Back To Earth With A Huge, But Exciting Bump!

Well, as you can see we're home, back in the ample bosom of our beloved Towers.  It was emotional to say the least, as Alice was there, waiting for us at the front door with the warmest welcome anyone could ever wish for.  There were hugs and kisses and an eager ear to hear of all our adventures and vice versa.

Alice absolutely loved her soap and all the other little trinklets we had bought back for her, but Darrell and I had an even bigger surprise for her and Nigel .......

...... while we were sat sitting at the airport waiting for our plane, Darrell had got on his phone and booked a surprise few days away for Alice and Nigel in Poole. We'd all been so upset at leaving Alice behind in Evesham and that our traditional Halloween sleepover and midnight walk was not to be this year, so it was the very least we could do.  

Again, it all got a little emotional.  

Nigel was as taken aback as Alice, as Darrell and I hadn't said a word to him beforehand, but a few days with Alice, in a caravan, by the sea ....... let's just say Nigel was out of one suitcase and into another within an hour, even though he and Alice had a couple of days to get sorted. There were a few things Darrell and I needed to arrange too, like a Click and Collect at Tesco for all their comestibles, once they'd got to Poole. 

HOWEVER  ....... there was method behind our madness, as we're also almost on the cusp of the most wonderful month of the year, to wit December, with Nigel being away, Darrell and I can begin to get things organised, without all the obligatory Nigel pester power!  What are we like?

And So Farewell Kardemena .......

As we're only ten minutes from the airport, though you'd never know it, we had a mid morning transfer, that allowed time for a last breakfast .......

..... finally enticed into an establishment where a very lovely lady had been vying  for our custom ever since we arrived!

As we're all a bit prone to feeling a slight "ick" before a flight, we decided to keep things fairly simple in the guise of a bacon croissant .......

..... however, when it arrived, it turned out to be almost the same size as Nigel, but rather than waste any, we all ploughed through most valiantly.

Once at the airport, with a small delay announced, Nigel occupied himself with a cheeky mosey round the Duty Free .......

...... to see if there was anything of a Helenic type nature that we'd missed or was a bit different from what we'd seen in Kardemena.

However, with a suitcase already full of our Baclava and Greek Turkish Delight of choice, a Snickers or Twix, fun sized or not, is pretty much the same all over the world, as indeed is the obligatory, last minute Toblerone!

So, the little fella's attention then turned to the perfumery. OMG, he must have sprayed one of everything on his neck, wrist and other pulse points, until you just couldn't distinguish one fragrance from another, no matter how posh, exclusive or expensive.  

Well, he reasoned, they all said "try me" and therefore it would have been rude not to! As he approached us, Darrell said that he could already feel one of his headaches coming on, from the erm ...... fumes!

What on earth are they both like?

Time To Say Goodbye ........

So, as the sun set, tres romantically, on another of our Greek Oddities ......

......  we gave each other time to be alone with our thoughts and memories, just for a little while ........

...... to celebrate companionship, friendship, love and laughter in our absolute favourite of foreign climes 

Once more, we've been incredibly blessed in a truly, truly Hello magazine type way, with special thanks to Tui!

It was ....... emotional.

But then, with Nigel clutching his treasured, small pot of proper Greek honey, a gift from Krista, as we bid our final goodbyes, amidst tears and hugs and promises to be back soon .....

...... Darrell cracked open our traditional bottle of last night Asti Spumante ........

....... toasting not only this holiday ......

........ but holidays to come and all those we wished could have been with us, including  our beloved Alice.  Where we will be this time next year, is too soon to say, but our reminiscences of this year will no doubt keep us going until Darrell sits down at the computer to book another one in the new year.

Then, it was off to our Kardamena ice cream parlour of choice, just round the corner from our hotel  ......

....... for a final tub of their truly delicious pistachio (not to be mistaken for pastichio) ice cream........

It's been ........................... a blast!

Last Minute Trinklet Shopping

With our usual Halloween celebrations having been put in mothballs for this year (a first), what with us being here dans Greece and our beloved niece and nephew embracing all the pleasures of La Belle France and the odd crepe, we can't help feeling a little guilty for leaving our beloved Alice behind, who, needless to say, was just philosophical, telling us that what she's never had, she couldn't ever miss and, anyway, she had had the most wonderful time Trick or Treating with Kata's little boy round the estate, adding she doesn't think she could face another "Haribo" of any description, for a long while yet!

Nevertheless, we still feel that we ought to take a little something back for her as our treat, but noting no Haribos, even though you can get said confectionary in all manner of variation, unseen as yet en Anglerterre. 

In the end, after visiting almost every shop in Kardamena, we finally narrowed our choice of said gift down to some local soap, knowing just how much Alice adores a good fragrance. However, with so many whiffs and pongs, thank goodness for Darrell, who really knows his gardenia from his petunia and exactly what aroma a lady of elegance and unquestionable sophistication as Alice, would like to dowse herself in.

He made it look soooooooo easy, choosing three:- pomegranate, rose, and ylang ylang, adding, for good measure, a pink pumice stone on a rope and a small natural sponge.  What would we do without him?   

Artistic Meanderings.

As you know Darrell always takes a very keen interest in all the art work we find in our various hotels, caravans etc. when on our travels.

This year is no exception, although he thinks the two pictures in our room could have been displayed a little better to fully appreciate "..... the stories they are telling, their impact and their naïve influences!" 

What on earth is he like?

There are also a great many original works of art to peruse and perhaps even make a considered purchase of, in the bustling main square, especially on our evening promenade and mooch.

However, though occassionally tempted .......

...... he says, that what may seem perfect when you are completely immersed in foreign climes, as well as a frivolous, holiday frame of mind ......

...... might not translate as well, once hung on the walls of a bijoux flat in Evesham, so perhaps a scenic fridge magnet would, though not as commanding visually, work just as well, while still evoking the spirit of a special place in time. I think I know what he means!

Sorry ......

...... but this year, we don't have any of our, until now, obligatory film of Nigel embracing all the pleasures of a wonderfully warm Mediterranean ........

 ........ once you've got in!

He, as per usual, was more in the sea than on his sun lounger, but as there is a bit of a slope to get in the water, and remembering the near disaster of our camera getting splashed and a little damp last year, so had to be dried out on our balcony for several days until the shutter finally opened again ........

..... we didn't want to tempt providence, but believe me, the little fella was very at one with the waves and the fish, one or two of which were tempted to have a little nip of his tiny, but no doubt, alluring toes! 

So, instead here is a very short clip of him on the very cusp of the sea. Please ignore the single, disembodied leg to the right of the screen, it is NOTHING to do with us!!!

Wandering The Narrow Streets of Kardemena

A few snapshots today of Darrell's little meanderings through the narrow streets of Kardamena .........

...... which, although steeped in history, built on the ancient settlement of Alasarna, dating well back in the BC's ..........

 

........ and then later in the AD's as a small, proud, fishing village, before tourism hit ...... 

..... we can't really say it's your typical, quintessentially, quaint Greek town so often featured in travel magazines.

However, it has enough iconic blue and white to tell you exactly where you are and, if they sold fridge magnets, coasters etc. of the street signs, you know we'd buy them by the dozen, as they always make us feel all warm and fuzzy, evoking so many memories of holidays past.

There is also a lovely scattering of our beloved shrines to happen upon and admire in unexpected nooks and crannies, If we were still at Castle Greysquirrel, you bet we'd have one in our garden.

So, all in all, the town has enough quirky bits and pieces ........

....... to stay in our hearts and memories for many years to come ........

...... and who knows, although there are so many other Greek odysseys ahead of us, in which to explore new islands, perhaps, who knows, one day we may return, lured back by Krista's cooking ...........

Different Pleasures For Different Folks

With our sun loungers being free if we partake in a cheeky snack or two at Krista's (no hardship there!!), Darrell's usual, very comprehensive holiday packed lunches have gone by the wayside, not that he is complaining ........

......... however, he has found nipping into the supermarket at the end of an evening, to look for sandwichy bits and pieces for the next day a hard habit to break .........

........especially when wandering round the aisles in exotic climes is all part and parcel of what makes his holiday!  

So, Nigel and I have unclipped his wings and told him to fly free, not only in our beloved, strained Greek yoghurt and honey sections, but also among his very favourite, to wit the cleaning products, where he can be continually heard wondering what this or that is like or whether something that catches his eye is as good as any one of his ample supply of products at home. I swear he'd take one of everything back if he could.

Then in the food section, at least we know what Zwan is and to be honest, I'm certainly wouldn't be adverse to one of Darrell's most excellent spam fritters using it, should a considered purchase be in the making.

However, I don't think I'd be so keen on any Flokos products, going by the illustrations on the packet, too many testicles tentacles and suckers for my liking, thank you very much!

Darrell says he's just taking everything all in for the moment and will then have a glorious supermarket sweep on our last evening. 

He's thinking:- Oreo type biscuits with a banana filling for us to review, a box of Baklava and Turkish Delight to put away for Christmas to evoke happy holiday memories and most definitely a packet of special pasta and sauce mix, to have a go at making Pastitsio, our Greek dish of choice when we get home!  

Naturally, Nigel wanted to get in on the act, so he's currently considering the extensive range of toothpaste available, as he's got an up and coming appointment with Jo, his lovely hygienist, in a week or so's time and he wants to impress her with a little gift!!!!

As for me, well, I'm just happy when they are happy, but my moment might come later, you never know!