Wednesday 31 July 2019

Yesterday I spotted something in one of the more boutique type shops in Georgioupolis that made me smile and immediately think of Darrell and Hugh. 
At first I thought they were just a revival of the old style fifties swimming hats, of which I am sure Hugh would not be at all adverse to wearing when taking the plunge to protect his hair, however on closer inspection they were in fact zipped "purses". 
I can tell you now, if he had have seen them he would have let out one of his theatrical "Darrrrrrrrrlings", grab one and then parade up and down declaring he'd found his new "man bag".  
However, I am not encouraging Darrell and on this occasion did not make a considered holiday gift purchase. I don't think Evesham is quite ready for this type of fashion accessory, if I take home any presents they will have to be of a much more traditional type Greek nature.

Tuesday 30 July 2019

Greek Baked Comestible Pleasures.

As you know, I VERY MUCH appreciate a Greek Bakery and all the comestible pleasures they behove  .........
.......... and, as such, it has become part of my holiday routine to pop up early to make a few considered purchases before I hit the beach and, more importantly, before they sell out of their most popular pastries and cakes.
I am gradually working my way through trying them all.
Let me just say that their vanilla custardy slices are a triumph .......
........ and their doughnuts are certainly not to be found lacking in their mahoooosive size ............
......... and as for the honey cake, it's so laden with said sugary substance that I usually have to follow its eating with a gentle swim to help relieve myself of it's stickiness which, try as I might, always seem get myself absolutely covered in, no matter how careful I am.
And, as for the receipt ....... it's just almost too romantic to see that I have consumed such a lot of undecipherable loveliness!  What am I like?

Monday 29 July 2019

Supermarket Shopping

My most favourite supermarket in Georgioupolis is Anna's Supermarket just off the town square, where I tend to pop in after my evening meal to pick up a few little things for my packed beach lunch the following day. 
Their local cheese is soooooooo impossibly romantic. Hugh, Darrell's best friend, mentor and all round artistic and cultural inspiration would probably go absolutely bonkers if he ever saw it and would no doubt have a few choice pieces shipped over for one of his exclusive star spangled dinner parties.  
Anna also purveys fill your own bottle of local wine from the barrel for around 2/3 euros. I admit to have sampled quite a bit, but have yet to make a considered purchase, to be honest a small sample per night is probably enough for me ........ happy days!

Wednesday 24 July 2019

One Soap Ingredient Too Many

Before we all went our separate summer ways Darrell asked me to "keep an eye out" for anything new in the way of authentic Greek beauty care like what they have in the supermarkets and gift shops.

Every year he always returns with half a suitcase full of something "innovative" that he believes/hopes will help stop or at least slow down the pruning process as he calls it.
You name it, he's tried it, from just plain olive oil on it's own, to olive oil with lavender, pomegranate, donkey milk, lemon myrtle & may chang, eucalyptus and peppermint, organic and inorganic ............ to name just a few ............
 ........... believe me, they've all been on his face, feet, bum and all the bits in between at sometime or another.  What is he like?  -
Yes, quick change here for the observant ones among you, Mr D in particular, a case of new day, new shop, clean t-shirt ........ AND new soap ....... to help complete my story  ...........
However, this is a soap tooooooooooooooooooo far and will not be duly purchased. Darrell must never know of its existence.  If he ever wants to cover his face (or other regions) with snail slime there are more than enough snails crawling up the outside walls of The Towers to do that, pickled in olive oil or not! 

Tuesday 23 July 2019

Dinner A Deux A La Grece


Over the years Darrell, Nigel and I have encountered many cats on our Greek odysseys, however  until now, it has to be said,  I haven't really made any great effort to interact with them ..........
....... but, eating alone as I am each evening I have to admit it is a little extra company of sorts ......
....... and I know it's not really encouraged ........
....... but on this occasion it was quite nice to have someone to share my spit roast lamb with, as it was a rather large portion.  However, fear not, no simian/feline bond was formed and as such I will not be spending thousands of pounds on flights, quarantine and vets bills etc. to bring "Stavros" as I temporary christened him, back home with me, this was just a holiday bromance, as Darrell would say!

Monday 22 July 2019

I Finally Get To Light My Candle

Last night, before I had my evening meal in the taverna opposite, I finally got to pay my respects to the main church in Georgioupolis ......... 
....... it did not disappoint.
It was truly, truly stunning ...........
I am just sorry my pictures did not do it justice.
It gave the impression that it was quite new, the paintings that covered the entirety of the walls and domed ceiling appeared to be very clean and fresh, however, I couldn't find any information on it's history anywhere .......  perhaps I can do some more research when I get home.
However, I did finally get to light my candles, one for Darrell, Nigel and me and the other for all those we can no longer send postcards to but who are no doubt still looking over us and seeing what we are all getting up to, bless.

Wednesday 17 July 2019

A Trip To Rethyminmon

I may not be able to pronounce it, but I still managed to book a taxi to take me to the nearby big town of Rethyminmon and collect me again afterwards ........ 
I am soooooo proud, I almost feel like a local!
I know I could have caught the bus, but I am not quite that brave a first time foreign solo traveller just yet!
It has to be said Rethyminmon did not disappoint.  I arrived towards the end of siesta time, so I was able to take in the sights while it was reasonably quiet ........  if not still very, very hot.
I do love a quaint Greek alley way ..........
........ and town square ..........
...... and of course a Greek church.!  I would have loved to have gone in as is my way, but there was a mass/service going on and I didn't want to be responsible for turning all the heads in the congregation with a distracting creaking of the door, no matter how romantic and atmospheric said creaking. On this occasion I shall just have to light my candle elsewhere. 
I did a little mooching, but was very restrained in my purchases especially as I didn't think Darrell would thank me for a evil eyed dream catcher, no matter how tempting, as it would most probably upset the aesthetics of his carefully put together interior decor ...... although, bless him,  he would never tell me but just discretely hide it away after an acceptable amount of time on display had passed.
I decided that a Greek pick and mix would be a much safer option .......... it would also be a gift that keeps on giving as the flavour of each sweet would be a complete mystery until sucked, as I didn't have a clue what I was putting in my bag, I just went for colour!
And when the heat finally got the better of me the historic Venetian harbour was a wonderful place to enjoy a cool drink before I got my taxi home.
As I watched the sun setting with my shot of raki, coffee and complementary nibbles it was almost too, too, too romantic.
Darrell would have loved it .......... and I promise, I really am missing both him and Nigel ........
......... but I am also relishing being alone with my thoughts and drinking everything in own my time and in my own way .........  in pure unadulterated Cretan bliss.

Tuesday 16 July 2019

It's Those Little Holiday Touches ......

I do love and appreciate a bit of towel origami ...........
...... and The Sunlight Hotel has not disappointed, each day I return from my sunbed to be welcomed by fresh towels in the form of a  butterfly in full flight.
It's the sort of thing I am surprised Darrell hasn't introduced for our guests at The Towers, but there again, perhaps I had better not mute it, since we usually put a bath sheet out for said guests, I dread to think what sort of monstrosity he and Nigel would come up with .........
......... with that amount of towellage to work with.
I also cannot sing the praises of the air con highly enough, it's really has been well worth its weight in euros, especially now, at my age, when the prospect of an unrelenting week of sizzlingly hot torrid nights is a somewhat daunting prospect!!!!!!  

Monday 15 July 2019

Impossibly Romantic

Georgioupolis is small and impossibly romantic, Darrell would just love it here .............. he would definitely embrace all it's starry eyed qualities.
From my sunbed on the beach I can see the tiny white chapel of Agios Nikolaos built on a small rocky islet, in the middle of the sea, dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the protector of seafarers.
I know Darrell and Nigel would have scampered happily along the rocky causeway like young mountain goats, but I have to admit to being a little cautious where my knees are concerned, the left one in particular, and as such I have taken the decision, sorely tempted though I am, that it might be best to admire the chapel from a distance rather than risk said perilously uneven causeway  ........  especially after watching the comings and goings of much braver souls than I.
In the short while I have been here I have seen several weddings at the chapel ........
....... with brides equipped with trainers under their diaphanous wedding dresses. 
....... And in not wishing to risk any untoward catastrophe, the mystic of the little chapel will always remain with me.
As is tradition on all our Greek odysseys we always light a candle in a Greek church and as such I have lit one in my heart ...........
........ knowing that there is a church in the village I have yet to visit, where I can light one in "real life" I don't really do "God",  but if I did I would definitely, definitely be consecrated ordained as Greek Orthodox, because, in my opinion,  they really do do the best ever churches! 

Wednesday 10 July 2019

A Bit of Victoria Hislop .......

For me, no Greek holiday would be a proper Greek holiday without a bit of Victoria Hislop ......... last year I read The Island which was so wonderful I didn't want to come to the end ........... and have been desperatly trying to find the Greek televisual dramatization with English subtitles, but sadly to no avail. 
This year I have Cartes Postales from Greece .......
......... I am afraid can't put it down.  I know I should make it last, but I will probably finish it by the end of tomorrow, however, there is a bookcase back at my hotel full of books left by other guests where I am sure I can find something else to take my fancy, if I do.

Of course  I am missing Darrell and Nigel terribly, but it's also such a huge luxury to be enveloped in my own little world for just a while without having someone begging me to help blow up their mahooooosive flamingo shaped rubber ring up and constantly musing as what Greek delicacy they fancy for their tea, bless them!  But, as it's now in my mind, ".....tonight Mathew, I think I am fancying a plate of Greek lamb chops, with perhaps an extra large piece Galaktoboureko and ice cream for my pudding!"  What am I like? ............    Happy Days!

Tuesday 9 July 2019

Fufilling My Annual Greek Fantasy

One of my first "duties", once I had unpacked and settled into my hotel in Georgioupolis was to satisfy the mahooooooosive yearning I get every year as soon as one of our Greek odysseys comes to an end ..........
......... and that is to head for the nearest supermarket, in this case Anna's, for a huge pot of "proper" Greek yogurt and jar of the local honey .........
........ in order to partake in my much beloved Greek breakfast. Nothing comes close, not even one of Darrell's Sunday full English, to this pure, unadulterated pleasure, eaten on the balcony, in the early morning Greek sun while looking out on to the azure blue Sea of Crete.  The yogurt has to be soooooooo thick that my spoon stands up in it .......... what more could anyone want? Could a nom, get any more heavenly?