Messages

1

Plakias / Reporting In

« on: September 26, 2007, 05:03:11 PM »

Whata hard trip to paradise! As I wandered through your pics I mentioned that somebody else is doing  Eleftheris' job now?! http://www.flickr.com/photos/pat-neary/135...57601938675708/ Impossible to imagine a day on the beach without him! What a pity! Does anybody know if he gave up his service ? That would be a great loss! Hope he was just on holidays ...

Hungry for a doughnut
shinaria

I was told that his brother was standing in for him, evidently he suffers from arthritis and was having a bad day. Not the ideal job with that condition. Anyway I did see him again on the beach and on his usual form, so he hasn't given up just yet!  

george g...

Yes , the uusal doughnut man was on the beach some times when I was there - which was the same two weeks as George - and he still runs the business but there was someone else most days - I was told it was his son in law but who knows ? I did not know about the arthritis but that would explain why someelse often stands in . The replacement though has not been breifed properly - he just tells you he has doughnuts . A holiday in Plakias is not quite the same without hearing the wonderful incantation of - A doughnut a day keeps all the doctorez away - and doctorez , George . is not one of my infamous typos but the way he pronounces the word - or No need for viagra you have doughnuts

roger

2

PlakChat / Bedtime Reading

« on: July 20, 2007, 11:49:34 AM »

Last year read "The Island" by Ian Hislop's wife about the leper colony on Spinalonga near Ag Nic on the North coast of Crete. Very moving.

Yep me too, last year on the beach saw this book polished off. Got mixed reviews but I enjoyed it.

 I read that too last year in Plakias  - but I did not realise it was by Ian Hislop's wife
 roger

3

Plakias / Reporting In

« on: July 12, 2007, 03:48:40 PM »

Well what can I say it was a hot one, the first 8 days the temperature on the beach ranged from 45 to 52 degrees, I like the heat but this was a bit much.

I'd be interested to know where there is a thermometer in Plakias. I've long been interested in weather and some of the resorts I go to have digital temperature readouts strategically placed, but I've never seen one in Plakias.

If you took a thermometer yourself and measured it actually on the beach I assume it was in the sun.

Mike

 There must be one in the Livicn . i have never actually seen it but I have frequent conversations with Dionussos about the weather and most eveings he tells me what the temrpature has been that day and what the forecast is for tomorrow . I think he does it to make me even thirstier !
 roger

4

Where to eat...or not! / Lysseos

« on: July 12, 2007, 12:36:30 PM »

I've always avoided the Curries ems, perhaps at the back of my mind they weren't Cretan, but on your recommendation I'll give it a go.

george g...

I haver never tried the curry at Lysseos - but I very rarely have curry at anything other than an indina restaurant and it seems slightly od to have curry at a Greek restaurant . I doubt i will try that given the terrific choice of other dishes which i cannot get in this country
 Yes I had the baby goat last year- i think it was new then - and it was excellent . Not so keen on the rabbit ramngo and from meory that is rather more expensive than most other dishes . And the duck a l'orange is really good   but not often on - apparently it does not sell well which surpises me . There was a new lamb dish last year or the year before - harama i think with tomatos and onions from meory . For some reason the lamb there is always very tasty whereas i normally think of lamb as a bit bland
 40 days to go - I will be a day later than you Goerge at the Lysseos because I am on a night flight so it will be wednesday night for me . So please check that the leftiko and the lamb in the oen are both on - I usually start with one of those and can never decide which one is my favourite
 the starters and sweets are perhaps less adventuours than the main courses and certsainly less choice . I usully dont bother with a starter but always have a sweet - yoghourt and honey , a cake , peach melba , strawberries and cream  i wish they did yoghourt and fruit but I will go for that if they close fr an evening and I have to go elsewhere
 roger

5

Where to eat...or not! / Lysseos

« on: July 10, 2007, 03:01:41 PM »

Just returned home today... its official - Lysseos does the best food in Plakias, leagues ahead of any of the others. And the service is excellent too  

 I qm amazed to see ths thread still going strong a year after i started it and delighted to see another thumbs up for the Lyssoes . Please help whet my appetite Ems - my favourites include the kleftiko , lamb in the oevn , chicken skrtado , pork afelia , the roasts , the stuffed pork .. cant remember others but I usually manage two weeks without repeating anything until the last couple of days when i revert to my favourites .
 anything new this year ?
 roger

6

Plakias / Back on the Forum - and to Plakias

« on: July 09, 2007, 03:36:04 PM »

I am now back on this Forum after quite a long absence caused by a virus problem . Every time i trtied to access by my normal route - the google search engine and then the first site headed Welcome to Plakias - I got a warning that the site contained a virus - so immediately logged off and did a virus check . I have recdently found another route - using a header called Plaias Forums powered by Invision Power Board - where there is no such problem
 Has anyone else experienced this problem and is there an explanation or solution ?
 I have just booked to stay in the Kostas Chryssoula arriving n the early hours of Wednesday 22 August and returbing in the early hours of Wednesday 5 September . It would be nice to meet up with any forum friends - I see that both George and Peter and Dawn who i have met before will be there - and my normal patter is days on the beach sometimes at the far end but more often Mikro Amoudhi , early eveings in the Livicon , and then dinner at the Lysseos . Probably easiuest to find in the Livicon
 roger

7

Holiday Companies / Olympic Holidays

« on: August 14, 2006, 03:34:11 PM »

[quote name='Ali & Dave' date='Aug 5 2006, 11:50 AM' post='7013']
Roger, we open the shop 8.30ish which unfortunately isn't really much help as I think you'll find staff in the K.C. pool bar by then.  I hope all goes well for you.

Thanks Ali . The only staff I remember seeing in the pool area at that time was the chap who cleaned it out - and he could not speak any English I dont think . so especially with dlight delays possible , you never know , i might pitch up on your doorstep just as you are opening !
 roger

8

Holiday Companies / Why so expensive in September?

« on: August 14, 2006, 03:31:05 PM »

Just a quick addition to my topic - of note to anyone not yet booked for September 26th. 2006 at the Kostas Chrysoulla, Olympic web site has now DROPPED their prices!!!! 1 week self catering, flying from Gatwick on the 09.00 Monarch flight, for 2 people to the Kostas Chrysoulla appts. is now £450! (£225 each, all taxes and sircharges included).
Should be a busy week! Hope they got enough Mythos in Plakias to satisfy the thirsty throng.

I can think of few more frustrating things than having to leave Plakias after only ONE week. We paid little more than this for two weeks in May.

Mike

I booked only two weeks ago - and am going for two weeks next tuesday , staying at Costas Chryssoulas . With single room supplement , I paid - £340 . for as 2 weeks holiday mostly ion august , that seems pretty good to me . the Olympic rep I dealt with said that they ' owned ' the accomodation and sub let siome rooms to Kosmar so could always undercut Kosmar and had more rooms to let  might have been just travel agent patter but seemed credible
 roger

9

Holiday Companies / Plakias 2007

« on: August 14, 2006, 03:26:44 PM »

Thanks Mandy

I have just discivered there is a nice beach for nude sunbathing about 3/4 hour drive away    so at least when we move over I will have something to remind me of my beloved Plakias.

Susan

so are you going to offer holiday lets susan - with reduced prices for all Plakias lovers !
 roger

10

Plakias / Where do you sunbathe?

« on: August 14, 2006, 03:21:22 PM »

I am often in Plakias in the latter part of august and the first few days in september . I spend most days at Mikros Amoudhi but usually the first  day = having travelled overnight so not wanting to go far - at the far end and occasionally the odd day there later on . I have found a considerable difference in the short time i am there in both the naturist textile balance at the far end and in how far along the beach it is possible to bare all = in both cases better for naturism later on . no such difference notable at mikros Amoudhi = that is always 80 % + naturist
 roger

11

PlakChat / First time

« on: August 04, 2006, 02:44:00 PM »

I would be very surprised if it was intentional, we've known him for a few years now and like him a lot!

Hello everybody, I'm the latest Newbie.

My wife Chris and I will be visiting Plakias for the first time, during 5 and 19 September, staying at the Leman. Looks to be a popular time with members.

We definitely qualify as Saga louts and would welcome the chance to make some new friends.

We normally like to do a couple of organised excursions, as well as a little personal exploration. Any suggestions on which excursions are worthwhile and which to avoid?

Thanks for any help.

Mike

one of the many advantages of Plakias is that it is well off the beaten track so not very crowded. The other side of that coin is a long transfer time and since it takes a long time to get to most other places , trips tend to invlve very long days and early starts .
 Of course it depends what you like - there are trip to archaeological sites like Knossos and Phaestos. but I would recommend a first timer to go on the trip to Chania which is a lovely town and involves a noce trip along the north coast . Long time snce i have done that trip but it is probably also goign to involve a stop on the way back at Rethymonon = which is not my favourite place but has some interesting buildings - and also either Georgeopoulos which is a long beach or Lake Kournas which is a beautiful inland freshwater lake very near Geogeopoulos . Both the last two are aboput half way between Chania and Rethymnon.
 I dont know what the local buses are like now but it used to be possible to get a bus to and from Hora Sfakion which is where the coaches from the gorge - and that is another trip if you are very fit and dont mind a very long day and walk - return from . nothing much in the village but the trip over the mountains is brilliant
 Another thought - if it is still running - is that the little toy train does excursions about 3 or 4 days a week . One of those used to go to Frangocastello which is part way to Sfakion , so also over the mountains and unlike the bus trip , ou can stop at one or two moutain villages like Sellia which is lovely .
Santorini is a very very early start and long day = not been there but it is a volcanic island .
I rarely venture further than Damnoni but if this is your first time in Crete than you will want to see a little more of the island
 A general rule is that the most beautiful parts of Crete tend to be in the south and /or the west .
 I would give heraklion a miss = but i think that is on the same trip as Knossos
 When are you there / i am there from 23 August to 5 september and can be found most early evenigns - around 8 /8 30 to 9 or 9 30 - in the livicon
 Hope you enjoy it
 roger

12

Holiday Companies / Olympic Holidays

« on: August 03, 2006, 06:21:56 PM »

i hope i've got this right,even though the spelling is a bit dodgy - if i've missed something tell me and i'll change it

Terrific - many thanks .
I think though that i should be able to find Chryssoula - finding my room is more likely to be a problem
roger

13

Holiday Companies / Olympic Holidays

« on: August 03, 2006, 03:59:20 PM »

Kostas Chrysoulla has changed a lot over the years (got larger) so I wouldn't rely on your memory. It is in at least 4 main blocks, plus the rooms by the pool and Zorbas where Harribobs stayed. It is up a little alley off the main seafront. Maybe Compage or Harribobs, both of whom seem to have many photos of Plakias, have one which will help.

In May, it took 1 hour from touchdown to the coach leaving and 2 and a half hours approx to arrive at KC. I was on a Gatwick flight so I think (but can't be sure) we didn't wait for another flight to arrive.

Mike
[/quote]

Many thanks Mike - I certainly would not rely on my memory  especially when I will be dog tired from the long overnight journey . I very much hope that there is someone to guide me to the accomodation .
 I cannot place Zorbas but it may be where the other pool is - across the lane from Chrysoulla.
 i also remember the rep who sadly died a few yers ago and was married to a local taxi driver who lives very nearby
roger

from landing up until we got to plakias was about three - three and a half hours. that included waiting for our suitcases and time spent waiting on the bus.  that was on a split transfer - bus to rethymno and taxi to plakias....there is only 1 time i remember having to wait for another flight to arrive and thats been over 20years.  i think at that time in the morning the chances of having a taxi transfer are quite high and should cut the transfer time to about 2hrs.  most of the time on the longer transfers are taken up by the bus having to stop at alot of hotels in bali and rethymno before it eventually heads down to plakias - i know it drives me nuts now but in the first few years ( and in daylight ) i quite liked seeing other resorts and accomodation on the way down and would compare it to plakias

I certainly have no wish to circumnavigate Rethyonon which i have done many times . Only good thing about that is that it makes me realise how lucky I am to be staying in Plakias- i cannot wait to get out of Rethymon. And yes it is that which prolongs the transfer time - i think I have done it in about 1 1/2 hours in a taxi though the driving was maniacal . The other thing which occurs to me is that flights from Luton to Iraklion are quite rare , so it is possible that the passengers will be split between a lot of operators so with fewer Olympic customers , there might be an increased chance of a taxi - but then a decreased chance of a rep on arrival .
 Ali - what time do you open in the morning ! but you will be on kosmar duty yourself presumably ?
 roger
 roger

14

Holiday Companies / Olympic Holidays

« on: August 03, 2006, 12:30:35 PM »

Roger,

I would advise asking the rep. at the airport or on the transfer whether you will be accompanied to your accommodation and if not how you will find it, etc.

On 2 consecutive Manos holidays I was given a taxi transfer and the taxi driver was not familiar with the resort and took a long time to find the accommodation. That coped with, they were excellent holdays.

I am pretty sure you will be fine. We have been to Kostas Chrysoulla twice and were very happy with it. However, if you don't know where it is it could be difficult to find in the early hours.

Enjoy yourself.

Mike

many thanks Mike - that is good advice - and / or the rep on the bus to Rethymnon as the rep at the airport might not know
 I have stayed at Costas Chrysoullas before so have a vaue idea where it is but not for many years. My memory is that there is other accomodation right on top of it so not altogether clear where Chrysooulas stops and other places start - certainly I remember overlooking another swimming pool . But it is not so much a question of finding Chrysoulas but of finding the right room and what to do if any problems - ie no key in the door , someone else in the room etc.
some people have mentioned transfer times of about 2 3/4 h ours - is that from the time the coach sets off from the airport or from arrival ? And do they have a coach for each flight or serve a batch of flights - so you might have to wait for another flight to come in and clear ? There are 19 flights altrogether on tuesdays in the Olympic brochure , five of the overnight . I am flying from Luton which is , i think, the fourht of the five flights in terms of departure time - only Glasgow is later
 roger

15

Where to eat...or not! / Lysseos

« on: August 02, 2006, 06:45:04 PM »

Could anyone who has been to Plakias recently and , like me , regards the Lysseos  as a really good restaurant , help to whet my appetite . Is the food there as good as ever ? Any notgable additions to the menu or just the usual excellent dishes - the roasts , lamb in the oven , pork afelia , chicken skordata , duck a l'orange , and above all , kleftiko - by far the best kleftiko i have had because it is the Cypriot  version and not the Greek one = the chef is a Cypriot
Three weeks tonight and I will be sampling  my first meal there = and be spoilt for choice
 roger