Staying Late, Just Because We Can

We usually stay on the beach until seven o'clock in the evening, but yesterday we thought we'd go all rash, thrown caution to the wind and stay 'till nine, just because we could, living the full la vida loca ...... what are we like? 

We'd got absolutely nothing to do, except read an extra chapter or two of our books, there no one to text, phone or Facetime, we were as free as two proverbial birds in a pod! 

 

We could watch the other sunbeds gradually empty, the sun slowly go down and the sea turn from the brilliant turquoise of morning to the darker shades of sapphire as the day finally faded ...... as well as go all poetical on each other!!

We did leave the beach, temporarily, to fetch our tea ......

..... well, it would have been rude not to, especially as there was the availability of a most excellent souvlaki just a five minute walk away.  It certainly filled the spot, but Darrell did later confess to missing his de rigueur Kefalonia pie.

Now, sat sitting on an almost empty beach, Darrell became curious about the price and comfort of the "luxury" cabana's to our one side.

We've been paying 12 euros a day for our two sunbed, parasol and table combo, next door was fifteen, however with the weight of those beds, you just can't move them around to afford you more shade as the sun moves and that, in our books, is a big no no......

....... but with no one about, we thought it wouldn't hurt to just try out the facilities to see what, if anything, we've been missing.

To be honest, not a lot, apart from the potential romance of a gauze curtain that offered no proper shade.

If the ever fragrant Alice had been with us and wanted a little extra pampering and comfort, we would have probably treated her ......

....... but as rufty tufty blokes, we don't really require the extra tranklements of a maiden as fair as our beloved Alice ........ 

...... and with that, we both settled down, in silent and amiable companionship, embracing the cooling, eventide breeze and the everso gentle lapping of the waves ......... paradise found ...........

Happy Nights And Balcony Traditions

This is a relatively new holiday tradition for us, but nevertheless, one that has become one of our very favourites .......... 

....... to wit, we like to find a shop that sells the very large, foil wrapped chocolates common to Greece, buying one of each and then keeping them cold in our fridge until we return to our room after a night on the town. 

We then take a selection out on to the balcony each night to cut up, to compare, contrast and score as we also enjoy a cheeky, moon light nightcap!

And, this years night cap of choice? Well, that has been a very happy discovery, namely a Schweppes pink grapefruit soda, trust us when we get home this will be de rigueur in Darrell's cocktail cabinet, we absolutely LOVE it .........

...... which is all quite bizarre in itself, as we have never ever been any sort of aficionado of said fruit!

So once again happy, happy, happy days ....... 

............... and nights.  What a holiday so far, for soooooooooo soooooooooo many reasons!

Welcome To Our World - Well, Room Really

Although Hotel El Paradiso is certainly an oddity, being totally bereft of any atmosphere and staff (other than our lovely, lovely daily, room cleaning ladies) ........

...... we can truly say we've totally embraced it and come to really love our room for it's erm ....... wonderful unique character and individuality.

It must have been quite something in it's heyday (to wit in the days when George was in charge), luxurious and tres a la carte.  

I mean, before this holiday we'd never have dreamt that we'd ever be so blessed as to sleep beneath a truly romantic muriel over our beds! Trust me, if Alice had had the same experience, she'd have thought she'd died and gone to heaven.  Darrell has described it's very Diana Dors????

We've been blessed with a kitchen area, with the basic of basics. OK, the hob has been removed and sealed with duct tape, but we can still make a cup of tea and Darrell could very easily prepare us a packed lunch (he's bought all his equipment), should the mood take him and we can wash up after ourselves. Yes, Darrell has even bought his Fairy with him! 

In the bathroom, we've got all mode cons, including a hairdryer (which reminds us of several swimming baths of yore) and a telephone, but sadly we're not to sure "who we gonna call?", Ghostbusters perhaps, as it's no longer connected and if it was, there's never anyone actually around to pick it up  but, in its day, would have been regarded as the height of posh!

The mirror is also a source of constant fascination for Darrell, as it's made out of polystyrene and then painted, in a style reminiscent of shabby chic, with an improvised notch channelled in to it to accommodate part of the tap top. True, faded glamour Darrell sighed when he first saw it, knowing just how hard it would be to try to replicate "the look", should he wish to, back at the Towers! 

However, thanks to our now much beloved cleaners it's spotless and we're never without a clean towel or shower mat.

What's not to love? Apart from the one bizarre painting on the wall, that Darrell says makes him feel a little queasy, but can't exactly put his finger on why.  We're very happy in our innermost sanctum, with memories to last a lifetime!  

Welcome To The Hotel El Paradiso

The best part of our hotel, because it's sooooooooo completely bereft of any sort of staff after about ten thirty, is that we can "play" hotels ourselves. 

Eric would absolutely love it and would probably make a much better job of it, single handedly, to be honest.

I can't tell you how much fun Darrell and I have had behind the desk, it's perhaps a good job there aren't any CCTV cameras! 

When we say it's quiet, it really is quiet ........

...... and always totally empty, except for ourselves! 

There's no carousing at the bar ......

....... no illicit skinny dipping in the pool, bombing, acrobatics or gymnastics, petting, shouting, pushing, running or ducking .......

....... no covert laying out of towels to ensure a choicely positioned sunbed at six o'clock in the morning ......

...... no cheeky Kpi Kpi of an afternoon to help cool down .......

...... or any other liquid refreshment other than what you actually bring in yourselves from the supermarket.

When we come in, after a night on the town, our de rigueur call, as we come through the front door is an admittedly facetious "OMG, it's really rocking and rolling in here tonight!"  ......

..... even the delicate flower arrangements look as if they want to be anywhere else but!.

The proudly framed 2014 certificates behind the reception show that this wasn't always the case......

..... as do the glowing testimonials in the two guest books of yore, George the manager as was, must have been the truly affable and consummate host, as they all mention and thank him for so many wonderful holiday experiences, all vowing to return as soon as they can.

The new management, who we have since learned, took over in October last year (after Darrell had booked this break I hasten to add), have a lot to live up to.

Where our fellow guests disappear off to, never to be seen again until the following day breakfast goodness only knows ........

....... but, in a weird sort of way, Darrell and I are more than happy to continue having fun, creating memories of when we had free rein of a real life hotel ........

What on earth are we like, if ever down?

A Holiday Tradition Fufilled

As you know, one of Darrell's most sacrosanct of holiday traditions, no matter what beach we are on, abroad or at home, is his quest to find a holey stone .......

....... or to be honest, let a holey stone find him, as a sign that we are being watched over by those loved ones who are no longer with us.

So, on a beach entirely made up of millions upon millions of stones Darrell thought this would be an absolute no brainer .......

....... however on an walking up and down the beach over several afternoons, eyes firmly fixed on the sand, he started to feel quite despondent, perhaps our loved ones had deserted us, displeased with this years holiday choice??!!

After a day or so I think he became almost resigned to not finding one. If he spotted anything that even vaguely resembled a hole, it was quickly discarded when he found that said hole didn't actually go all the way through. "The geology of the indigenous rock just isn't conducive to the formation of holes!"  he sighed.

Then, almost on the cusp of thinking he/we might have to return home, with a black cloud hanging over us, a little bit cursed, not having a stone to pop in our suitcase ........

...... there it was, a mere foot or two from the sunbed he'd been lying for most of our holiday.......

...... and what a beauty! Whether he found it or it found him was suddenly immaterial, this one was truly special, as it was probably one of the only holey stones on a beach almost bereft of holey stones ......

"A stone," he said "that looked almost like it was made to be worn!" 

A precious treasure, we are truly being watched over, even if, this year, we/they didn't get the hotel quite right!