The Pleasures of Kos Town

Sooooooo, we made it to Kos Town via a forty minute or so coach ride ......

..... hoping against hope, it was really worth giving up a whole day on our precious  beach time for.

On arrival it certainly was bustling, with our first port of call being The Church of Agia Paraskevi .....

It would have been lovely to have visited the Kos Cathedral, but it's no longer safe to enter since the great earthquake of 2017, something we forget Greece is very easily prone to.

However, the church was breathtakingly beautiful ......

...... with our traditional holiday candles finally lit, remembering holidays past and the loved ones who are no longer able to share such times with us.

Then, it was off to the market, which, if we are honest was a bit of a let down. For us it was more like a huge gift shop with added fruit and vegetables. It was hot and very, very crowded, with, it seemed, people wandering around in what we call  holiday brain fog. Perhaps we didn't give it a proper chance, but on the day, it wasn't for us. 

On the other hand, lunch was beyond expectations, with Darrell wondering out aloud why old, empty oil cans just wouldn't make such wonderfully romantic plant containers back at home ......

...... and my rustic Greek bruschetta which I ate slowly because I didn't want it to end, was a triumph,

Next, we slowly meandered to the ancient ruins ......

...... it was a little hard, without a map or guide to tell us what everything was and its significance in bygone times, to take it all in, but we decided to hug a few columns instead, in an attempt to absorb just a little of their history.

From the sublime to the ridiculous, on to the pleasures of the old town.......

...... again very busy, full of touristy shops catering for all size of wallet, from luxury, designer items to tourist tat, where Darrell made a considered purchase of two packs of blue and yellow salt.  One thing we have really noticed this year is the proliferation of novelty socks and sock shops, something we haven't seen before, they really were everywhere. Something to take home perhaps, as it is certainly too hot to be wearing them in Greece at the moment, open sandals or not, never a good look in Darrell's eyes. 

With, by then, hot, throbbing feet (just thinking of socks), we headed for the harbour for light refreshment and found ourselves right in front of the famous white steps of Kos.

Never have we seen so much pouting, posing and posturing, on what is essentially is a man made set of steps with a blue table and chairs half way up. It could have been mildly romantic, if it wasn't for the huge, rather horrid placards on the wall, advertising the Fish House restaurant further up the hill  We didn't get it and were in no way tempted to take our own pictures sat sitting there, preferring instead to watch all the "influencers" and "normal" people PP&P to their hearts content, never has so much hair been flicked and flounced a la Miss Piggy .......

...... and share Nigel's Greek yoghurt ice cream, with cream, walnuts and honey, it was ..... to die for!

There was a bit of a let down on Nigel's part when he discovered that he'd somehow missed the Yellow Submarine glass bottomed boat (with real life mermaid), a  mahooooooooooosive long felt want of his, but by then we had no time to squeeze in even the shortest of voyages

We'd also missed out on the "Noddy" train, which might have saved our aching feet....... but our final hurrah to Kos Town came in the guise of an Albanian(?) dhalle, enjoyed in a small cafe as we waited for our return bus to arrive 

We didn't have a clue what we were ordering, but our spirit of adventure for exotic quaffables, certainly did not disappoint!  Woo hooo, Bottoms up!

So Close Yet So Far ......

As you know, we very much love a Greek church, and this year, we have one right in front of our hotel, to wit The Church of Panagia of Kardemena, how brilliant is that?

However .......... 

..... although Nigel and Darrell were able to light a candle in a tiny, but very lovely "chapel" that was open .....

....... sadly, the rest of the church was locked .....

...... but, to be honest, who could blame them .......

...... as there are always such beautiful, ornate and no doubt very valuable icons, screens and crucifixes etc. inside.  Perhaps we will be able to take a better look, if we keep an eye on the door as we pass each day.

However, as Darrell also very much appreciates a traditional Greek chair, the ones left outside in the courtyard following their Name Day celebrations, did not leave him wanting!  What is he like? 

The Art Of Easy Persuasion

We've been in quite a quandary this year about taking our traditional sojourn outside of our resort. We all really, really wanted to visit Kos, but none of the local trip organisers had anything in the evening, which meant giving up one of our precious days on the beach, something, after fifteen months in the making, we were all a little reluctant to sacrifice ........ 

HOWEVER, after a massive to and froing sort of debate (none heated) over a pina colada or two, plus a round of cuba libres, a tray of complementary raki shots  ......

..... and the kind invitation to try out their romantically fairy lit, four poster beach beds (with very posh lazy susans for snacks) at our beach bar of choice .......

..... we soon found ourselves in very mellow mood .........

...... which is how I found my way, first thing this morning to one of the said trip shops  .......

..... to book a day trip to Kos for three, being assured by them that we certainly  wouldn't regret it!  Happy days? 

Greek Beach Take Away Comestibles

On our way to the beach each morning we have quickly got into the habit of making a quick stop at the nearby bakery for a cheeky takeaway, .......

...... as a mid morning, traditional Greek snack to accompany one of Krista's wonderful smoothies .....

..... well, it would be rude not too, wouldn't it?

To be honest, the choice is wayyyyyyyyy too much, we're desperately wanting to try one of everything during our oddity, but it's not going to be easy, considering  our already burgeoning waistlines!  Darrell says he's already had to discreetly loosen his budgie smugglers just a little.

And, as much as we appreciate an occasional Greggs steak bake (in frozen form from Iceland, when they are on offer), they really have nothing on a real life spanakopita (spinach and feta pie) or tiropita (ricotta, feta and halloumi pie), and don't even go there on the galaktoboureko (custard pie) ......

..... especially when eaten in full view of the Mediterranean, on a sun lounger, with a tiniest dusting of breeze blown Greek sand ........ it really is heaven on earth!

Beachcombing

Although "our" beach is pretty nigh on perfect ......

...... it quickly became pretty obvious that it was doubtful that it would yield a single holey stone ........

There was a  frisson of excitement on the sand when thought I'd found one ......

.... but though very, very close ......

...... it didn't count, as what looked like a promising hole, didn't actually go all the way through! 

So, instead, Darrell has taken to collecting pieces of sea glass (a bit like last year) on his long afternoon stroll, up to the far end of the beach and back. 

I think by the end of our oddity he'll have a nice little collection to "do" something "creative" with, he's talking about a picture frame at the moment, with perhaps one of our pictures from this holiday sitting resplendent within it.  What is he like?

Meanwhile, Nigel wondered if there was a prize for his very tempest tossed euro cent .......

....... evoking that iconic Anglo/Greek refrain (find a penny.....),"vres mia dekarak mazepse, oli mera tha echeis kali tychi" 

Our Beloved, Beloved Traditional Greek Breakfast

We've been dreaming of our first traditional Greek breakfast this year from the very second we left Greek climes way back in June last year.

Oh my goodness, do we absolutely and completely ADORE proper Greek yogurt, the likes of which we have yet to find anything that comes close back at home.

You just can't get a thicker, creamier version than this, it's to die for ......

....... especially when served with walnut pieces and very generous lashings and lashings of real life Greek honey from a squeezy bottle.

It truly is heaven on earth .....

..... especially when eaten, al fresco, on our balcony, before a day to be spent sprawled on the beach, with a Victoria Hislop, a cheeky Mythos and a wonderous dip in the crystal clear sea, where the fish try to nibble your toes. 

Though our manners are usually beyond impeccable, when in Greece it's considered very rude ........

...... not to lick your bowl clean!  Well, it would look rude to the whole of the Greek nation and all their wonderful hospitality not to savour their finest products for all they're worth, wouldn't it?

Heaven Help Us .....

As we're currently "living the life", our hotel, among other things, offers nightly karaoke  ......

...... of which, naturally, Nigel has taken a very keen interest in the set up! 

On arrival I must admit to being a little worried re: Darrell's need for at least nine hours rigorous beauty sleep, but to be honest the walls and door seem pretty well insulated ......

..... and, bless him, in devil may care holiday mood, he's cast his treasured sleep mask to the wind and entered into the spirit of things. If we leave the window open when we have retired for the night, instead of listening to a podcast, we are really loving guessing the name of the song that is currently being murdered downstairs!  What are we like?

We have actually already availed ourselves of the pleasures of said bar, in person, well, it would be rude not too .......

......  and I fear Nigel was following things very closely to see how it all works and what songs were available .......

..... working up to, eventually, summoning up the Dutch courage, heaven help us and the population of Kardemena ...... for his erm, chosen moment!

To be honest ......

...... he can't really do any worse, can he???????