Messages

1

Plakias / 2006 season in Plakias

« on: May 20, 2006, 04:03:01 PM »

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Many thanks for your replies. 

Does the path start behind the Paligremnos?

Roll on June - Timos Stavros here I come.

er depends on how you look at it. You could walk the whole distance from Plakias and back but that is rather a long way (not impossible for those VERY keen and fit folks)

We parked our car in the village of Lefkogia which is in effect at the base of the hill.

John
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Or take the car a little way out from Levkoyia and park at the chapel at the bottom of Timeos Stavros for an even shorter walk!

Karen

2

Plakias / Nudist beaches

« on: June 21, 2005, 03:56:45 PM »

Hi Roger

We've not been to Plakias for a couple of years but when we were there, Souda didn't look like it was used much by nudists although we went nude ourselves.  As someone else has already said, Souda has become much more accessible now that the road is better and there are the tavernas there.  When we first used to go to Plakias, 15+ years ago,  there was nothing at all and the road was a hot, dusty track.  We were normally the only ones on the beach having usually been rambling up the tracks below and around Selia.

Karen

3

Plakias / Nudist beaches

« on: June 21, 2005, 01:05:28 PM »

Exactly how do you get to the beaches at Mikro Amoudi by walking from Damnoni (i.e. where the "train" drops you off).     (Sorry if it's a daft question but I haven't been to that part of the island at all.)

Noopsy
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We usually take the car down to Damnoni and if we're early enough and the sunbed men haven't got there first, we park in one of the "garages" under the Minoan Prince hotel (the unfinished one backing Damnoni beach). It keeps the car a bit cooler and it's closer to Mikro Ammoudi. Then as others have said, walk with the sea on your right, to the point in the road where it bends off to the left. Here follow the path around the headland and it's the first beach you come to. As someone has already said, you literally can't miss it! The path beyond this beach widens (enough for cars to reach from the east) and continues on to the larger Ammoudi beach. Personally I haven't seen much nude bathing on Ammoudi although perhaps that's just the days I've been there. You can also walk on further around the headland finally reaching Skinaria beach although it is rather a long way and the route across the rocks is hazardous as there are some very sharp edges to the rocky landscap there. Much better to take the car to Skinaria although again I'm not sure how many bathe nude there (it was deserted on every occasion we've been there!). If taking the car to Skinaria though be very careful as the tarmacked road peters out and becomes rough track and there is (or was unless they've smoothed it out) an extremely steep bit past the Libyan Star hotel, which is a bit hairy to say the least. However, things may have changed as it is some years since we were down that way!

Anyone been down to Skinaria recently?

Karen

4

PlakChat / Car Hire

« on: May 16, 2005, 11:48:46 AM »

Can I also mention Motoplakias - contact Haris at maplakia@otenet.gr. You will see from my recent post that I just hired a car from him. I heard from some Brits who live in Plakias that he is just so helpful and I can endorse that.
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I can also vouch for MotoPlakias.  We have used them for some years and always had good service.  As I have said elsewhere in the forum, they will also arrange taxi transfers to and from the airport.  Their phone numbers are 0030 28320 31785 / 31908 / 32234.

5

Holiday Companies / Transfers

« on: May 16, 2005, 11:29:16 AM »

For many years we've arranged our accommodation and transfers independently.  We've always used MotoPlakias for car hire and the good thing we've found is that they arrange a taxi to pick you up from the airport and to take you back and they will drop you off at your accommodation, then take you down to pick up your hire car afterwards.  It saves you driving from Iraklion which is always busy and we've found it to be less stressful than driving yourself.

We have on one occasion booked a package purely for cheapness then stayed elsewhere, having pre-arranged our own accommodation.  The package company didn't seem to mind and even dropped us off at our accommodation as it was on-route (Ifigenia Pension on the main road).  I don't think the reps mind either way whether you use their transfers or not so long as they're informed and not left waiting for non-existent passengers.

6

Gossip / Memories

« on: March 16, 2004, 10:15:27 AM »

We used to hop over the gate at HapiMag too but as you say, it isn't possible any more.  I think I've probably said this before, we generally stay at Ifigenia which is the building behind Oasis Pension (along the same road, next door in fact ignoring the olive groves, to Sharon).  Although we take the car when we're heading for the beach (we use Ammoudaki too) due to amount of baggage we usually have with us these days with two kids, we generally walk if we're only going as far as Akti as we don't want to have to drive back.

The old path from Damnoni to Ammoudaki is still just about visible although the bulldozed tracks have taken parts of it away.  I suspect the paths we used on rambles from Skineria, past Ammoudi are even more eroded!

Karen

7

Gossip / Memories

« on: March 14, 2004, 07:23:33 PM »

Wow - those pictures bring back memories.  No HapiMag! What a difference it has made to Damnoni bay!  I remember struggling back across that rough terrain from Taverna Akti one night in the pitch dark after a meal with the rambling group (SunMed) and trying to negotiate a rickety little bridge across the stream.  Did I say bridge?  It was more like a plank of wood thrown carelessly across joining the path on each side.  Those were the days!

Mind you, even now HapiMag is there, you still have a blind scramble up the side of the complex to get back to the track above on account of how HapiMag's owners don't like non-residents walking through their patch and so keep the little gate at the top locked!

Taverna Akti has changed almost beyond recognition - does anyone remember when the three brothers used to be on hand there and there were a few rooms to rent?  And the old boy (the father) used to have a little allotment across the road and you'd see him pottering among his vegetables.  The lads, Giorgo and Manolis spend their time now down at Kri Kri and I haven't seen Thanasis in years though I'm told he is still in town.  One thing's not changed though - the food at Akti is still fantastic!  

Karen

8

PlakChat / Who Speaks Greek ?

« on: September 18, 2003, 07:45:22 PM »

I went to classes to learn Greek for a number of years, took a few exams and got qualifications from The Greek Institute which were equivalent to an 'O' level but I've found that unless you use the language regularly you lose it so quickly.  Going on holiday to Greece for 2 weeks in ayear just isn't enough.  Nowadays I find I can order a meal and drinks in Greek but conversations which were always difficult in the first place, are now beyond me.  Odd words surface in the memory but isn't it always the way when you're desperately searching the depths of your memory for a word in one language, that you can think of it perfectly easily in several others??  

I've found though, that even a fumbled attempt at speaking Greek is seen by the locals as a nice gesture, particularly in the villages where I've had several "conversations" using a mixture of odd words, pigeon-Greek and sign language with old guys at kafenions or old women collecting horta at the roadside.  In tavernas, when I'm ordering, everyone has always been very patient over the multitude of mistakes I must be making.  All in all I think they appreciate the attempt however poor the grammar or pronunciation.

9

Plakias / Where do you sunbathe?

« on: September 18, 2003, 07:33:27 PM »

While Plakias beach is great and you can go nude there, you can end up being samdblasted a bit there when the wind gets up, so my favourite beach is Mikro Ammoudi (the small one which is the next one along the coast eastwards from Damnoni).  As the beach is very small pebbles it eliminates the sandpaper effect and being 99.9% naturist makes it a must if you want to get your togs off!  

10

Where to eat...or not! / It's tradition

« on: September 18, 2003, 07:24:17 PM »

It's traditional for us to eat first and last nights at Finikas Taverna - on the hill above Plakias and with the best views of the bay bar that from Plateia in Mirthios.  Kostas and Maria are very laid back and regulars to Finikas know to expect to be told what to eat as there isn't a menu and you take pot luck on what's on each day.  Having said that, everything is wonderful - if you get a chance, sample Maria's octopus stifado - I wasn't keen at first but it turned out to be absolutely gorgeous!!  

11

Holiday Companies / Reps

« on: July 08, 2003, 10:44:31 AM »

Going back to the subject of reps - you're right, I don't think we need reps really at all especially when we all know the place so well.  Talking of individual reps, I know Peter too - he was probably the best rep I ever have come across (I never knew Jeannie when she was repping although I've got to lknow her since, but I'm sure she was great too).  Peter loved Plakias and he really knew his stuff.  I always respected him for the fact that he was the only rep who tried to entertain you on the transfers to and from the airport regaling you with wartime tales and ancient myths.  It was he who inspired me to read the books "The Cretan Runner" by George Psychoundakis and "Ill Met by Moonlight" by W. Stanley Moss - both available in the supermarkets in Plakias - and I'll never forget the trip back from the Samaria Gorge on a particularly hot and drowsy afternoon when, on coming through Frangokastello, he told of the ghostly soldiers said to still be heard on a particular night in May.  I've never been back to Frangokastello since without getting that eerie and dreamlike feeling reminiscent of that particular afternoon.

Peter has indeed returned to the UK now with his wife and kids.  I believe he is living somewhere in Scotland.

12

Holiday Companies / 2004 Offerings - none from 1st Choice

« on: July 08, 2003, 10:31:03 AM »

To be honest with you both, since I joined the independent brigade I have found it far and away better than travelling with a package company.  Sure it can be a bit more expensive but with so many places to stay in Plakias it's daft to be limited to just what the brochures offer you.  And with going so often anyway, I'm sure you, as we, know the people to ring to book accomodation, cars etc.  I like to travel independently anyway as I always feel like cattle as you're herded to the transfer bus - OK if it's your first time but I much prefer to go straight to an awaiting taxi and not have to worry about whether someone on the list is messing about or waiting for cases or whatever.

If you don't find your favourite accomodation listed in next year's brochures, take the plunge and go it alone - I can guarantee you won't look back!

13

Where to stay / Hotel Club Kalypso (or Kalypso Cretan Village)

« on: July 08, 2003, 10:23:33 AM »

Talking of the Minoan Prince Hotel - it's still there and no one has ever attempted to finish it so it is decaying now as all the half-finished buildings seem to do.  The one good thing though is that the openings in the bottom half of it do make very good "garages" for your hire car - keeps them out of the sun so it's not baking in there when you return from the beach - but you have to get there early as the idea soon catches on!!  Pity someone has dumped an old oil cannister in ne of them though!!!

14

Where to stay / Hotel Club Kalypso (or Kalypso Cretan Village)

« on: July 08, 2003, 10:20:01 AM »

Hi Greecemad

Well - as I said, it was an EVEVTFUL scramble going over the top of Kakomouri.  You're right - there is what starts out as a decent looking track, which is what we followed for a while but as you say, it just ends.  As we'd gone so far we were determined to find a way over and ended up scrambling through the (prickly!) scrub, down a very steep section, as I recall, passing the pushchair between us.  Don't ask me how we made it and I doubt if we could do it again especially as someone with an endless supply of wire fencing seems to have gone all around the Plakias area recently fencing off a lot of the old tracks and paths, but I think it was more luck than judgement that we managed to succeed.

Incidentally, that pushchair also went up the valley at the back of Plakias along the tracks and paths to the old watermill and eventually up to Mirthios - we'd take turns carrying the pushchair or our daughter.  I think it eventually fell apart shortly after that holiday!!!

15

Where to stay / Hotel Club Kalypso (or Kalypso Cretan Village)

« on: July 05, 2003, 05:03:34 PM »

I forgot to say, at Kalypso you are well placed for the beaches both at Plakias and at Damnoni.  The courtesy bus will take you down to Plakias, I think, and Damnoni is probably walkable - take the track off to the right as you're coming from Kalypso, which is below the Damnoni Bay Hotel.  The track then goes around the perimeter of Hapimag and down onto the beach.  Damnoni beach is lovely although one end has been comandeered by Hapimag.  From Damnoni beach, a road along the back of the beach heading eastwards and narrowing to a track, will lead you to the beaches of Ammoudaki, Ammoudi and finally Skinaria (although Skinaria is a very long and difficult walk across the rocks from Ammoudi!)

Cash dispensers - there may be one in the hotel itself but if not, they are available in Plakias (one is by the Alianthos, not sure where the other one is).  There are now also travel agencies at Damnoni where I would think money can be changed but again, in Plakias, there are many agencies for this.