halki 2010!

[kathy]

Hi Andrew, I note your comments on food being pricey at Pondamos, thats a shame, I always liked eating there! Going back to my visits years ago, the prices were pretty good, as was the food! Is Ftenagia better value? Last time i visited there was only Pondamos!

[Di]

Just a quick word about Symi (and then I'll shut up). We went there in October 1978 and on our first morning had breakfast in a cafe on the front. When we received the bill, I mentioned to the owner that we would probably see him later as we had to meet our rep, to which he replied "oh, you stay on Symi?" When we said yes, he whisked the bill away and returned with it all crossed out and virtually halved. During our stay it became apparent that the day trippers were being charged double the prices that people staying on Symi were, and even at that time of year there were loads of day trippers. I dread to think what it's like now in the height of summer, but I know from looking on the Symi Greece chat pages that a number of the regular visitors are considering looking elsewhere in future. Maybe it's all part of a plan - get rid of the regulars, fill the place with day trippers and rip 'em off to maximise profits

[kathy]

I once got a taxi in Rhodes,and because I used them a lot, knew what the fare should be, he tried to charge way too much, when I queried it, he asked if I was English. On getting a "yes", he apologised, lowered it and said he had thought I was German!!
So maybe it could be worse!! ;D ;D

[Liz]

I feel we may have panicked Sunfun and Kathy here a tad ...sorry

the food at Pondamos is excellent as it is at Ftenagia ..They are two completley different beaches ( I actually prefer a sandy beach ) we did visit Pondamos last year a coouple of times for lunch ( OH loves the food there )and then strolled back through the village ( stopped for light refreshment ...Amstel and Retsina ;D ) then caught the georgeous bus back to Ftenagia ..that bus is soooooooooooo lovely

I think basically ..we don't like change ! and unfortunatley Halki is changing ..I don't think it can change too much ......I hope not ...and maybe just maybe some of this discussion will whittle its way back to the powers that be

[Di]

Kathy - do you think it was the lederhosen or the scouse accent that threw him ;D ;D ;D

[kathy]

Oh Di, thats funny!! ;D ;D
I think its my blue eyed blonde (assisted blonde, that is!) look! ;D
Lederhosen indeed!
Liz, no, you haven't frightened me! It's just that I have a soft spot for Pondamos, having worked there with Nick and Yannis, so I would hate not to like it there anymore!
Yannis' burgers (no bun!, with fresh lemon juice and a couple of beers for lunch were heaven! ;D
Somebody mentioned a while ago Yannis has retired - is he still around? Does Nick still run it, or just his sons? If it's the sons, is he still in Halki during the summer?
These are a couple of questions i would still like answers to if anyone knows!
So no Liz, I am not put off at all - just excited!! ;D ;D ;D

[Liz]

Nicks there Kathy ..as are his sons ;D

[kathy]

Ah thanks liz!! I can't wait to see him, ( but he probably won't recognise me after so long!) Where is Yannis then?
I can't wait to see Petros the fisherman too,, and Petros from the shop! ;D ;D

[Deleted]

Yannis is there too, retired apart from looking after his sheep.

[kathy]

thanks, Sth - Wonderful!! ;D

[sunfun]

No worries Liz,it'll take more than that to put us off halki...we are well and truly hooked!

[Liz]

LOL Sunfun ....we are British ...we like a moan ;D ;D...and I know there are lots of other lurkers out there from other countries too ....so come on in ! ;D ;D

[animalwelfare]

hi everybody,
it`s nice reading all your opinions. Just back from Halki yesterday, had a wonderful time, silent, reading lots of books, spent hours on the beaches and walked around, even to Areta beach. (such a hot and stony way in July !)
We love to stay at Pondamos beach all the years before, but even last year, we found it dirty. It´s not funny to lay and walk between trash thal people left there (daytrippers ? , children ?, residents ? Halki-lovers ?) We wonder, who left his trash there. The same we found this year - such polution. I saw a lady (daytripper ?) staying there 2 hours, while she smoked many cigarettes, that she left in the sand. When she had gone, there were cigarettes, paper and a waterbottle, that she left at her place. She didn`t mind my question about this, went away.
Its such a lovely beach, warm and clean water, you can walk into. But the sand is dirty.
The next days we spent at Ftenania, its more clean.

But what can we Halki-lovers do against the pollution ? It`s not only at the beach, its on the street, beneath the street, under the trees. but what can we all do against it ?
More trash containers ? more signs that reminds you to take it with you ?
Halkis face has changed to a pretty island, lots of the ruins and old houses are new built up. Nice colors, the taverns are beautyful, nice people, the service is friendly. They all do their best. We Halki-lovers-tourists should do our best too, to keep our island clean and help to save the nature.
Hope to can come back next year.
Maria

[Deleted]

Rest assured, all comments made on this forum are read in Halki and will certainly be passed on. At that point the certainty stops as there is no way of knowing what, if any action will then be taken.

[carol]

Kathy, Petros the fisherman usually is around when the ferry docks so he will probably be one of the first people you see when you arrive and Petros in the shop never seems to change he is still an absolutely lovely man and I am sure he will be delighted to see you again ;D