very quiet here

[carol]

It has gone very quiet on here, where are all the recent returnees ? Lets have your news and views ;D

[Liz]

I was thinking the same Carol ..maybe everyone is going into a depression !
Would like to hear some peoples thoughts ....where's Ermioni ?? I'd like to hear what he/she thought of Halki I think it was their first time
and where is that bloomin Lisa ..lost her tongue ;D

[anneandpeter]

I think we are all thinking the same. Especially regarding Lisa - usually so talkative and gregarious - has not been heard of since she left Halki on 17th Sept. Must be the end of season blues.

[Liz]

maybe she can't type as she's still in a retsina induced haze ;D

[carol]

Spoke to Lisa yesterday, she is very busy but promised she would get on here soon ;D Where is Mags also it was her first visit, come on let us hear your opinions good or bad

[lynn]

Not like Lisa to be quiet However, as a recent returnee I think it is time I posted. To be honest I have been putting it off because I didn't want to sound too negative You all know how much I love the place but...........

Halki same old, same old apart from the massive sewer work going on on the harbour. Apparently 80% of the work has to be done by December or they don't get their EU money. However.....

It was just appalling. From Maria's at the harbourside they were working their way along towards the yacht jetty. While we were there Steki's (the round bar) was not open because the work had taken away most of his frontage. Costa's had to bring there awnings down and Avra (tartan tablecloths) had to remove some tables. I was truly astonished that people were still eating at Avra with only being a foot or two away from the whole and exposed drains.

We sat at Maria's one night for dinner and had to move because of the stench from the sewer. Also there was a pump pretty much permanently pumping stuff from the hole into the sea and although they said it was only sea water which had got into the hole it was not pleasant.

The noise from the heavy machinery was incredible and on the majority of days started at 7.30 am and finished at 7.30pm. There really was no peace at all.

For a few days the work started at the other end of the harbour from just outside Miriam's up to the Dimitris. This was then abandoned but left as a mound of rubble.

We stayed at the DC Sofia and had building work going on next to and adjacent to us pretty much constantly. There was also building work going on at Ftenaia (although this was pretty minimal really).

Valantis and Eleni closed after our first day there because Eleni was fed up with the "pollution". However, they have not been open for the last two years that we have been there and I wouldn't call last week in September first in October to be the end of the season.

The beach at Pondamos has almost disappeared and the amount of day trippers, even at this time of the year was fairly heavy. I only went to Pondamos to meet Jim off the mountain after his walk two or three times. The wee bit of sand that was there was dirty and full of cigarette ends etc. I'm definitely a Ftenaia girl anyway so it was not too much of a problem - more disappointing.

It was good to see Cathy again and we were even able to meet up with Amanda and Harry at the airport and they were arriving and we were leaving.

The flight from Edinburgh (instead of Glasgow) was absolutely fine. We were the last plane to arrive and so didn't have to wait at the airport for the coach although I am sure that those people who had been waiting for hours were a little miffed. Although our flight back was somewhat later than the old Glasgow flight it was great to be able to leave our bags on the coach and go over to the taverna and have a leisurely lunch and drink and then pick the bags up before checking in.

I think I mentioned in a previous post that we have booked with DG/TC again for next year. Same two weeks, same apartment, same flights from Edinburgh and yet it is £250 cheaper than this years holiday.

So all in all not too negative but not the best holiday we've had on Halki

[ermioni]

Just read that you are missing a detailed report of my holidays on Chalki.
Well, unfortunately I didn't make it to Chalki at all.

By the end of September the early morning katamaran that goes from Patmos to Rhodes didn't run anymore and all the other travel options - overnight ferry or overnight stay on Rhodes - didn't appeal to me.

So I stayed on Patmos until the end of my holidays and had a wonderful time as I always have on my favourite island

I hope I'll manage Chalki next year and then, of course, I'll let you know about my adventures.

Have a nice weekend, Ermioni

[carol]

Hi Lynn, how dissapointing that all that was going on when you were there, the diggers arrived just before we left and people on the ferry with us said the noise was deafening, they were staying on the harbour front and it has really put them off from returning. I had also heard reports about the filthy state of the beach at Pondamos, that plus all the day trippers over there meant we never went near it for the second year running. Hopefully all this work being done will mean a much improved sewage system for the island and it will all be worth it in the long run. Let us hope that by next summer all will be back to the normal peace and quiet that we love so much.

[Liz]

Ermioni ..its a shame you didn't make it to Halki ..but ts great to hear you had a lovely time on Patmos ..if you've any pictures I'd love to see them

[Liz]

Lynn ..I was wondering about how the sewer works had affected things ...its a shame it ruined your holiday ....normally if there's any major building work going on your tour operator should inform you ..I don't see why Halki should be any different might be worth a phone call to DG ?
The smell from the drains was awfull when we were there -we ate at the grill house a few times -one night we moved seats three times
I know what you mean about Pondamos -we went over a few times for lunch and the beah was filthy ..in fact a couple who we spoke to had moved some rubbish off the steps because he was sick of looking at it
And the day trippers ! they came over the hill like ants !!...there has to be a happy medium somewhere even at Ftenagia we would watch the boat come in and then 30 minutes later the thin line over the rocks would start !..The ones I saw didn't seem to spend any money except at the bakery or at Avra were they were 'steered' to by their reps ..any that made it over to Ftenagia just seemed to pass the time over a couple of drinks

I had a walk around early one morning and the amount of rubbish and rubble is a little disapointing I know there's alot of building work going on but still
I like you love Halki and will continue to go back so before anyone jumps on me for 'dissing'it .I'm not ...just have taken off the rose coloured specs

[lisa]

I'M ALIVE!!! Well just, on doctors orders to take it easy for a couple of days hence being on here during the day. Work and home has just been manic since returning on Sept 17 but I have not forgotten you all.

Not sure if I have been called gregarious before, will have to get my dictionary out. Think I like it...

Lynn, I'm so sorry to hear that the works effected your holiday, sounds as though there was no avoiding it really either. No doubt it was still great to be there and catch up with friends but such a shame to be tarnished. I am sure that it won't have put you off.

Wandered if it's worth anyone contacting the mayor and passing on visitors comments. I would hate people to be put off.

[carol]

Lisa, it is good to see you back on here, we have missed you ;D

[Liz]

Oct 21, 2008 14:45:34 GMT lisa said:

I'M ALIVE!!!

...HURRAH !! ;D ;D ;D

[lisa]

Thanks. I've made a point of telling John that I am actually missed by some people!

Lynn ... John says that the smell can't be as bad as me when seriously dieting. All that fresh fruit and veg!! ;D

[Liz]

Lisa ...don't ever do the soup diet