We got there late at night, a warm breeze licked our faces and the crickets soothing cheep was interrupted only by the occasional clang of the bells around the goats necks.. yes you heard me goats! they use them to cut the grass.. genius!..
The late transfer and cattle like herding of the holiday makers by the faux enthused tour reps of Thomson holidays can not be passed on to the island or the accommodation. These in my mind when travelling are always separate.
If you expect 4 star luxury that you may have glimpsed tantalizingly on the transfer coach on the way in, then no. But that's not to say the apartments were not adequate, clean and fit for purpose. They were, and even the wonderful maid did your dishes in the sink if you happened to have left them there! The rooms were cleaned regularly and towels replaced, and if you needed washing up liquid you just have to ask, well in my case sign in pigeon Greek, and at one point I could have ended up with anything!
The rooms were light and airy and typically Greek ( tiled floors simple bathrooms). All topped off with a wonderful balcony with a wonderful view of the sea.
We got there in late September which can be a bit mixed as far as weather, but come on we are south enough to mean that its hot for most of the time not all of the time.
Ok.. now there is a bit of a hill and I stress bit of a hill not mountain or cliff, so for the people who actually bothered to waste a part of their holiday taking pictures of the road up to the Sunrise then a good book might have helped which could be found in the lounge room opposite the pool, it had a big wide screen TV playing all the Greek channels which consisted of over made up Greek goddess' chatting about well nothing really for hours then dancing around the studio..
The manager Costas was a brilliant friendly bloke who didnt speak much english, but he and I had fun trying to guess what we were saying as Ilearnt a little Greek from him and we sat drinking Raki ( rocket fuel!) with his family by the pool.
Theres a beach about 5 mins walk down the road, go right past the dog, (really you'll know) down that road by the main roud and sneak through the tunnel and you cant miss it.
The sea was warm and refreshing and you can find a quiet spot if you walk either way down the beach. There were plenty of beach bar snack thingamabobs so you wont starve!
Shopping.. well you could go to the tiny market to the left past the restaurants with the most miserable Greek man (who looked like Columbo but without the eye) on the planet, or you could go right at the bottom of the (not that bad!) hill, walk for 5 mins and there were 2 markets and a sublime bread/ cake shop. Theres always plenty of home grown veg and fruit ..MELONS!!.. sorry they were delicious! and the bread is to die for, dont be put of by the tomatoes, cut into them and they were blood red, and were perfect...!!
Finally.. The pool... Well we went elsewhere so we didnt use it that much, but it was wonderful and refreshing, and always clean!! with good chairs.. that you could nod off on..
This was a relaxing budget holiday with more than enough to do if you looked for it, I would happily go back there as the people were warm and friendly and helpful. If you expected 4 star and you didnt pay for 4 star then to be honest what did you expect, so dont bleat like my friends the goat mowers! and lets face it the 4 star hotels glimpsed were sterile not Greek and very cattle like in there delivery, not a way to see the real world!
What we got was Warm, friendly, relaxing, peaceful,Cheap!... what else do you need!
