bedroom balcony

 

 

 

Sydney

After two long flights, we arrived at Sydney Airport. It was a simple task to catch the local metro train from the airport to the station nearest our hotel. Unfortunately, it was raining when we arrived during the morning commuter time. We found our hotel, and, fortunately, they found us a room straight away.

A quick shower and a change into clean clothes and we were off to explore. More details later but below are a few photos.

Winter sunrise run

With short days and low temperatures, I’ve got into a routine that most hibernating mammals would recognise. As a consequence, most days start with two cups of tea in bed watching breakfast TV whilst building up to the day ahead.

This morning, however, we had a man coming! As a consequence, we were up early. I went for a run first and was lucky enough to catch a beautiful start to the day.