Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - mickydripping

Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 5
16
PlakChat / Re: What is it like in Plakias in November?
« on: November 11, 2016, 07:55:36 PM »
I returned from Plakias, 5th November, enjoyed two weeks. Upon reflection, had a great time, only one day's poor weather...which was really bad, gale force winds and torrential rain, flooding in Chania ect. None of this appeared in any of the forecasts (BBC, Meteo,etc.) The nearest they got was “showers” The local news reported  a “Mediterranean Tornado”


Approximately 75% of Plakias had either closed or were in the process of closing, sun loungers were being pressure washed, restaurants emptied of tables and chairs, freezers defrosted, and black plastic bags were taped over light fittings. But those who remained were more relaxed, lots of family visits and dining out,


The sea was warm, beaches empty (both people and umbrellas). Most of the vegetation was desiccated, but lots of activity picking the olives.


All of which asks the question “ Should the season be longer?” At the moment the controlling factor appears to be the stopping of charter and low cost carrier flights to Northern Europe. I have on one occasion come back via ferry and a flight from Athens, but talking to expats , they tell me fly Crete to Athens , then change flights to UK. It works out not much dearer than direct flights and the connections are reasonable. I suspect that the lengthening of the season is a chicken/egg problem, but I would be interested in hearing other opinions...please post

17
PlakChat / Re: What is it like in Plakias in November?
« on: October 22, 2016, 05:10:42 PM »
I,m coming out for 10 days on wed, I expect it be be quiet, some places will have closed and some will be closing. don't expect sun beds on the beach, very laid back but library ect still open. Will post after arrival

18
Plakias / Re: Maybe the last time?
« on: October 16, 2016, 08:17:31 PM »
I've been coming to Plakias, twice a year approx. since 1985. I started in Ay. Galini and frequently stay in Paleochora. All three have lost some of their charm, more building, more roads, more people, more traffic....but so has the UK. One of the sadder facets of recent visits is the gradual disappearance of Greek waiters, not many of us realize you are being served with politeness and charm in the best greek style by an Albanian or Bulgarian. This is in a country with 50% youth unemployment?

Plakias lost some of its charm when the harbour moved out of town and the modern property developments further damaged the small town atmosphere.

One of my solutions is to visit very early or very late in the season and travel independant.... not Olympic Holidays. I,m arriving 25th sept staying until 5th Nov.  Lots of rooms and eating have closed , but no queuing! and the locals have time to talk. Give it a try.

How many more times will I come...I don't know, but there is an old folks home at Yerakari for northern Europeans.

19
PlakChat / Re: WIfi
« on: August 31, 2016, 05:05:08 PM »
everywhere.....all restaurants, bars have it, just ask for the password, buy a beer or a coffee, sit and enjoy communicating!

20
Plakias / Re: Greek coffee
« on: August 10, 2016, 09:29:19 AM »
My wife and I were in business until retirement, one of our operations was a coffee roasting and supply trading. A standing joke, if you made a mistake or had a low quality bean, was that you could always sell it to a Greek, they can't tell the difference!

21
Where to eat...or not! / Re: Taverna's in Selia
« on: May 06, 2016, 05:31:51 PM »
I ate at Elia's last week and the food was superb.....but don't go along expecting standard tavern fare. the menu is an adventure, but slightly unconventional. Also it has the best views in the area

22
Plakias / Re: Rebuilding after fire
« on: May 01, 2016, 02:27:28 PM »
Just a slightly amusing footnote to the demolition of the pitta giros parlour, or souvlaki shed. I was reliably told by an untrusted Greek that it was demolished because.... It didn't have a change of use building permit, from its previous incarnation as a public toilet, which was built there to take advantage of its position over the top of the main sewer junction.
 Having said that... I'm missing it!

Anybody old enough to remember?

23
Plakias / Re: Rebuilding after fire
« on: April 25, 2016, 06:06:17 PM »
I'm in Plakias now.The rebuild is going ahead,.... Ostracio, Sofia and muses are finished, the others are work in progress. The pita girls shed is gone, I suspect that the new sewerage system is responsible for its demise. This new system involves digging up every road and then leaving it, so everywhere is a bit of a mess.there's even more dust than usual. Staying at apnopea as usual, great people!

24
PlakChat / Re: it's quiet Carruthers.... too quiet
« on: February 26, 2016, 05:02:17 PM »
This is an unfortunate suggestion that the people of Yorkshire are mean or "tight", obviously untrue, although it is rumoured that copper wire was invented by two Yorkshiremen fighting over a penny!

25
Where to go / Re: Mountain Biking
« on: January 15, 2016, 02:20:50 PM »
I have dabbled a little around Plakias, using rental bikes, but frankly they are not up to serious usage, although they are reputable brands....cube, giant ect. As they say in Ireland,if you want to go somewhere, don't start from here. I have little doubt that you make some decent routes, but there are better places in hi Crete to start from. Maybe kousteyeriako or sougia or even paleohora. Also if you ride anything away from the ordinary, spares are difficult, I remember talking to a guy looking for 29er tyres, no way in Greece. I would be interested in hearing how you get on if you try.

26
Plakias / Major fire in Plakias
« on: May 10, 2015, 09:35:37 AM »
At 5.0am this morning,  a fire swept  through the beach side restaurants at plakias,  completely destroying them from Sofia to ostracio.  As far as I know  no one  was injured  fortunately.  A sad day for the town,  I  have many happy memories of eating there.  I hope there is sufficient time to rebuild before the peak of the season.

27
Where to go / Re: Samaria Gorge
« on: April 17, 2015, 08:22:04 AM »
Third  attempt,  for Honda  read Chania.

28
Where to go / Re: Samaria Gorge
« on: April 17, 2015, 08:20:01 AM »
Sorry, for Honda  read Honda.... Swift key!

29
Where to go / Re: Samaria Gorge
« on: April 17, 2015, 08:17:43 AM »
Even better... Take the bus from Honda to Omalos, overnight at the Kallergi  refuge,  a fantastic place to stay, they will give you an early breakfast, and then walk the gorge before the crowds arrive. There's no hurry,  catch the ferry back  to Hora  Shakira and the next bus back to Hania. It will be cheaper than  a organised trip,  more  enjoyable,  and a little adventure. Read the fine details in Rough  Guide  to  Crete

30
Plakias / Re: Just booked
« on: January 28, 2015, 02:24:11 PM »
I was in plakias two years ago, last week in March,... Not much open, but plenty of activity readying for next season. The major problem I encountered  was the short days and cool short evenings. Please post when you return  with your experiences

Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 5