Plakias Forums
Plakias => PlakChat => Topic started by: Pritch on August 16, 2004, 12:45:34 PM
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Its nearly time to set the alarm for an ungodly hour Tuesday morning to head out to the airport, get on that plane (please be on time.....) and head out for Plak.
Can't wait, as within 24hrs a cold Mythos or few will be welcoming yet another few days in that wonderfull Town.
Will probably post a message from the Forum after one of their indulgent breakfasts with an 'on the spot report'.
Lets hope the forecasted storms have passed through by the time we get there and the wind isn't too strong !!!
For all those yet to travel - have a good one, me, I can't wait to get there to let the Plakian ambience restore the soul, as it has a wonderful habit of doing.
Looking forward to seeing our good friends again, as its been far too long.
Catch you later guys.......................
Yasoo
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Have a great one Pritch and have a Mythos or twooooo?? for us
Martyn & Svetlana
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Absolutely! Looking forward to my own trip out there soon, even if it is my first!
Γεια σας!
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Looking at the calendar, things are going to be a bit quiet on this forum for much of next month. As a matter of pure interest only (I wouldn't intend to use it when there in May) are there internet facilities in Plakias?
Mike
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Certainly was last year - at Ostraco. Have fun
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Yes, the connection is still there at Ostraco.
I believe there is also one in the Forum bar now (upatairs)
There is also one in the bar just along the road from Ostraco - towards the harbour. Sorry - can't remember the name.
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Also a connection in the lounge of the Alianthos Hotel
Allan
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That's at least 4 then!
Plakias is getting wired!
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As I type this now back home in the UK, most of you will be out there and I hope your having as good a time as we did !! Finally got to see Ali & Dave which was great to put some faces to names - and what a lovely couple, long may you enjoy !!
I know I said I would probably do some on the spot reporting, but as we (were) in the middle of selling our house, my email time was restricted to sorting that out so sorry no reports !! Though it was nice sitting in Ostraco checking emails, and of course havingto have the odd Mythos whilst waiting, much nicer ambience than my study I can tell you !!
Weather was superb, breezy rather than blowing a hooly as slept out on the balcony every night under the stars...marvellous.
Can anyone tell me why there seems to be a weird almost water/oil type tinge to the beach at Lefgoya ? Don't experience it at any of the other beaches - is it to do with the fresh water running into the sea ????
Some new shops we noticed this year, which my daughter was drawn to like a magnet and a good few Euros were separated from us....
Noticed also that the prices were if anything, slighlty down on last year, but fortunately nothing much has radically changed.
We had our second week further towards Chora Sphakion, total contrast, very very quiete, few Tavernas, but got some great sightseeing in - anyone done the Imbros Gorge ??? If you haven't, whilst not for the faint hearted I can give you some absolutely fantastic places to go and see.
Anyone been to the WW2 Museum at the top of the Gorge, stunning and very moving, but don't overdo Giorgos's hospitality, his Raki is a killer !!!
This years holiday was as good as the last 3 we have been and fortunately Crete (apart from Iraklion) was not overly hit by Olympic fever, certainly not where we went.
Talk soon,
Pritch
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Noticed also that the prices were if anything, slighlty down on last year
Wow, that's a first.
Mike
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We've just got back and were pleasantly surprised that the prices were much the same as last year. The Alianthos Express return price to Souda and Damnoni was 5 Euro compared with 6 last year so yes, some prices are down.
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Pritch, how long to walk down the Imbros gorge for a fairly sedentary fifty something?
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We've just got back and were pleasantly surprised that the prices were much the same as last year. The Alianthos Express return price to Souda and Damnoni was 5 Euro compared with 6 last year so yes, some prices are down.
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The Alianthos Express, that's the little train right?
Oh so it goes to souda and damnoni now as well as Mirthios? That's handy!
I don't want to look silly here so correct me quickly if I'm wrong Ha Ha!
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We've just got back and were pleasantly surprised that the prices were much the same as last year. The Alianthos Express return price to Souda and Damnoni was 5 Euro compared with 6 last year so yes, some prices are down.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2413\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
The Alianthos Express, that's the little train right?
Oh so it goes to souda and damnoni now as well as Mirthios? That's handy!
I don't want to look silly here so correct me quickly if I'm wrong Ha Ha!
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2441\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Yes the train goes to all sorts of places in the day, think I may have a leaflet at home with the destinations. It also went to the Raki festival this year in Kali Sykia, thankfully I wasn't on it or I may have fell out
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Pritch, how long to walk down the Imbros gorge for a fairly sedentary fifty something?
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John.
not being a walker myself (and closer to fifty than I care to think), I would say you are looking at a good days hike. Not sure though if its actually possible to walk the Gorge itself, think rather you walk down the road, but in all honesty, I don't know.You can get a taxi and or bus at the botom which will take you to the top, and then I guess you walk back down, must be something somewhere on the net though on whether you can walk it.
There are a couple of little stop offs on the way, and the 'Caravan' about halfway offers some stunning views and a chance for a frappe, though not sure you would get there if you were in the Gorge itself
We drove, and whilst fairly scary going up - there are certain parts just wide enough for 2 small cars, so its in the the lap of the Gods if you meet a dirty great truck at this point - when you get up to the top and onto the plateu there are some stunning little villages to mooch around.
As I mentioned, the WW2 Museum is an absolute MUST, quite something to see.
In August, when we went, the air was much cooler and fresher at the top, and we had a cracking lunch in a very quiete little Taverna overlooking a patchwork of fields and small villages - happy memories, and their 'Macaronia Tyri' was one of the best I've tasted.
Worth a day out if youve a car though.
Neil
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The normal thing is to walk in the gorge. Towards the top end there are checkpoints where you pay 2 Euro (in 2003) to go through. I would say it is more like a half day walk as last year we parked the car at the bottom, then walked up and back down again. Alternatively, if you park at the cafe at the top, you can walk down, then for a fee (forgotten how much) there are a couple of guys who will drive you back to the top.
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Thanks Neil. This year we arrived at Imbros village at the top of the gorge after driving over the mountains from Asi Gonia on our Plakforms Safari. We were intending to visit the WW2 museum but after spending some time in Imbros looking for it we were eventually informed that it was some 5Km further North. As by that time it was quite late in the afternoon we decided to skip the museum and do it another year.
You certainly can walk down the gorge as we've met others who've done it, Plakias Forums member Gastronomis for one. I think Graham and Karen and Yvonne and Peter have also done it. I've heard that it's about 8Km and takes about 4 hours.
We finished our safari by driving down the road alongside the gorge and then along the coast through Frangocastello, Rodakino and Selia back to Plakias.
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Cheers Guys, something to think about for the next visit !!!
John, not sure if it was noticeable to you (I also drove the same route back to Plak) but that the road conditions changed considerably when exiting 'Sphakia Prefecture' and entering 'Rethymnon Prefecture' i.e lines on the roads, barriers on the bends etc.
Superb drive though with some stunning views of Plakias when on your on the 'Dragons Back'.
Neil
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John
At a relatively active 56 and 60, we walked the Imbros gorge last year. It is relatively easy compared to the Samaria and from memory it was about 2 hours. Be warned, we hired a "taxi" from a taverna at the bottom, to get to Imbros village. The taxi comprised a very beat up pickup with rough iron benches in the rear and a maniac in the driving seat, not to be recommended, but there are others offering the service, and of course local buses. The walk through the gorge is well worth doing, many features are similar to the Samaria, just scaled down a bit, but still very impressive.
Jan and David
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We saw the pick-up taking some people back to the top last year - Scary indeed! :'(
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Cheers Guys, something to think about for the next visit !!!
John, not sure if it was noticeable to you (I also drove the same route back to Plak) but that the road conditions changed considerably when exiting 'Sphakia Prefecture' and entering 'Rethymnon Prefecture' i.e lines on the roads, barriers on the bends etc.
Superb drive though with some stunning views of Plakias when on your on the 'Dragons Back'.
Neil
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Yes, it's not unusual to see that kind of change in quality when crossing internal administrative borders. In years past in Greece we've seen very extreme example of that. For example, an unsurfaced narrow dirt track halfway up a mountain suddenly turning into a 24 metre wide brand new tarmac road with all the bells and whistles.
JohnR has it exactly right when he recommends that road towards Plakias in the late afternoon. Mind you, you have to pity the motorists coming in the other direction, towards the setting sun. Especially if they are in your typical hire car with the usual opaque windscreen.
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John
At a relatively active 56 and 60, we walked the Imbros gorge last year. It is relatively easy compared to the Samaria and from memory it was about 2 hours. Be warned, we hired a "taxi" from a taverna at the bottom, to get to Imbros village. The taxi comprised a very beat up pickup with rough iron benches in the rear and a maniac in the driving seat, not to be recommended, but there are others offering the service, and of course local buses. The walk through the gorge is well worth doing, many features are similar to the Samaria, just scaled down a bit, but still very impressive.
Jan and David
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2498\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Thanks for that. We may well risk the walk down next year. I'm not so keen on risking that 'taxi' though.
Hmmm... I wonder if we could organise something amongst ourselves, perhaps with one none walking driver...
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We are 60 years apiece and we simply walk up in the morning, have lunch in the taverna at the top, and then walk down again. Very easily done and very enjoyable.
John R
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My girlfriend and I walked through Imbros gorge in September '02. Took a taxi up and walked down on the bottom of the gorge. Took us 2 hours IIRC, but we didn't rush things. (As I'm running around with a snapped ACL I gotta watch my step downhill.) So I would say 3 hours maximum for the walk if you really take it slow. (the drive up takes about 15 - 20 mins)
It's very beautiful. Definitely recommended. I don't think that you can walk on the bottom in spring, but in September it's all dried out.
You might save a few bucks if you can get a bus schedule, because then you won't have to take a taxi. Oh yes, and the local 'taxi' drivers all seem to be on the same medication... our ride was quite adventurous, too...
Andy
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John
At a relatively active 56 and 60, we walked the Imbros gorge last year. It is relatively easy compared to the Samaria and from memory it was about 2 hours. Be warned, we hired a "taxi" from a taverna at the bottom, to get to Imbros village. The taxi comprised a very beat up pickup with rough iron benches in the rear and a maniac in the driving seat, not to be recommended, but there are others offering the service, and of course local buses. The walk through the gorge is well worth doing, many features are similar to the Samaria, just scaled down a bit, but still very impressive.
Jan and David
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2498\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Thanks for that. We may well risk the walk down next year. I'm not so keen on risking that 'taxi' though.
Hmmm... I wonder if we could organise something amongst ourselves, perhaps with one none walking driver...
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=2504\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
All you need are 2 cars John. Think about it!
Yvonne
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Point taken Yvonne. And what are you doing with your other hand, the Times crossword?
This makes me think of those brain teasers you get near the back of the newspaper...
A and B are in their car C. Their friends, X and Y are...