We are awoken by the sound of a loud clattering as the wind batters the chairs on the terrace. The Meltemi is at full pelt at the moment. Margarita had told us that this strong wind that blows across the Aegean has been here for 15 weeks which is very unusual. It wasn’t like this…
Here begins our little island hop in the Cyclades with my husband Peter and three of my teenage grandchildren, Ebonee, Macy and Maddox. Before travelling, my thoughts were a mixture of excitement and trepidation. I want this to be a fabulous holiday for them all but was anticipating a potentially challenging airport experience. I know…
The ‘idea’ of this holiday has been over 2 years in the making. Originally planned as a trip with one of my granddaughters who had just turned 16 as a way to celebrate the end of her exams. No sooner had the flights been booked, the dreaded Covid struck and all our plans went up…
It’s my birthday today. Not that I usually celebrate the day but I will spend most of it travelling back to the UK – always the worst part of a trip that has been so enjoyable. Lateral flow test has been done – Tick!. Passenger Locator form complete – Tick! Clothes stuffed into suitcase –…
I’m really looking forward to my guided tour of Andros – albeit the truncated, half day version. First things first, breakfast. There are so many choices of where to eat in Batsi but I walk into the centre and up the road out of the town. As soon as the road begins to climb, there…
Before I arrived on Andros I realised that 4 days wasn’t really enough to explore the island. I also didn’t know how good (or bad) the bus service would be. With this in mind I made some preliminary enquiries about doing a guided tour of the island as I had done on Tinos. Now if…
It is fair to say that travelling during a pandemic has been shall we say, “interesting”. Although lockdown restrictions and travel bans have been lifted there are still of course protocols such as mask-wearing in restaurants, shops and hotels, all the necessaries relating to the requirements for Passenger Locator Forms, vaccination certificates and Covid tests. …
Today is Sunday and so my plan is to walk up to the Church of Evangelistria (Panagia Evangelistrai Megalochari) also known as Our Lady of Tinos, to observe the rituals, ceremonies and customs of the faithful. I’ve always had an interest in witnessing religious ceremonies, even as an atheist/agnostic. I must admit I move more…
One thing that you can’t help but notice when on Tinos is the fantastic collection of ornate dovecotes that are scattered across the landscape. So far I had only caught fleeting glances of them from the bus, but I wanted the chance to see them up close. I had asked Valentina, my guide from the…
Today I’m excited to be doing the day tour of Tinos, having been able to hijack a trip organised for people coming from Mykonos. I am to meet the guide called Valentina at the port. First stop though is a breakfast of bougatsa in the bakery come coffee bar that I had discovered. They have…
A young lady taxi driver picks me up at he Daidalos Hotel. Together we managed to heave my suitcase into the boot. The conversation begins with her asking me if this is my first time on Ikaria to which I reply that I had stayed in Therma a few years ago. “Ah, so now you…
Where did those five days go? It’s as if they have disappeared on the gust of wind that whips around the Armenistis coastline causing those big rollers to smash onto the shore. The wind is a curious thing. From my balcony at the Daidalos Hotel, I have a view over a small swimming pool which…