Hi all, a quick roundup of our recent holiday destination and especially for Sharonf.
Please bear with me it might be a long one :-)
Halki is an island of 28 square kilometres and a population of about 295 people, in winter it's about 50.
Well what can I add?
There is 1 taxi (new Mercedes)(used by us), 1 new mini bus,1 small refuse wagon, 1 new dinky refuse wagon (most of the roads are very narrow, about 4/6 feet wide), 4 or 5 small flat backed vans, 2 or 3 forklift trucks, several small sized building type vehicles, about 15 to 20 cars and up to 25 motorbikes and scooters. There are no vehicles to hire on Halki and we did not see any donkeys in the village (Negg have you been here?).
Water is tankered in as required (every other day whilst we were there).
Buildings of note.
9 tavernas (2 others closed), 5 bars, 1 snack bar, 4 supermarkets, 3 gift shops, 2 travel/accommodation agencies, 1 post office, 1 brand new hotel/conference centre,
1 church in the village used on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings and also on special days (and can them bells ring?), there are too many small churches to count outside the village), Town Hall, small hospital (free except for medications), massage/beauty salon (I can recommend the massage), 1 clean public toilet block on the quayside and 1 well used ATM.
What's it like?
There were about 200 of us visitors staying in various accommadations in the village and about 50 in the yachts and cruise ships. Night times were very pleasent and quiet, during the day there were cruise ships and ferries which brought day trippers, which were good for the islanders.
There are 2 beaches within 10/15 minutes walk. The largest is of good sand and can get busy (day trippers), the other is of pebbles, and is quieter due to the route to the beach is harder to find and is used mostly by the locals, it is great for snorkelling. Both beaches have all the facilities that you need, a very good taverna and 2 sun beds + 1 umbrella for 6€.
Approximate essential costs?
1 ltr house wine - 8€, bottle of Mythos - 3€, 1 very large draught beer + 1 ouzo and Fanta lemon - 7€, meals without drinks for 2 - 20€ to 40€. The food was not always up to the standard that we are used to in Arillas.
Our room was of the usual basic Greek style and standard, but the view? you will have to see if I can post the photos. The route to our room from the harbour had up to 80 steps depending upon which way you went up. Was it worth the climb? I think so, Mary was not so sure in the heat. Would I go back again? Yes, Mary? Only if we stay on the sea front.
The people are marvellous, (as most Greeks are), it's not the cheapest island, We never had a problem with the ATM, which was in use a lot of the time giving approximately 1.27€ to the £.
What was not missed in Halki.
Mosquitoes, never saw or heard of any whilst we were on the island.
Traffic noise and having to watch out for vehicles.
Flower, flashing toys and lighter sellers, never saw one.
A donut man, I think they would have shot him.
Warning. The flies bite, the bees sting and if you swim in the harbour, watch out for sea urchins, there are plenty.
What spoiled the holiday?
Thomas Cook, changing our flights so that we missed our ferry/flight connections both way and having to stay in Rhodes.
Rhodes, the traffic was nerve shattering after 2 weeks of bliss, mosquitoes were everywhere and both of us were bitten even though we used jungle spray like mad.
And yes for those who know me of old, I did have health problems as per usual. I lost one crown after the 3rd day and had a bad limp from before the start of the holiday, I finally went to the hospital the day after we came home and found out I had chipped the bones in my ankle (now in full plaster, should be alright for Arillas on 28th September). How it happened is another story.
If you have stayed with me this far I will try to post some phots.
(http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/1604/hpim0998jw8.jpg)
View from our room.
(http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/8619/hpim0946dh0.jpg)
Some of the steps to our room, it's the top blue on the right.
(http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/7435/hpim0944ko5.jpg)
One of the main roads.
(http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/6417/hpim0916dx9.jpg)
The sandy beach.
(http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1576/hpim0895nb1.jpg)
The pebbled beach.
I hope you get some enjoyment out of this even if it's a laugh at my expense (one day I may tell you how I did the damage), cos even if I have to hop all the time in Arillas I will do. Thanks for looking. Mick and not forgetting (how could I) Mary.
That was really lovely to read. Sorry to hear about your delays though and mishaps along the way but it sounds like you had a very good time and the photos are great. I have no idea where Halki is so I shall have to look it up, but it looks lovely and quiet. You need get fit for your Arillas trip now, what a pain having to come home to all that.
Fantastic report MnM.
It looks and sounds like avery nice place. Hmm no mozzies neither, thats a bonus.
Must look it up myself.
riggers.
Mick that was a great report, thought about Mary when you mentioned the steps! Sounds lovely and peaceful, how awful to be spoilt by the delays.
You will have to tell me how you got the chipped bones next time we meet in Vavilas!
Love to you both
Sharon xxx
What a brilliant report! Thank you very much :) I have to look into Halki as well now because it sounds like a lovely place.
Shame about your health troubles but let's hope you will be fine for your Arillas holiday :)
I love a bit of sympathy :-) so I have added some more photos, a little bit of info and my avatar (got round to it at last).
Which do I prefer?
For the beauty of the buildings, peace and quiet? Halki.
For the people, food, atmosphere, heart and soul, it's got to be Arillas.
We have not found anywhere that can beat Arillas where it realy counts.
I still think Halki is a beautiful place to visit, so have a look at these photos.
Our view at dawn
(http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/9416/hpim1083pz4.jpg)
The harbour
(http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/4233/hpim0934sh3.jpg)
(http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/7335/hpim1008qr0.jpg)
A very busy time
(http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/9127/hpim1001ro4.jpg)
The old town
(http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/4903/hpim1025uk9.jpg)
Take care
(http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/5415/hpim0983de1.jpg)
Leaving Halki
(http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/451/hpim1099ai9.jpg)
Sharon, not a drop of alcohol had past my lips for nearly 24 hours when the err um, accident happened honest.
Thanks for taking time to look at this. Mick.
We visited Halki a number of years ago and by the look of your photos stayed very close to your accomadation, if not in the same place. Thanks for reviving some very pleasent memories,
Ivan
It looks lovely - i must put it on my list of places to visit.
Thank you for taking the time to share it with us.
Mick what a gorgeous view from your balcony. It looks a beautiful place.
That foot looks painful, poor Mick, right enough with the sympathy, spill the beans!! and tell us all what happened.
Sharon xx
hi all,
for Ivan, the place we stayed at is called 'Kaliopi'
SharonF, I know you won't gossip so I will say it just for you so don't tell anybody, ok.
In the middle of May I went over to Ireland on my motorbike and I had to stop for petrol in Wales, well when I stopped I did not put my foot down proper and I slipped, the bike then went over and landed on my leg and foot, I was a bit crushed. So what was I to do? end my holiday before it was started or carry on. So I carried on, said nothing to Mary until I arrived home a week later. I then ended up with earache. :-)
If I had had my foot checked over I would not have been able to get my boot on and I would not have been able to ride my bike.
Once at home I now had another dilemma, if I now had my foot checked I could end up as I am now, with a pot on and I did not fancy swimming in the sea in Greece with a pot on my leg. So I decided to forget about it until I returned home and then get it seen to. Another earache from the nurses.
As luck would have it I have several walking sticks that I have had to use over the years so I got around Halki with them and the odd medicinal drink.
I will let Mary tell you her comments to me about the said incident and follow ups at a later date.
Now don't forget, I am trusting you to say nowt.
Lol, Mick and she who sometimes is listened to. ;-)
What are you like? Typical bloke... but then if I could have stood the pain I probably would have kept quiet too so that I could still get away.
LOL Mick, BG you took the words out of my mouth, typical bloke or what!
Promise Mick, wont tell anyone haha
Sharon x