Cretanvista Site & Local News - DECEMBER 30th 2003 Issue 12 |
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No links to sites with adult content accepted |
DECEMBER WEATHER WAS... Several hundred yards down on the left is a little street with two pavement cafes - one at either end - and both always crowded, where we refresh ourselves with a warm drink. Gluttony really, since after the short break we go for a meal before returning to the hotel and a night cap!! Eat, drink and be Merry, for tomorrow (night) we will be in Luton (UK) - compliments (usually) of Easyjet - at the start of our Christmas in the UK! BUT THEN... THE BEST LAID PLANS... The taxis were on strike. The Acropolis view was closed for renovations - 2004 Olympics en-route. Our usual pleasures, including exchanging our annual greetings with staff we knew, a room with a balcony immediately below the Acropolis, my annual Dimple Whiskey nightcap and cigar - sat on the balcony - mesmerized by the floodlit spectacle, denied.... Our annual evening sojourn to 'To Pallio Taverna' complete with live Greek music, turned into a closed and shuttered no-go. Closed on Mondays! The huge Christmas tree in Syntagma square - I was once able to glimpse this briefly but clearly from about 3,000ft en-route London, after taking off from the old Athens airport (Ellenikon) in a snow-storm three years or so ago - gone! Banished to another part of Greece by Mayor of Athens... Dora Bakoyannis. No 'Acropolis View'. No Greek live Greek Music at To Pallio Taverna. No dimple and cigar on our usual balcony opposite the floodlit Acropolis (Parthenon). No (returned) Parthenon Marbles... No huge Christmas tree from a departing jet next evening... And it was wet and cold. Merry Christmas from Athens! Scrooge unchanged deserved a medal for merriment and goodwill to all men.. BUT WAIT A MOMENT... |
(continued)... Yes, 'To Pallio Taverna' was closed, and yes, we did miss it, as we did the familiar faces we hoped to see there. But Diogenies was open, had a table and superb fayre!! And next day we discovered that 'To Pallio Taverna' which we have visited annually for around
eight years - was not 'The Old Taverna' to which we had originally been directed by our friends at the Metropolis Cafe!! We have now visited that one as well - and so we now have two Christmas Tavernas... The banished Christmas tree? Well, only the old tree was banished - and only from Athens. Athens received a new tree - 13.5 metres high and a gift from Vienna - maybe not quite as bright in itself as the old tree, but the re-spacing in Syntagma square allowed two new features.. The first was a touch of absolute magic - a real live full size working carousel - the one from my childhood! And probably yours - 60 horses whirling around - Wurlitzer Viennese-waltz type music urging them on as they rode
gently up and down, round and round... Bright lights, bright eyes, laughing children - parents pretending to be grown ups!! For us, a last day in Athens before flying to England awaited, as did our children and first grandson. Treasures, irresistable, Merry Christmas. |
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Accommodation in Astratigos FOR RENT....
Maybe More shortly.. Another local owner has carried out some superb traditional renovation on a ruined house - and is currently renovating what was his own accommodation - maybe for your holidays! |
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FERRY SERVICES Anek currently leaves Chania at 8.30pm whilst Blue Star leave at 11.30pm. |
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Moving to Crete - Practical Advice.. An e-mail copy is available as a Microsoft word file - a very fast email of very useful information. |
MORE FUN & SERIOUS PLEASURE PLEASE! To our visitors who have taken the time to tell us that they have found our site enjoyable/ informative/ helpful/ or otherwise complimented the site - very many thanks. We are trying very hard and it's really good to know that you like it". Besides, my wife notes that many of you are ladies! Please don't stop!! ___________________ *Yes, but Judith..... We can't afford to keep you! |
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Cretanvista! Mirror Sites at:- |
Cretan Vista Calendars 2004......... We can say a big thank-you to Niall O'Grady of Birmingham, who managed to obtain a special edition calendar (we do not sell them) by making a donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children in London! Very Many Thanks Niall - Very Best Wishes to you and Jan for 2004.. |
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Delivered to Kolmbari Co-op... |
Entering the olive presses... |
Exiting as Kolimbari oil.. |
Earthquakes.... None of these earthquakes caused damage or injuries and the rising magnitude should not be taken as an indication of increasing activity. There is constant activity in Greece and it's islands. Although at least one professor believes that there will be at least 4 major quakes in the future. Link.
A look at our earthquake page will show that there have been no serious quakes for some time - the last notable (not serious) on Crete occurring in May and June last year. No serious damage was reported. Our own page - earthquakes - will be updated shortly to include all recent 'quakes in Greece. |
In the News... Christmas in Athens Website details.... Sad Christmas for some... Crete. Nikolas Gage Honoured. |
Well, that's about it for now.....
E-Mail Requests.. Book Reviews.
View Cretanvista Calendar Photos 2003 |
Book Reviews - 2 current - *new book received... Can this be you.....or yours? |