Messages

1

Plakias / verdict

« on: October 18, 2005, 11:08:01 PM »

hi

i picked frangokastelli because the littlle protected bay was like a giant swimming pool, protected by the rock reef from tide, water was so calm and clear, also was all sand and gently shelved into the water -no nasty stones.........and the far  right taverna was just a god send..................

cheers

p.s has anyone heard of the story that there is a wreck of a ww2 german aircraft in the gorge behing plakias? just bits left seemingly???




Hi Jason

Good to hear you enjoyed your stay in Plakias and Southern Crete, certainly spring is a great time to be walking, with everything in bloom

i am surprised you picked Francokastelli as your favourite beach, we stayed there for one night but weren't very impressed, to my mind it doesn't compare with the 'far end' of plakias beach
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2

Plakias / verdict

« on: October 15, 2005, 06:42:55 PM »

Plakias and south Crete were great! weather was great, done a lot of walking, good beaches outside Plakias, took lots of great pics - no stress ! when my mates arrived for thelast week - we all had good time, dined well, drank well - had a laughs and some rough mornings ! Only moan is the lack of a decent club - The Meltemi has died me thinks and they should hire a new DJ! We stayed at the new Myrtis star hotel in Plakias, I can honestly say the were the best rooms I have ever stayed in in Greece, brand new hotel, jacuzzi bath shower in all rooms, big rooms too at very reasonable rate!!!  Far end of Souda probaly the best nearby beach but best beach was at Frangocastello..............Next time I go to Crete will be in April / May when all is pristine and new blossoms...
While walking i found that they are using some gorges as rubbish dumps, completely messes up the local enviroment and i was disappointed. Thanks to Anso Travel for the great transfers...

cheers  jason

3

Where to eat...or not! / great night out!

« on: September 11, 2005, 05:49:07 PM »

thanks sheryl, just what i wanted to hear about - a decent few watering holes for us recovering Scot's alchy's   !

ta   jASON

hi i'm a boozy night life person........not to the malia extent though - just have made alot of friends over the years and always make a point of going out with them or going to there bar to catch up. my night usually consists of a quiet drink in the platia or the livicon (comfy seats) after having our evening meal - then like ali head along to the smera, stop for 1 in galios (?) then afew more in the ostraco up stairs and down...and by then its meltemi time.  or there is the beach bar at the far end for a wee night cap and if your still standing the bakery for breakfast.
i would like to point out i am neither a lager lout    or an alcoholic
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4

Where to eat...or not! / great night out!

« on: September 10, 2005, 07:40:22 PM »

thats only slightly annoying, we are talking a couple of nights out not mayhem caused by lager louts. If we wanted to do 2 weeks of booze and beach we would not have come to Crete. you have got me thinking Plakias is full of the purple hair rinse brigade!!!!

concerned --- argonaut

il be doing the exploring till my friends arrive on 23 sept, guess we'l be looking for couple major night out. What are the good watering holes with music good atmosphere? maybe some dancing?

thanks argonaut
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Siga siga

By the time your friends are around as well, we hope you have learned to appreciate the special ambience in Plakias. Please respect this and behave as GUEST.
Thank you.

Best and only bar: Ostraco
Best and only night club: Meltemi ( Expect 60 - 70 Music)

If you look for more action take the PM bus to Malia and return by the AM bus.
Look outside the windows on your retour trip. Might feel sickening?
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5

Where to go / Ferries and WW2 history

« on: September 09, 2005, 11:13:15 PM »

takes medals out display cabinet....the 39-45 star, the italy star, the territorial eff service , the defence medal and a medal red white blue ribbon n 1939-1945 on back with lion holding down some creature - 5 in all - and no african star?? I just thought there was, I rem seeing a hand written receipt for food stuffs dated Cairo 1942 and he was def not with the BEF in 39/40, he did talk about East Lothian - Drem airfield and Edinburgh castle being a military hospital at the beginning of the war?? Like i said il find pics n docs when i get back...

cheery   jason

It'l be easy to track down some pics n notes from then, il do it when i get back - I inherited his medals - nothing else! general service medal, territorial medal, north african star and italy star!

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he should have 39-45 star, territorial eff medal, africa star ( with clasp ?), italy star and war medal I would have thought, so you may be two missing from his war entitlement

if he was TA prior to the war, there was a good chance he was called up for the BEF and was in france and got out thru dunkirk, so to raise an old ( hot) potato...why wouldn't he be due a france/germany star  

( as mandy, frieda and a lot of my friends say...."don't mention the war"    )
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6

Where to go / Ferries and WW2 history

« on: September 09, 2005, 05:47:42 PM »

il have a car when my frinds arrive on 23,
they wanna see Ideons cave, Gortis and pheastos, following days will try get bit further west, until then it'l be hiking boots - boats - buses for me!!!

ta   Jason

Just over the headland to the west you have Pereasides Beach (spelling is probably wrong) near Rodakino, this is where General Kreipe was taken off Crete after his abduction by Paddy LF and Billy Moss (ill met by moonlight),
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Anyone seen the film Ill Met by Moonlight with Dirk Bogarde, Cyril Cusack et al?

Sadly, it wasn't actually filmed in Crete though director Michael Powell spent some time on the great island doing his research.

Don't know of any other movies about the Cretan campaign though there have been a couple of TV versions of Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honour trilogy, which draws on his experiences in the Battle of Crete (and makes grim reading).

BTW Jason, to get to the ferries at Hora Sfakion you'll need your own transport,  an expensive taxi or a series of bus trips via the north coast as they're not running buses from Plakias this year.
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7

Plakias / flights to crete

« on: September 09, 2005, 05:37:24 PM »

I looked everywhere for flights for single traveller outwith the usual 7 or 14 days, without much luck or cost was too much. Thomascook airlines sorted me Man-Her  www.flythomascook.com  may accomodate you at very decent prices - look under offers for best prices. For the Scots among you Jet2.com fly Edin - Ter 1 manchester for under £ 60 return - just a 2 hourt gap between connections!!!

ARGONAUT

8

Where to go / Ferries and WW2 history

« on: September 09, 2005, 05:18:51 PM »

aye---spooky, half expect Fox and Sculley to turn up now!
It'l be easy to track down some pics n notes from then, il do it when i get back - I inherited his medals - nothing else! general service medal, territorial medal, north african star and italy star!
You have been very helpfull - thanks..

Jason

My Dad was TA as well before the war!!  but in Manchester with the 42nd Div

i'd be interested in your pics and information if you don't mind!

well we don't know who that is in the pic, from L-R:- Wilf, ?, ?, Dick and Arthur...I wonder? or is that too big a co-incidence


do-dah do-dah  ( supposed to be twilight zone music, not camptown races)
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9

Where to go / Ferries and WW2 history

« on: September 09, 2005, 04:23:38 PM »

aye---spooky, half expect Fox and Mulder to turn up now!
It'l be easy to track down some pics n notes from then, il do it when i get back - I inherited his medals - nothing else! general service medal, territorial medal, north african star and italy star!
You have been very helpfull - thanks..

Jason

My Dad was TA as well before the war!!  but in Manchester with the 42nd Div

i'd be interested in your pics and information if you don't mind!

well we don't know who that is in the pic, from L-R:- Wilf, ?, ?, Dick and Arthur...I wonder? or is that too big a co-incidence


do-dah do-dah  ( supposed to be twilight zone music, not camptown races)
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10

Where to eat...or not! / great night out!

« on: September 09, 2005, 04:14:47 PM »

il be doing the exploring till my friends arrive on 23 sept, guess we'l be looking for couple major night out. What are the good watering holes with music good atmosphere? maybe some dancing?

thanks argonaut

11

Where to go / Ferries and WW2 history

« on: September 09, 2005, 03:11:28 PM »

chris

just been looking at you ur fathers pics, uncanny! My grandad has passed away 1994 but members of my family have pics just like yours from north africa 1941 -1942 and personal notes from that time, i will track down when i get back from crete. The pic of your dad in sea with his mates - the guy with the white bottoms has a wee moustache and he looks llike grandad Corporal Frank Peek, ex Ta royal signal then regular 1939. Crete -n africa- Sicily - Italy - where he finished the war. do rem he was attached to the Royal Scots for a time - will research more!
very interesting.........

Jason


quote=harribobs,Sep 9 2005, 10:32 AM]

ello all

I can visit some of the coastal towns west of Plakias by ferry - cant i ? As well as Gavdos and Prevelli? I realise the initial assault took place in north crete but is there any ww2 history / relics in this part of Crete - my grandfather was a signaller - motorcycle courier -RS - ho told me he met his 1st german believe it or not-  in the hospital bed next to his in Crete - german aircrew who had been shot down pre- paratroop assault, my grandad had back injury after coming off motorbike, they both were evacuated to Alexandria before Crete collaspsed!
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Hi Argo

  My father was a DR in the Royal Signals as well, and he was in Crete! he was attached to 10th Corps, 8th Army in the DRLS. If you want to look at some pics of his section in North Africa go to [a href=\"http://harribobs.smugmug.com/gallery/680072]North Africa 41-42[/url]

there aren't a lot of WW2 sites but you can visit the new Monument near the Preveli monastery (where about 250 stragglers were hid by the monks and taken off by submarine)



Just over the headland to the west you have Pereasides Beach (spelling is probably wrong) near Rodakino, this is where General Kreipe was taken off Crete after his abduction by Paddy LF and Billy Moss (ill met by moonlight), Further down the coast to the west, there's chora sphakion (spakia) where the commonwealth troops where evacuted from

there's a daily ferry to preveli, but none to sphakia (unless any has been put on since May) but if you get there by taxi or bus, you can get a ferry which calls at Loutro, agia roumelli, sougia and finally paleohora. These are all on the edge of the white mountains which was a resistance stronghold during the war

You really can't go anywhere in Crete without being reminded of history

let me know if you want any further info

chris
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12

Where to stay / Plakias hotels

« on: September 09, 2005, 02:16:00 PM »

thank you.,..................argonaut

howdy all...

looks like il be staying at the seemingly new myrtis star hotel ! - next door to myrtis hotel. Is it quite central ?
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Hi Argonaut,

Your right in the centre.

Beachcombers
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13

Plakias / her - plakias + Ansotravel

« on: September 09, 2005, 02:12:04 PM »

hi

thanks for the advice. how far is it to walk from airport to bus station - HER? think il get bus to rethymon then taxi to plakias.I dont fancy driving at all till I get the feel of a place - my geography+ local driving protocal , Il be tired when I get to Crete - im flying to Manchester from Edin then to Crete - to tired to drive!

Also on main page of    www.ansotravel.com     where in crete is that picture?

a curious Argonaut.................... x

14

Where to go / Ferries and WW2 history

« on: September 09, 2005, 02:22:24 AM »

ello all

I can visit some of the coastal towns west of Plakias by ferry - cant i ? As well as Gavdos and Prevelli? I realise the initial assault took place in north crete but is there any ww2 history / relics in this part of Crete - my grandfather was a signaller - motorcycle courier -RS - ho told me he met his 1st german believe it or not-  in the hospital bed next to his in Crete - german aircrew who had been shot down pre- paratroop assault, my grandad had back injury after coming off motorbike, they both were evacuated to Alexandria before Crete collaspsed!

15

Where to stay / Plakias hotels

« on: September 09, 2005, 01:41:19 AM »

howdy all...

looks like il be staying at the seemingly new myrtis star hotel ! - next door to myrtis hotel. Is it quite central ?