We arrived at Birmingham Airport at 5am, ready for our 8.05am Thomas Cook flight which we soon discovered was delayed by 2 and a half hours. Check-in was quick and organised and we were soon through security and heading to the Wetherspoons bar for a leisurely breakfast. I decided to start the holiday on a healthy note by ordering the breakfast bowl (yoghurt, granola and fruit) while Michael and Laura opted for the full english. A few minutes later (and about £20 poorer) the manager broke the news to me that I couldn't have the breakfast bowl as their yoghurt delivery hadn't arrived. Never mind, I chose porridge with fruit compote instead. Big mistake - the bowl of watery lumpy muck delivered to me only seconds later wouldn't have looked out of place on a Laganas pavement. Word of advice to those wanting to be healthy - go to Boots or Pret instead, thats what I'll do if there's a next time, lol!
The plane finally took off, half full of Laganites, at around 11am. We had a smooth flight (but noisy with gaggles of over-excited single sex groups - not even my beloved ipod could drown out the not-so dulcet tones of a particularly vocal young lady nearby), made up some time, then used it circling the island waiting for permission to land.
Having collected our cases, we got on the transfer coach and headed to our beloved Kalamaki. Antonis was about the 5th drop off, we were shown to the reception, which is the pool bar, where we recieved a warm welcome from Julius along with the keys to A12.
The apartment was quite compact and basic, but clean and good enough for our needs. After all, we're only in it to sleep or get ready in the evenings. We had plenty of storage space and hangers in the wardrobes and managed to unpack and put the cases away in record time. After a quick change and freshen up we went down to the pool bar for that first Mythos of the holiday......BLISS!.....then another just to make sure the heavenly taste of the first wasn't just a fluke.
We ate out every night, Michaelos first, last and 2 inbetween. The food and hospitality from Dennis and his staff was just as special as last year and the spaghetti a la marinara is still to die for. Although Kalamaki seemed quiet and businesses have suffered, we noticed quite a few taxis bringing people to Michaelos, which says alot for the place given the choice on the main strips.
We ate at Zepos 3 times, Heaven's Kitchen once (the food and service were fine, but not good enough to warrant a second visit), Hera 3 times (fantastic service and food - especially the greek plate and seafood mixed grill). Meals averaged at about 45-50 euros for 3 mains and starters or desserts, a litre of wine and two of water, pretty much the same as last year. We also ate at Spartakos in Zante town. We had a litre and a half of wine, water, bruschetta to start, then a special seafood platter for 3, followed by dessert for 76 euros. LOVELY.
I can highly reccomend the rooftop bar at the Strada Marina Hotel in Zante Town for the views alone. We got some lovely photos of the harbour and surrounding areas from up there. We'd expected to pay a bit more for our drinks but a pint and a half of Mythos and a rather generous glass of red wine came to 8 euros with a complimentary bowl of crisps. We were so impressed that had it not been for rumbling tummies demanding food after 3 hours of shopping, we'd have stayed longer.
It was lovely to see Kev and Helen at Oceanic again and sample the new Snickers cocktail as well as old favourites like the famous lemon cheesecake and screaming orgasm. This lovely little bar hasn't lost any of the charm, chilled atmosphere or welcome that first attracted us back in 2008. It was lovely to finally meet Jeanette and Nigel as well.
Another gem we discovered this year was TabiYia, right opposite Antonis, where we had several delicious cocktails in hollowed out pineapples. I found the tropical breeze and green island quite addictive.
We also tried Apollon (nice chilled bar with lethal cocktails!), Venue (not really my thing but learned a shockingly rude version of Summer Nights, OMG!!!
) and P&P where they now sell laughing gas in balloons......why?
??.
We usually started and ended the nights in Antonis pool bar. We did Greek night twice (at Laura's request) - 12 euros each for a barbecue meal of 3 souvlaki, a chicken leg, piece of lamb, chips, feta tzatziki and salad with bread and a drink, followed by the entertainment. We did the quiz nights and were lucky enough to win 1st prize once (25 euros off a meal in Michaelos) and 2nd prize twice (2 free breakfasts and 2 free cocktails). We met Melanie (whose dad shouted YAMMAS so loud when he won his shot question that I nearly fell off my barstool, lol
).
We used the pool most days and found it to always be clean. We didn't have problems getting a sunbed, even in the afternoons, and they had a load more delivered during our stay.
We had breakfast and lunch at Antonis a few times, all were lovely and reasonably priced, and Nik makes a lovely coffee in the mornings
. We did walk down to Cronulla a few times for breakfast but lovely as it was, the trek from Antonis didn't always appeal in the heat!
We booked the waterpark trip for 18 euros each with Pat at Eurosky - we went on a Thursday and found the park to be pretty quiet, presumably with alot of people trying the new one in Tsilivi?. Michael and Laura went on most of the slides while I just did the jacuzzi and lazy river. The food in the cafe looked overpriced and we noticed that most people seemed to be leaving at least half on their plates. We just had drinks so cant speak from personal experience.
We booked the submarine trip for 15 euros each with Krisa on the old strip. She arranges pick ups from outside her office so that she can chase them up if necessary. We really enjoyed this trip, saw quite a few turtles and got some lovely pics.
Overall, although we found Kalamaki quiet, it still hasn't lost its magic for us and I hope others feel the same and keep this lovely little resort going. It was sad to see some businesses closed including Vakhos grill and a lovely little shop on the old road that used to sell lots of wooden carvings and jewellery. It was also sad to see Costas overrun with groups of teenagers - we had a lovely stay there last year in June when it was full of couples and families but the atmosphere this year just wasn't the same when we went in. I heard that Dias sufferred the same fate this year and it seems such a shame that these family orientated businesses could suffer long term because of this. (Just for the record I don't have a problem with young people - I work with them
)
Sorry if I've rambled on! All thats left to say now is ROLL ON AUGUST 2011!!!!
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