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 - hopper

Pages: 1 2 [3] 4
31
Plakias / Has work started yet?
« on: October 15, 2003, 04:12:47 PM »
Thanks for the Pictures John. Thinks have certainly changed since 1987. I can hardly recognise anything.  I downloaded some on my screensaver, keep up the good work. Cheers Hopper

32
Gossip / Birthdays this week
« on: October 15, 2003, 03:46:24 PM »
Yes, a lot of libras amongst us.
cheers Hopper

33
Plakias / Ploppy Pics
« on: October 15, 2003, 03:44:39 PM »
I notice from the photos, that you don't seem to venture much beyond the main beach. Try Damnoni next time, pleasant surprise (I hope)
cheers Hopper

34
Where to go / Overnighter in Chania
« on: October 15, 2003, 03:12:23 PM »
Well, I used to take the ferry fom Athens to Chania, then the taxi to Plakias. I loved that town. Preferred it from Rethimnon and Iraklion. There is a yummi Market Hall, and an interesting harbour. I'm sure, some of the scenes in Zorba the Greek are shot there.
In my wild days, I would buy a big 10 l flagon of Ouzo there. I also remember meals with little side-plates of Octopus and Olives. Make it a culinary experience and have an Ouzo on me.
cheers Hopper

35
Where to eat...or not! / Where to eat?
« on: September 15, 2003, 09:21:03 AM »
Sounds like the food is excellent. When you get a chance, talk to an old-timer what the food was like in 1975, before tourism had started. Traditional dishes kept warm consisted of beans, lamb, potatoes, moussakas, pastizzios and spaghetti.
Some times you would get steak. Most dishes were soaked in olive oil and never had any spices added, ie plain. That changed over time. Compulsary diarrhoea was to be suffered for at least 2 weeks after hitting Greece. It was pretty save to eat chips (done in fresh olive oil), fried fish and greek salad. The homemade yoghurt and the sansiki was also a treat. Yum, enjoy
Hopper

36
PlakChat / I don't want to go
« on: September 09, 2003, 07:00:52 AM »
Yes, just think of 3 days of driving as alternative, that makes these 3 hours quite bearable.
cheers Hopper

37
PlakChat / Security.
« on: August 29, 2003, 05:28:47 AM »
The greeks are incredibly honest. In 1978, one of the travellers lost his wallet in Rethimnon with a few thousand Drachmas (quite a lot in those days)  in it. The shop owner found the wallet and phoned up all the hotels in Plakias to trace this guy. Joseph at Alianthos knew him and told him about the find. So he got the wallet back, - we could not believe it. I hope these wonderful people haven't been corrupted.
cheers Hopper

38
Plakias / Where do you sunbathe?
« on: August 29, 2003, 05:17:41 AM »
I voted for Damnoni, but I really meant the small Beaches further east. Mind you with all these umbrellas etc I don't know if I would still enjoy those.
cheers
Hopper

39
Plakias / End of October Weather
« on: August 18, 2003, 04:25:43 AM »
But at least, the wind won't be a problem anymore. Quite pleasant to swim. Cheers Hopper

40
Plakias / Mosquitos and Chemists
« on: July 28, 2003, 10:00:58 AM »
Good to hear nothing has changed. The famous Plakias wind has a history of turning swimmers into Wiener Schnitzel on their way back to their towels, ripping tents to shreds and various other pleasures :"( . We coped with it hiding in that little bay (one Rock Beach, or "Top of the World" as we called it when the rock was still upright) and spend the night in a barn on top of the hill behind the Plakias beach ( Belonging to Joseph and Manoli Vardakis from the Alianthos Hotel  .We didn't have the money to go into Hotels at night. Also, the old oil mill was a nice retreat during the day, no wind so you could do your sunbaking and get your tan.
  But basically, it is there in Summer, unless there is a trough(as they say in Australia)  in the weather patterns. And the good news, its only in Plakias due to that gorge which acts like a funnel. If you go to Rethimnon, no wind. If you want to avoid it go in autumn. Like here in Western Australia, autumn (and spring to an extent, May especially) is the nicest season in Krete. Otherwise use it and go windsurfing.
As far as mozzies, they were always there on and off. But not an aweful lot. Compared to some places, you are laughing in Plakias. And Aeroguard or Rid will give you a nice sleep. I noticed that the greeks have no mosquito wire on the  windows, cant be too bad then.
For those who don't know me, I am talking about the period 1975 - 1979, when I spend the best days of my life in Plakias, jobbing in Germany and living it out for 1/2 year at a time in Plakias. I guess I am a Veteran on this site.
Have a happy summer holiday all  
Hopper

41
PlakChat / The train!!!!!
« on: May 15, 2003, 09:34:27 AM »
Enlighten me, I haven't been since 1988. Is that a train on weels travelling on the road with open coaches ? Sounds kitsch. I guess it would be ok for kids to enjoy.

42
Plakias / Deciding
« on: May 06, 2003, 07:06:49 AM »
I can only agree with the others, in my Greece travelling time, I tried the Peleponne's, Paros, Naxos, Karpathos, Lefkos, Gavtos, Rodos Turkey), all over Krete (NSEW) but I never came across a nicer place. Going elsewhere you just find yourself comparing constantly. I never found the same nice beaches, valleys, streams, mills or restaurants. It also helps if everybody knows you. It is definetely the most interesting and picturesque landscape I have ever seen. Mind you, I would probably have problems now seeing those deckchairs and umbrellas at my favourite beach in Damnoni and other development. Was last in Plakias in 1989. However, there are still many more hiding places, I am sure.
Cheers Hopper

43
Plakias / I have another question ...
« on: March 20, 2003, 09:16:36 AM »
Hi everybody,
I have never had any troubles in 4 years (1975 - 1979) when I was there  for up to 1/2 year at a time and had many many many swims, in fact I almost lived in the sea. Here in Australia they use vinegar to treat jelly fish stings, it works, may be you can take some to  the beach.
But don't miss out in a swim in this clear pristine water of Krete, at least thats what it used to be. It is an experience. I love it.
Enjoy Hopper

44
Where to go / Where to Go
« on: December 11, 2002, 08:44:39 AM »
Hi George,
Thanks for the report on the villages you visited. When I first came to Krete in 1975 we travelled all along the south coast, the road was still dirt road then. Sounds like nothing has changed much. Frankocastello was spooky then as well, and Chora Sphakion was a backwater. Between 1975 and 79, I walked along the coast various times and always met the wonderful hospitality of the Greek people, no matter how poor they were.
I was one of the hippies that slept in the caves of Matala. It was good in March, but then it became too busy and unberable. Things were stolen etc. I looked all around Krete, but could not find a better place then Plakias.
Good to hear that old guy from the shoe shop in Rethimnon still exists. He hasn't changed by the sounds of it.
I found also a very nice road, when you go inland from Chania. I went up there on a motorbike, and it is just majic, from memory. Green and lush. Samaria gorge is certainly worth it, in fact most of Krete is nice. Sad to hear, that Plakias has become so cosmopolitan.
Cheers Hopper

45
Plakias / Who can update me ?
« on: December 04, 2002, 08:37:52 AM »
Hi all,
maybe some of you regulars can update me about some of the Greek people I learned to know and like in the 70s.
I assume Manolis and Sifis Vardakis still run the Alianthos Hotel, Manolis the new one and Sifis (Joseph) the old one. Their kids (Costas and ?) have grown up, are they running the Hotel now? And what happened to Sofia who owned the small restaurant on the way to Christos. Manolis, Christos' son, is he still around. I assume Christos does not exist anymore.  At the hill, you call sleeping dragon, their used to be a Hotel run by Aris and Natasha, are they still around.
They ran Damnoni in the 70s together with Petro and Lucas. I assume that Lucas now has his own restaurant, he was always a good cook.
And from the photo on the website, I assume that Lefteris, the Donut Man, is a guy they used to call Germanos because of his blond (now grey) hair. Could somebody ask him. Their were other wild young Greeks, Nikos a tall slim man who at some stage was in the USA, Angelos, who in 1987 was running the bar at Damnoni to name a few. Should you see any of them say hello from HAPPO, thats what thy called me cause for some reason they could not say Hopper.
Have Fun in Paradise,
Hopper

Pages: 1 2 [3] 4