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Author Topic: Irida studios  (Read 69081 times)

Offline Barny

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« Reply #105 on: October 22, 2010, 03:13:10 PM »
(here, take this raki home with you and also take this oliveoil)

This used to be the same in Plakias!
Makrigyalos sound like some research to be done! anyone else been there?

                 Barny.
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Offline Graham_and_Karen

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« Reply #106 on: October 22, 2010, 09:32:30 PM »
Quote from: George
I totally agree with you guys as well, but the question I'm asking is why did you return for a 'second' visit? What is so different about Plakias, that made you return that 'second' time, instead of going somewhere else like normal people would.

george...

Ok - first time in Crete we were staying in Rethymnon and, on recommendation, hired a car and drove down to Plakias intending to see a bit of the south coast. something in the air? well maybe: we decided to stay for an hour on the beach (first time 'far end'). Eventually had to drag ourselves away before it got dark. At that time, had no inkling the great walking to be had in the area but knew by the end of the day where next years' holiday would be. At the end of the our first 2 week holiday in Plakias (and all subsequent hols in Plakias) we leave thinking there's yet more to discover next time. However .... Makrigyalos will definitely be checked out before we book for next year.

Offline Arnaki

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« Reply #107 on: October 22, 2010, 11:54:51 PM »
My first trip to Greece was with friends - to Argassi in Zakynthos in 1985.  I really did not like it and swore never to go back to Greece.  However, in 1992 I married a Hellenophile, and he persuaded me to go to Crete for our honeymoon.  We stayed in Georgioupolis, in late April (quite cold and very quiet).  The roads and square were dirt, although we saw progress in front of our very eyes on the day the square was asphalted.  My husband suggested we went to Plakias on the bus one day, so we did, and then got a taxi to Damnoni (the Hapimag was a few concrete boxes).  It crossed my mind that the beach was nothing spectacular, but followed nevertheless.  This is when I first discovered my husband was a naturist.  The Rough Guide to Crete indicated that Damoni had a naturist beach, completely ignoring Plakias far end - if only we had known.  Later that year we had a holiday in the Mani in the Peloponnese, and I was hooked.  That is our special place that we keep going back to, but Plakias had planted a seed.  We went back four years ago and this year had our third trip.  There will probably be a fourth next year.

Very much the same as everyone else, I like the food, the people, the far end, the raki, the welcome.  These are all things that you can get elsewhere in Greece, so I think the particular appeal is a reasonably accessible naturist beach and sea; for a disabled person, many "far ends" are difficult or downright impossible to reach.

On the other hand I don't like the wind and I don't like leaving!  Oh yes, and don't get me started on the "accessible" ramps!

Offline John R

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« Reply #108 on: October 23, 2010, 09:00:49 AM »
Quote from: Arnaki
Very much the same as everyone else, I like the food, the people, the far end, the raki, the welcome.  These are all things that you can get elsewhere in Greece, so I think the particular appeal is a reasonably accessible naturist beach and sea; for a disabled person, many "far ends" are difficult or downright impossible to reach.

Obviously the far end is a major attraction to far enders as you state above. We have been coming to Plakias for every year for 12 years and we don't even like beaches (any beaches) - well not to lie on in the sunshine. So Plakias for us would be and remains ultra attractive even if it had no far end beach. Our reasons for returning have been stated many times in this discussion. I think the main thing for us is that basically we do very little travelling - very little sense of adventure and the first second we arrive in Plakias (Heraklion actually) our holiday starts without a single thought of what , where, when, who in a place where we enjoy the people, the fellow tourists, food, stunning scenery and access to more scenery (we hire a car).

John

Offline Mike G

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« Reply #109 on: October 23, 2010, 09:59:02 AM »
There is much to agree with in these posts about Plakias. Someone mentioned a more extensive bus service, with which I agree, although in today's financial climate it is unlikely to happen. I think there used to be buses to other places other than Rethymnon.

However Plakias isn't unique; it is just the (marginally) best of several excellent Greek resorts IMHO. For 2011, as well as Plakias I am returning to Agios Georgious on Corfu which I last visited in 1994. Always a risky thing to do after 17 years I know. Has anyone been there recently? It has (had?) the most wonderful sandy beach, many times larger than the Plakias far end.

Plakias is the cheapest Greek resort I know of in terms of living costs while you are there.

Mike
« Last Edit: October 23, 2010, 10:00:09 AM by Mike G »

Offline George

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« Reply #110 on: October 25, 2010, 08:35:28 AM »
Quote from: Chris H.
Interesting discussion....
 but also because there is no road between the front row of businesses and the beach.
Hi Chris H
I disliked Makriayialos for all the reasons you liked it, and I've added some comments on the forum before.
I didn't like the lack of road on the front, I hated the shingle beaches and that massive (at the time Norwegian) complex just up the road. I found it a little claustrophobic with the road missing on the front and we spent most of our time in the ajoining village to the west. I can't remember the name of the place. Nice cosmopolitan feel about it, and the bars were on the front so one could enjoy ones evenings refreshments with a view out to sea.
I also found the area a little industrial if you take the coast road west, and we drove north to Elounda one time, with the odd divertion as one does, and the villages and surrounding area was basically a bit boring. Nowhere to stop for a drink or somewhere to eat.
But that was all about 10-15 years ago, it might have changed, but that experience put me off going back there again.

george...

Offline George

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« Reply #111 on: October 25, 2010, 10:48:34 AM »
Quote from: John R
Obviously the far end is a major attraction to far enders as you state above. We have been coming to Plakias for every year for 12 years and we don't even like beaches (any beaches) - well not to lie on in the sunshine. So Plakias for us would be and remains ultra attractive even if it had no far end beach. Our reasons for returning have been stated many times in this discussion. I think the main thing for us is that basically we do very little travelling - very little sense of adventure and the first second we arrive in Plakias (Heraklion actually) our holiday starts without a single thought of what , where, when, who in a place where we enjoy the people, the fellow tourists, food, stunning scenery and access to more scenery (we hire a car).

John
Each to their own John. We all have our own way of enjoying Plakias or any other kind of holiday.
Contrary to popular belief I don't spend 24/7 of my time at the far end. The first couple of days definately to chill out and get the shoulders down, but then I'll get bored, get in the car and get out there and basically get lost. There are some fabulous places to see and visit and a lot of them I've found by accident, just by driving around the mountains, not going anywhere in particular.
I wrote a small travelogue on here about ten years ago, called 'Places to go', which are all within easy reach of Plakias.  Hopefully it's been useful to some members.
My holiday in Plakias starts as I enter the gorge, I remember saying to Pete and Dawn and their daughter when I'd just picked them up from the airport as we entered the gorge. Take a deep breath, we're now entering 'Shangrila'!
The island takes on a different feel for me at that point!

george...

Offline Barny

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« Reply #112 on: October 25, 2010, 03:41:45 PM »
Get off the beach? I don't know that saying unless it's to get a beer!

                              Barny.
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Offline Chris H.

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« Reply #113 on: October 25, 2010, 03:58:29 PM »
Hi George,
Each to their own as you say.....
But it's obvious it is some time ago you were there, I quote:

"we spent most of our time in the ajoining village to the west. I can't remember the name of the place. Nice cosmopolitan feel about it, and the bars were on the front so one could enjoy ones evenings refreshments with a view out to sea"

What you are actually describing here is Makrigyalos and the place with the big Scandinavian complex is called Analipsi,
The Scandinavians are harmless and quiet, they have everything in their resort so they stay there most of the time just sometimes in the evening they come out to walk to Makrigialos to eat in the Gusto restaurant.
No shingles in Mak just the finest sand to be found on Crete. I agree with you that driving west one comes across quite a lot of ugly plastic greenhouses.....
And this:  "and the villages and surrounding area was basically a bit boring. Nowhere to stop for a drink or somewhere to eat." Oops now, it's obvious it was 10 or 15 years ago you were there, beautiful drive to Sitia, green, lush valley and many excellent places to eat for example the Piperia in Pefki, award winning restaurant, dining in the shade of a giant peppertree...take a look at: http://www.concred.gr/restaurants/lassithi...ria/description

Still....each to their own way

Offline Chris H.

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« Reply #114 on: October 25, 2010, 04:27:48 PM »
Hahahaha!
Did you ever hear of this:

"In the same location where, in the early 1930’ s used to be “Damanos” tavern (who would weight his clients upon entering and again when leaving the tavern and charge them according to their weight difference), in the old town of Rethymno, stands today “Othonas” Tavern."

I just came across it checking out this 'Conserving the Cretan diet' site I mentioned in the post before this one, hahaha!

Offline George

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« Reply #115 on: October 25, 2010, 04:40:52 PM »
''Hi George,
Each to their own as you say.....
But it's obvious it is some time ago you were there,''

Hi Chris
I guess it was, thinking back it must have been around 93-94, and I must say that the village was nothing like the size it is now. It was just one main street when I was there and the beach is unrecognisable.
I don't remember that bar either, but over the years things obviously change.
I'll try and find some old pics!

george...

Offline George

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« Reply #116 on: October 25, 2010, 04:49:57 PM »
Quote from: Barny
Get off the beach? I don't know that saying unless it's to get a beer!

                              Barny.
I didn't know you drank Barny  

george...

Offline Barny

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« Reply #117 on: October 26, 2010, 11:40:57 AM »
I don't drink any more, but I don't drink any less either!

                             Barny.
Fancy a Mythos?

Offline George

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« Reply #118 on: October 26, 2010, 11:54:40 AM »
Quote from: Barny
I don't drink any more, but I don't drink any less either!

                             Barny.
Just be carefull with the empties Barny, don't forget to re-cycle! They can be used time and time again you know    

george...

Offline Barny

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« Reply #119 on: October 26, 2010, 12:20:44 PM »
Yes, so I see!

                     Barny.
Fancy a Mythos?