MILOS ISLAND cont

FRIDAY : 9th Sept.  After the strong winds we've experienced over the last few days, it was very pleasant to be able to eat breakfast this morning on the balcony with just a light breeze blowing.  

On our walk into town we could see the Celestyal Krystal cruise ship anchored in the bay 

with tenders taking passengers into the town.  We met with our friend from Lithuania who told us he was going to Plaka today and was thinking of going on a west coast cruise tomorrow, that way he could see Klima from the boat and not have to haggle with taxi drivers or walk up and down steep hills.  

We'd decided to bus to Pollonia on the north shore of Milos, bumping into the Rossmoyne couple we'd met on two previous occasions, and catch a ferry to Kimolos Island, a 20-25 minute ride to see what there was to see.  

After a wander around in Pollonia, 

and while waiting for the ferry, we had coffee & a small cheese pastry each. As soon as the ferry appeared there was a mad rush to board with quite a crowd and several cars going across to the island.  

The ferry ride cost 2.40 euros each way per person and though just a little choppy out in the open, it was a very pleasant, relaxing ride.

One of the many yachts cruising around the Greek Islands

                                       

Tourists

                                                                           

Kimolos

                                                                      

We stayed at the port for the duration of our visit, Mike went swimming,

I paddled, we ate a light lunch in a cafe overlooking the port, 

Mike had another swim before we returned to Pollonia to catch the bus back to base.

Scenes from the bus

                                                                  

Scenes from the bus

On our return, we both went swimming at our local beach, very refreshing though a bit cool and quite shallow.    All in all, a most enjoyable day, our last on Milos Island as we will leave in the morning for    Sifnos Island.   The cruise ship is leaving and we're about to go out for souvlaki.  

We were saddened to learn from my sister earlier today that our Queen passed away yesterday....we hadn't heard.  She was one of my favourite people of all time and one whom I greatly admired for as long as I can remember.  May she rest in peace.

                                                                                                                                         

MILOS Continued

THURSDAY : 8th Sept. 

We ate breakfast on the balcony this morning, it was still windy but not nearly as much as it has been for the last couple of days, though we needed jumpers,  We whiled away the morning doing very little which was very relaxing and at about midday,  went for a walk along the foreshore, past the ferry port where there were many people waiting for their ship to come in, and around to Lagada Beach. There is a small beach there and a posh looking hotel

we found a bench in the shade and sat and watched the first of two ferries come in 

then strolled back to the port to watch the unloading and loading of the first ferry and the arrival of the second, smaller one.  

Back into the centre of town, 

which was much quieter than it's been in the last two days, we called in to the bakery and bought two cheese pies and cold drinks which we ate & drank while sitting on a brick wall in the shade.  We met our Lithuanian friend there and in conversation with him, suggested that we could all share a taxi tomorrow to Klima, the fishing village which is difficult to reach without private transport, so we all marched along to the taxi stand and asked one of the drivers how much it would cost, didn't like his excessive quote so told him he was dreaming and left.  We discussed other options but were unable to find a solution so it's still all up in the air.  It's a wait and see situation at present.

We wandered back 'home' for a couple of hours, thought of going for a swim but were too lazy and at 4 o'clock, wandered back to town to catch the bus to Provatas Beach,

Provatas is an absolutely fabulous beach where we spent a couple of hours watching people swimming,  boats coming in to their overnight moorings and transferring passengers to shore,  while enjoying a meal at  Muses Restaurant & before catching the last bus back to base.

An enjoyable, lazy day....we could get used to it!

MILOS ISLAND

TUESDAY : 6th Sept.

It was exremely windy last night and is expected to be so for the next couple of days.  We walked into town to catch the 10.20 a.m. bus to Paliochori Beach on the south-east coast of the island and wondered why there were so many people queuing, with luggage, outside the couple of tourist offices there.  We found out later that the Piraeus ferries had been cancelled due to the very high winds, leaving hundreds of holiday makers stranded and trying to make alternate transport and accommodation arrangements.  

 The bus was full but the ride took only about 15 -20 minutes through rather dry, flattish countryside until we neared the coast where we encountered a few steep hills and on arrival, we made a bee line for the Sirocco bar/cafe for coffee, and decided to share a club sandwich and chips and call it brunch.  

   

The water was reasonably calm as it was protected somewhat from the wind by the cliffs surrounding the bay.  A few people were in swimming but most were sunbathing on the lounges all along the beach.  As the buses are not frequent, we could stay for 1 hour or for about 3 hours, we opted for 1 and after a walk through the sunbathers, we caught the 11.45 a.m bus back to town.

Mine Site

Zefyria, a small village on the road to Paliochori

                                          

After strolling around the town, checking out shops and cafes, we bought and ate delicious icecreams then revisited Volta cafe for cold drinks which we enjoyed while watching the passing parade, not envying those who were queuing in the sun and wind, and walked back to our 'home' for a couple of hours. 

The walk 'home' along the bay

The little church at the bottom of the path to the main road

Not able to sit out on the balcony because of the wind, we were confined to our room, initially with the doors open to allow some fresh air in but had to close them and turn the airconditioner on.  In the evening we were blown down to the main road where there is a restaurant that has superb food, so we've heard, so we thought we'd try it but it was full, with people queuing for tables so we continued on a little way to Lydia, the restaurant where we ate a couple of nights ago and where the food is very good but for some reason is nowhere near as busy. There was still a queue when we passed to be blown back up the hill to 'home'!

WEDNESDAY : 7th Sept.

To beat the crowds, we caught the 8.30 a.m. bus to the Catacombs, which are  considered to be second to those in Rome, carved out of the soft Pumice stone and originally from natural caves, and are situated between Tripiti and the ancient city of Klima.

The stone steps down to the Catacombs entrance

                                     

The entrance fee for old people was 2 euros each and we were shown the ancient family tombs by a young man who was not a guide, he said, but a guardian.

Nearby the Catacombs is an ancient Roman Theatre which we viewed from above, as the steep path down consisted of loose rocks.  Our younger selves would have negotiated them with ease but we are more cautious in our advancing years.

Remains of a Roman theatre

                     

an Australian lurker

and the Venus de Milo

Opting not to walk the 4 kms down the very steep hill to the fishing village of Klima, and the same 4km back up again, we decided to walk up the much shorter hill into Tripiti village, but, as luck would have it, a Venetian couple we'd spoken to in the Catacombs were leaving the site in their rental car and very kindly agreed to drop us off there on their way through.   (We have tried to rent a car while we're here but have had no luck....they are all booked out so we continue to use the buses. It never occurred to us that Milos would be so busy, we thought European holidays would have ended, otherwise we'd have booked a rental car from home before we left.)

In Tripiti we visited the splendid St Nikolaos Church

and the Okto Cafe where we enjoyed the view

while scoffing pancakes with fresh fruit, and yoghurt, also with fresh fruit, nuts & honey....yum!

Before catching the bus back to town, we had time to visit another little church  

After a visit to the supermarket for a couple of things we forgot yesterday, we happily headed off 'home', away from the now busy town,  On the path towards our place, we stopped and chatted to a Lithuanian gentleman who'd recently arrived and to our new neighbours, 3 N. Zedders who were caught up in the wind saga and had to stay an extra night.

A rest was in order this afternoon, the old tired legs find walking fine but clinbing,,,,no!  We'd decided to have a pizza tonight and wandered down to the main street where there are many cafes, bars & restaurants.  

 and after sharing a very good pizza, walked home in the moonlight. 

Now it's time for sleeping, tomorrow is another day!

GREECE is The Word : 2022

FRIDAY : 2nd Sept.  We left Perth Airport at 7p.m., an hour later than scheduled, on the first leg of our journey, arriving in Singapore just before midnight.  It was the first time we'd flown with Scoot, choosing that airline because their airfares were little more than half the cost for two than we'd have paid for just one with any of the other airlines.  Flying with Scoot you get what you pay for which is nothing other than a seat on a plane, but we think it was fine for the purpose, saving a lot on the fares and would use them again.

All the Singapore Airport food outlets were either closed or in the process of closing when we arrived, so we bought a sandwich and a fruit drink from the mini market in the airport to see us through till our arrival in Athens, before embarking on the second leg of the journey, which was also late leaving, although our pilots did a very good job of making up time as we arrived at 9a.m., a few minutes before scheduled.

SATURDAY : 3rd Sept.   After queuing  for a very long time to go through immigration, we then had a very, very long walk through the airport to the exit. missing the train we'd planned to take to Piraeus but able to grab seats for the 1 hour bus ride there, as it was about to leave.   Feeling rather hot and jaded by the time we reached Piraeus, on the short walk to the hotel we found a shady, outdoor bar/cafe called "Darling" where we relaxed and cooled off a little with cold drinks before checking in early to our room.  Once we'd showered and changed into shorts we went out in search of food and chose a Souvlaki cafe opposite the port, where we could watch the ferries coming and going.  Back at the hotel after a stroll around, a snooze in the air conditioning was the next big event and we emerged in the evening to wander around the town, stopping again at "Darling" for a delicious shared pizza accompanied by beer and wine.

 A few of the very impressive buildings in Piraeus.

The Hans & Gretel Ice Cream Shoppe

SUNDAY : 4th Sept.  Neither of us slept very well on Saturday night, still suffering from jet lag, but were up early and enjoyed a cup of tea and a short stroll to the ferry which brought us to Milos Island, via Serifos and Sifnos Islands, both of which we will be visiting later.  

On board the ferry - How to recycle old surfboards - use them as shelving!!!