Busy times...

Moving times at Vasiliki.

We rented a car for a couple of days over the weekend so we have spent quite some time out and about this week.  First on Friday we went to the 'taste of the world' Chinese night at Vlicho yacht club.  A good night out with great friends Tony, Debs and Jez.  Some of the food I found super but there were a couple of the dishes which didn't  do it for me in fact I found them over salty and I like salt, so some people must have struggled with them.  However it was a great night despite the heavy rain.

The cyclamen in Linda's brilliant garden 

A little more colour courtesy of Ray and Linda. 

On Saturday we braved the torrential rain to go and collect our car and set off for an island tour and to see some friends who we will not get another chance to see until next year, not so long away now.  Firstly we went to have a look at Vounikas where we used to live with the weather being so inclement there were not many people about so we just had a ride up the hill to visit the house.  It's not anything like I remember it now somehow it just doesn't seem like the same place.  Onwards from there we paid a visit to Vasiliki where work seems to have commenced on the much talked about south island marina.  I think it will end up being little more than an harbour extension but at least things are moving so there must be some money being made available somewhere.  I don't suppose we shall still be here to witness the completed article but it should provide many more moorings for boats at that end of the island so we hope it's a great success.  On Saturday lunchtime there was only one coffee bar open in Vass, in all the time we have been here we have never seen it so closed hope that it isn't a sign of the times.

"A Rose between..." Sandra Alison and Pete on the old Arta Bridge

Very old Plane tree in Arta.

Onwards then to see Ray and Linda at Sivota but en-route we had a trip through the village to find it was almost entirely shut also not such a great surprise as Sivota does tend to shut down in wintertime.

The ancient bridge at Arta

First snow of the winter on the mountains.

We had a great Lunch at Ray and Linda's and managed to help them out with a couple of technical issues whilst we were there as well.  Thanks you two for a very entertaining afternoon and the great food as well.  I couldn't resist taking a couple of pictures in the garden as even at this time of year it still has plenty of colour and interest in it.

Sunday was an even bigger wash out so we had a ride to Vonitsa and a walk in the rain along the front before going into a bar for a coffee.  In marked contrast Vonitsa is fully open for business and seems to be doing a roaring trade even on a very wet Sunday.

In the evening we went for Sunday Dinner up to the Katoghi and gave a nice guy, Dave, from Washington DC a lift up there to show him the way and share an evening with him.  As always the food and service was first class, the only problem was that we had to wait until Tuesday to see Alison and Pete again!

They kindly offered to take us to Louros (to Jumbo) and Arta on Tuesday.  Pete needed to ensure that the world supply of Christmas decorations didn't all vanish before he got his hands on some more.  Unfortunately it was yet another wet day but we still had a great time and even managed to have a quick look at a few garages for cars in passing.  We finished the day with an early evening meal at 'Rusticos' and Italian restaurant near the old bridge at Arta.  It managed to desist from raining for a while to allow us to walk across the bridge and admire the effort that it must have taken the ancients to make such an edifice.  Thanks guys for thinking about us whilst you were going on your travels and for such a great day out.

Tonight it's Indian night at Palairos with Debbie and Jez, God I do need a spice fix!!

No blog next week as we shall be in Athens awaiting our trip home the next day.