Eleven days to go...

Cafe culture in Arta

 Not long now before we go back to the UK for our summer "break", I say that in quotes because I suspect that it'll be far more hectic then it has been here and we'll probably have to dodge the weather as well.  Hopefully our tenants will soon be sorted out with their new house and we can get on with redecorating ready for the new people moving in.

On Sunday we took David to the airport at Preveza for his flying visit to the UK.  He kindly let us use his car while he was away and we decided to have a few days out and about while we had the chance.  Thanks David.

The main pedestrian street in Arta.

Sandra in a world of her own in Amfilochio.

So on Monday we went for a trip around the Amvraticus gulf on what for us was a nostalgia trip.  Firstly to Arta, where we stopped for our usual coffee but only to find that our usual haunt was under new management and name.  So we decided to try a different place a little further down the street only to find it had been taken over by the people who had owned the first cafe where we used to go to.  We must have been drawn by their magnetism!  Then whilst walking down the main pedestrianised street, Sandra looking at shoe shops and me as usual looking anywhere which wouldn't cost me money, she disappeared.  Another new pair of shoes later she reappeared but, to quote Sandra, "they were a bargain".  Arta is a proper Greek city and a must visit for people out here who want to see life away from tourism, and also prices are far cheaper in the shops.

Sandra and Liz at Janet's 70th party.

The Lady herself with hubby Mike.

 Further around the gulf we called in for some late lunch at Amfilochio.  It was horrible, neither of us liked it, she had a salad and I had an omelette, how far wrong could you go with that!  Never mind it is a charming town and very few foreigners get out of their cars there so again it's worth a visit.  A trip home from there around the lakes completed the day.

Looks buggered don't it!

Tuesday was a trip to Panagia for Janet's seventieth birthday party, Tony and Liz went in Timoni, but with a forecast of windy conditions there were only two sailors brave enough to venture out there.  I have been too busy doing bits to Lesanda that as yet I have not got the sails back on her and of course we had the car so we went in that (my excuse and I'm sticking to it!).  Great do Janet and Mike hope you had a great birthday.

Tuesday evening we went to Nidri for a last drink at Pano's before we leave and for something to eat at what was Il Sepora great night.  When we got home we had a flood.  Oh no I thought as if I have not had enough of bloody floods.  So before we went to bed we had to bail and pump all the water out of the heads (toilet).  It was warm fresh water so we knew it wasn't going to sink over night after we had turned off the water heater and pump.  On investigation the next day it looked like the water was actually coming out of the immersion heater element, bugger!  A couple of months ago we had had problems with the calorifier (hot water tank), and we fixed it without having to remove the unit out.  I should have done.  I have it out now and the element is shot at, the water under pressure was getting inside the element and squirting through the connections.  Of course none of the chandlers in Lefkas have that model immersion element so I've joined the pipes up without the calorifier in line and I'll get a new one back in the UK.