After last years visit to Crete, we decided to have another visit this year, unfortunately we would be on our own this time. Another thing different this year was that was that we had paid a bit more for the hotel and we would have breakfast as well. We were off to Piskopiano Village, to the Casa Blu hotel a brand new place.
(We had booked this trip for May this year but had had to cancel as Dot's Father died just two days after we were due to go. Other things to note were we canceled three day before we were due to fly, but Tui cept all of the money, the hotel got nothing. We got money back from the insurance company to book later but it did cost us a lot more, the original holliday was an opening offer but when we went it was full price.)
Saying all of that, thankfully we had not rebooked with Thomas Cook, as they folded two days before we went.
Tuesday 24th September
We had even changed the taxi company to get to Newcastle Airport, the company we had booked for the canceled trip had still charged us and for both ways even though we had cancelled three days before. We did get the money back eventually but we should not have had too.
The weather was atrocious but we just sat in the bar and watched it out of the window, with a beer each. Soon we were on our way and all on time.
It was about one when we eventually got to the hotel room, we were very tired and very hot, it was really hot, air con straight on. The bar was closed but there was a beer in the fridge and a bottle of wine, enough for us for a good night sleep.
Wednesday 25th September
Up nice and early, had a shower and shave then set off for breakfast, just outside our room to a table outside in the sun (or under cover in the shade). Bacon and egg with orange juice and as many cereals as you need, the food did change every day but it was still good.
It was our first day and we did practically nothing, the view down to the sea was pretty good though.
We did have a walk up into the village and along to the next one as well, Koutouloufari, eventually though we had to go for a drink.
The first proper drink of the holiday was in Koutouloufari, on our own, in an upstairs open lounge, in fact we had two. We then moved back to Piskopiano and had even more beer there before going back to the hotel. All in we had three new beers that night we had a Fix, Hellas, a Athenian Brewery, Alfa (Αλφα) and a Σόλο (Solo), Americana, all good. Had a gyro with chips in the last pub we used, before heading back.
We had a drink back at the hotel but as we were tired after our trip to get there, so we had an early night.
Thursday 26th September
It was easier to get up and get ready for breakfast today, the breakfast was again very good, although there were some strange things for that early in the day.
England had a Rugby match today, not as early as at home but still early, it was just an easy game but I still wanted to see it. Anyway the TV in the bar was going to show it, so that was the early afternoon dealt with and England beat the USA 45-7.
Most of the rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing by the pool reading, using our iPads. We had our tea before five as that was when the bar stopped serving food and it was ok. I just had a burger and chips Dot had a chicken and pasta dish.
That evening we had a short walk along by the bars and shops, bought some bottled beers in the shops but soon headed back to the hotel and had a drink there.
We were still worn out, I suppose we are getting old, so we had an early night.
Friday 27th September
After breakfast we went for walk, we headed the way we had not been so far and turned right on the main road. The walk took us to Hersonissos, a fairly long walk but it looked like a very nice place and I got some good flower photos.
We continued walking through the village to see what was further on but when we passed a man selling tickets for a land train, we walked back to get information. It was about 24€ for both of us, took about an hour and a half and was due any minute. We got two tickets.
Amazing for what usually happens abroad, we bought the tickets and the train came round the corner. We set off, went back through the village and set off down to the town of Hersonissos on the coast. Down there we had to change trains (no idea why they were both going the same way and unusual for Crete, the man in charge of this was very aggressive and since returning home have read some bad comments about the trip), then moved on along the front. The trip went in the opposite direction to Stalis and although being a bumpy ride and very full for most of the ride it wasn't that bad. I did take photos as we went but most of them were rubbish.
Back in the village walking back towards our village, as we passed one bar the owners asked in and you know what, we sat down for a beer. We also had another one there before we set off back to Piskopiano.
Just as we got back to Piskopiano I popped into a small shop and bought a few new beers, along with crisps and chocolate.
Back at the room I discovered that one of the beers was alcohol free so drank that straightaway, the second one, Magnus Magister, 4 Seasons Premium Lager, was an ordinary mediterranean lager but not bad.
Tonight was the hotel BBQ and the food was very good and the people we sat next to were very nice people. In fact we had a very good night, better than expected.
Saturday 28th September
As we had too much to drink last night, it was a day around the pool just relaxing, as for food that day, I have no idea.
Sunday 29th September
The reason for the breakfast photo today is that I had bacon, scrambled egg and chips, what a good breakfast.
Today was a day for walking, so we set off to walk to Stalis were we were last year. The walk was a total of six kilometers, but we broke it up into sections, so we could have a rest.
The first place we stopped was on the beach at Alekos Garden, that was after a long walk to get there. We only had a orange juice to drink there as it was still early.
From there we moved on along the coast, but had to move onto the roadway as a posh hotel was in the way. On the other side of the hotel there was a pathway back down to the seafront and one of the bar's we were heading to. The Romantic Corner that we used nearly every day on our last holiday was just there, so of course we popped in.
We sat and rested there for that long we had three beers and in the end and a meal before moving on.
It was not long before we stopped off again and got a drink of orange. Then we moved on to the Rovers Return to find out what night the band were on that we realy good last year. We would be back to see them later in the week.
From there we moved on to the pub we had used on the way back to the hotel every night last year the Yams bar. Unfortunately we missed the owner he had just gone home with the kids but we did meet his wife who was in hospital last year.
We were not going to walk back, so asked at the bar about a taxi, they phoned for one for us and it was there in ten mins.
Monday 30th September
Another busy day, first thing just after breakfast, we walked down to the coast, it took about half an hour butt it was all downhill. We hit the front and walked around passed all the shops and bars to the pier. This is something we did last year, only we had to get the bus there from Stalis and I was not very well at all that day.
We stood on the end of the pier and watched all of the tour boats going out to sea and then we saw a big Turtle swimming around.
From the end of the pier we walked back onto the mainland and had a sit next to the church above the the pier entrance.
Next we walked back along the front but stopped at the bar we used last year, Lascala and sat by the sea but in the shade. The Turtle was again swimming around just off the bar as we had our drinks.
After the drink we headed off in the direction of Stalis, somewhere we had not been before. Only we did not walk that far (far enough though) and eventually looked for a bar. Ee wandered on but eventually gave up and went into another bar. We ordered our drinks, Dot got a cocktail and as it was happy hour she got two of them, I had a beer, just the one (I think).
From there we moved back from the front and on to the main street, from there we got a taxi back up to the hotel.
That night we walked back along to Hersonissos village for the Greek night, it was as packed out as we had been told it would be. So we just sat in the bar we had used on our last visit there and from there Dot could wander over to watch.
As soon as the display was over the village practically empted but Me and Dot stayed on for a couple of drinks. Dot even played with the owners dog, she was drinking cocktails again.
Tuesday 1st October
Another day by the pool reading.
Wednesday 2nd October
Today was another walk day, so we walked down to the seafront as we had on Monday, but headed along the front in the direction of Stalis. But by now we were getting tired and popped into Palmera Seaside Restaurant for a drink but it was only lemonde.
We only had the lemonade in there but the owner of the bar had a GANT T-shirt on, the water said that he always used GANT. Me too.
Refreshed we continued on our way but after so long, the walk was just through a series of large hotels and we were glad to get passed them all. After that we got to Alekos Garden, were we had stopped on the way to Stalis a few days ago. This time though, even though it was still early we had a beer each and a nice sit in the sun.
After that we wandered into the bar practically next door to the Taverna Caravan and had another couple of drinks. We also got something to eat as we sat out in the sun there.
We decided to get a taxi back to the hotel and asked at the bar where to get one, they phoned and got one for us in ten minutes.
We got dropped in town and did a bit of shopping and had a wander around before heading back to the room. As we arrived back we heard music coming from just above the hotel, so we turned around and went for a look. The Central or Kentpiko Bar and Dining, had two musicians on, a guitarist and a singer and they were good so we stopped in there.
Thursday 3rd October
We had a quiet relaxing day by the pool, I spent the day reading, Dot sunbathing. We were going out to Stalis tonight.
Later on the afternoon, reception got us a taxi and we set off for Stalis, we got dropped at The Romantic Corner, were we planned to have something to eat before moving on to see the band. We got the taxi phone number for the trip back latter. It got dark as we ate our supper, I say ate but it was not that easy. We got the mixed grill for two and it was massive and I think we only ate half of it but it was fabulase.
By the time we finished our food it was time to get gong to see the band but the Romantic Corner had different ideas and gave us a free drink each. By the time we moved on to the Rovers Return, it was getting late and it was over a mile to walk there. The band were just about to start when we got there so we got a beer (a german wheat beer) and settled in.
As the last two times we had been to see them, the band or duet were really good and as usual played for about three hours.
When we came out just about everywhere was closed (something we had not noticed last year), the taxi number we had been given did not answer, so we wandered up to the Yamas bar, as last year, to book a taxi. Unfortunately unlike last year, the Yamas was closed, so we headed onto the main road but we did not find a taxi or any other traffic at all. Eventually we wandered back into town and I asked a guy who was cleaning up, at the Four Brothers restaurant were we could find a taxi. He invited us in, gave us a seat and got us a taxi (the cheapest one we had all week), what a fantastic place and nice man.
Friday 4th October
Another quiet day sat around the pool, tonight was the hotel BBQ but as we did it last week, we gave it a miss.
We went out to the closest restaurant, Lichos, the man running the place had called us in every night and tonight was the one. The food was acceptable and the wine was homemade and quite good, it was also very cheap. We could be back here before we go.
From there we headed the short distance to Kentpiko Bar, to listen to tonight's turn, when we got there he was playing really bad pop. Although he soon changed to much better stuff. I think tonight we drank far too much again.
Saturday 5th October
Yet another quiet day spent by the pool, I do not think we were that good today after last night.
Sunday 6th October
Today was another walk day, we walked down to the seafront again and set off to walk in the opposite direction to the way we had before. We walked as far as we could, which was not that far, a hotel fence got in the way again. So we just had a sit in the sun on the rocks near the fence and sunbathed.
After our sit and rest in the sun we walked back up into town and had a beer in Captane G on the seafront. Before moving on back into the main part of the dock and heading into Lascala and again sat by the sea but in the shade.
While sat there we decided to get a pizza as we were both peckish and another beer. After our rest, we wandered back up onto the main street and got a taxi back up to the hotel.
Monday 7th October
Another quiet day spent by the pool and early on we decided we would just eat in the hotel before they stopped serving. After eating though it started to rain, the first of the holliday, and we had to move in close to the bar. It did not last long though.
Eating in the hotel early, turned out to be a rather good decision as the power to the village, in fact three villages went off and it was off for about three hours. Quite a disaster for most of the restaurants with no power. We sat outside the room with the emergence light on and had a beer I had bought earlier.
Only we could see people at our bar so I wandered over to see what was going on and there beer was still working. So we moved over to there and drank their beer, eventually, after a few beers though, the lights came back on.
With the lights back we had a word with the owner, someone in the hotel had actually phoned the tour operators to complain the the power was off. What is wrong with some people. It was a good night anyway.
Tuesday 8th October
Our last day in Crete, so we got ready to leave and placed our bags in a room at reception, our flight back was not until late that night.
After a walk we came back to the hotel and had a couple of beers in the bar there, before our booked in shower time.
The showers were just below reception and were very nice, so we had our showers and went out to Lichos again for our final meal. It had been raining again so we were forced to eat more inside the restaurant. Again though the meals were very good and something I did not mention last time was the free afters they gave you.
Back at the hotel the bus turned up on time and we drove almost straight to the airport. In fact almost every thing was on time, we did not have a drink in the airport but had one on the airplane.
Soon it was all over, I would just like to say, Crete is a fantastic place for a holiday.
