Cretian Times Day 8

31/08/2010
Well it's au revoir to Matthew, Karen & Alex who we met 7 days ago on the inbound flight. They have been our evening drinking buddies ever since but at 11:00 this morning we said our goodbyes and made our way back to the sun & pool. Thanks for the company I think we will be a little lost tonight!

Cooking on stones (not gas) last night. They basically heat a lump of rock to the temperature of a McDonalds apple pie and then give you meat and prawns to cook.

The heat and steam generated by this process is something else. I mean you wouldn't sit 1ft from your oven at home watching food cook. Why do they think it will be a dining experience here then! Oh and they make you wear a ridiculous bib as well just in case you weren't hot enough in the first place.

Already looking forward to my pre dinner drink at Pat's bar. That is, Patricia from Poland the rather jovial young lady that runs the Cafe Bar in the evening.


She has now taken to pouring my first pint when she spots me at the top of the hotel steps so it is ready for immediate consumption 30 seconds later. Excellent service.

From the following video see if you can spot the person that obviously leads a simple life but has taken to following me around.

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Cretian Times Day 7

30/08/2010
The nice sea breeze we have had for the past few days has gone. Very humid and hot.


Stroll along the beach early this morning resulted in major fluid loss and a state of overheat. Spent 20 mins standing in pool to recover.

It would appear that a quarter of the hotel went through a changeover yesterday. Mrs CT quite pleased as there are now people who are whiter than her.





The downside is that the 3 apartments at the end of the little cul-de-sac branch of our pool are now occupied by couples that have spent the last 5 or so years breeding. There are so many children in the water that it has taken on the appearance of the River Ganges during a festival.

Just finished reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. What an excellent book. Must try and get hold of the next one asap.


Well it's time for my quiet time and the best drink of the day, see below. We are eating at the Aroma Stone tonight. Apparently they give you a hot rock, some meat and you have to do the cooking - lazy buggers!





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Location:Hersonissos,Greece

Cretian Times Day 6

29/08/2010
Nothing much to report this morning. Took some pictures and a video from the east bank - that's the grass bank on the otherside of the "river" from our room.

Video from the east bank

12:30 - Counted 18 flights coming in since 9am. I know that is sad but I have got stuck doing the crossword and the cricket hasn't started yet.

13:00 - Mrs CT just devoured roast beef lunch. Beautiful pink meat from a whole sirloin. No yorkies however. Just as well because Dr Dukan would not approve (more about this pesky French dietician later in the week).

18:45 - local bar as I have already said has good cheap beer and 3 TV screens. What is even more interesting is that they are showing 3 different games at the same time (only 1 commentary though otherwise it would be very confusing).





Just seen Sunderland nick a win in the 93rd minute - some very unhappy people in here. May as well stay and watch 2nd half of Villa game.

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Location:Hersonissos,Greece

Cretian Times Day 5

Last night had a very good Thai meal sitting at the next table to the mighty Dewi Morris (for those of you who do not follow the egg shaped ball he played scrum half for England & Sale. Now part of the Sky Sports commentary team ).


Slept until 9am this morning - must be starting to relax. The crickets sang all night long exclaimed Mrs CT. Do they do any other songs or is it just Lionel Ritchie? I enquired.

Very lazy day on our terrace getting burnt but chillin at the same time.


Reading my first book for a year (I know I must do better). Have to say it is really good and I will get the next 2 in the trilogy.


Anyway, off over the road with the lads for a couple of beers and some football.


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Location:Hersonissos,Greece

Cretian Times Day 4

27/08/2010
Nice dinner last night at Red Saffron Taverna. Man opposite lifts left buttock and lets rip. Sorry mate but I and the other 30 diners nearby are not deaf even if you are. Mrs CT starts to cry


Anyway shortly before this event came the news we had been awaiting "hello this is reception we have an alternative room for you and it's ready now. We are coming to get you". Oh my! Well the next 20 mins of suitcases being flung open and wardrobes being emptied was something to behold. My comment of "if you can do it at that speed, why does it take you 2 days at home" was not well received by Mrs CT.


Lovely dual aspect terrace which means we get sun until 15:30 - perfect. Nice big room as well. More pics over the next few days.

10:00 When we visited this resort in May 2009 (different hotel) we enjoyed the 5km walk along the coast into the nearest main town of Hersonissos. This morning we decided to repeat the event.


After 4km, 1.5litres of water and an entire pack of blister plasters, Mrs CT finally declared "next time we are getting a taxi". This also has my vote. Walking in 38c of heat with a breeze coming from the sea acting to dehydrate even further, sweaty feet etc is just not the holiday activity we had in mind.

12:00 Hersonissos at this time of year is much like any other big resort - full of shops selling cheap tat, bars offering beers and cocktails at knock down prices and chicken & chips as far as the eye can see. As you enter the main strip, the smell of last night's vomit and beer wafts faintly from behind the locked doors of such places as Shenanigans Irish Bar as well as 30 or so similar establishments. The following photo is from the outside of the local night spot frequented by the interesting youngsters of the Dutch nation. Needless to say the picture from the English equivalent is just too horrifying & chavvy to show!


13:00 - Lunch at the excellent Acropolis at the other end of town. Delightfully touristy - the sort of place that doesn't have a menu, just a big album full of polaroids of the various dishes on offer. We choose the delicious stifado, a good memory from last year, and a plate of calamari. Yes the place does have trees growing through it - well holding it up probably.


Taxi back to our lovely new abode is summoned.

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Location:Hersonissos,Greece

Cretian Times Day 3

25/08/2010
Very lazy day on the grass today (sun terrace not usable due to absence of sun which hides all day the otherside of the building).
The hotel have possibly come up with an alternative room but I do not want to say much in case I jinx the transaction.


08:00 - I make comment at breakfast on how many single men were present. This anomily was explained on the walk back to our room by a corresponding number of single females on the sunbeds. This was an intricate shift system designed to protect the couples carefully chosen space for the day from unscrupulous late risers or worse still the anti bed-bagging police employed by the hotel. These secretive bunch will remove towels & personal affects in the blink of an eye. They do leave a very polite note though.


19:30 - Not much more to say. Usual couple of pints in the local over the road while waiting for Mrs CT to get ready for dinner. Hope to have news of new room, complete with burning sun, tomorrow.

Location:Hersonissos,Greece

Cretian Times Day 2

25/08/2010
"Simon are you awake? Hello, are you awake?"
Well I am now. What time is it?
"7.00am"
Oh good!
"Let's have an early start. Don't want to waste any of our holiday" exclaims Mrs CT.
Not that we had an early start yesterday, off we march to breakfast. Anything to keep the peace. Suppose I can always grab a few hours on the sunbed. Nice beach at this time of the morning.


10:10 - Been sent to figure out how to use the electronic booking terminals (yes really) for the 5 separate restaurants they have here. Heaven forbid I am going to get to sit/sleep in the sun!


Table booked at Thai restaurant for Friday. The terminals come online at 10am each morning and unless you are in line at that time, your choice of eatery for the evening 2 days hence is limited to one. The queues were 30 long with not a smile amongst them. Hotel/Thomsons please note that holidays should be a good and positive experience and not a chore/bore in order to obtain your daily sustenance.

Having said that, lunch was excellent washed down with a bottle of local rose.

Now time for some sun and zzzs on our own terrace.......or that was the plan.....!


This is the only sun that we receive each day (on our own terrace that is) making the very comfortable but misnamed sunbeds obsolete. Not quite the value for money we had expected from a swim-up-room. Action required....
......"we are back at 15:00" says the note on the Sensatori Advisors office." Standby for a visit from Mr. T is what I say.

19:00 "we will ask the hotel if an alternative room can be found". Crikey that was an easy meeting. Let's see what happens!..... meantime a pint beckons from over the road


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Location:Hersonissos,Greece

Cretian Times Day 1

24-08-2010
Usual silly o'clock flight causing the alarm to rudely shrill at 03:00am.
Bags all packed and off we go.
Stansted at 6am an uneasy mixing of suits waiting for their day flights to somewhere not too far away and the holiday makers enjoying their first beer of the fortnight.


Onto the aircraft, which has seen better days, for a bum numbing 4 hours of children crying and loud chavs. Thankfully as this is a premium day flight, the latter are in short attendance.


Breakfast eaten and now settling down to a couple of hours of "How to Train your Dragon". Any hope of it being a quirky wildlife feature is quickly squashed by the squeaks of delight coming from our younger co-passengers.


Roll on Crete and the sanctuary of our private terrace, sunbeds and sleep...........

.......more tomorrow


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Location:Crete

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