Talbot Tour



Sunday 3rd January 2016

Flights, Hotels and Ferries booked.

Sunday 24th April 2016

After a lazy start we left home and drove to Gatwick Airport and dropped the car off at Purple Parking. Riding the courtesy bus to North Terminal we checked in to the Gatwick Premier Inn.

After booking dinner and finding our room we relaxed for a while. We watched the Queen's 90th birthday TV programme then took the lift down to dinner.

After dinner we took our case to South Terminal. As we have an early flight we can drop off our hold luggage the night before. Unfortunately Gatwick had a power failure and Easyjet's self service baggage kiosks were all out of service. The only member of staff told us that they wouldn't be back on until the morning.

Dragging our case back to the hotel we realised that we would have to get up earlier to get our case dropped as we could expect a long queue.

Monday 25th April 2016

Our alarm went off at four and we jumped out of bed and checked out of the hotel before riding the monorail to the South Terminal. The queue for bag drop was already quite long. We printed our own baggage tag and weighed our case. Putting the tag on we sent our case off and hoped to see it again in Heraklion.

Passing through security was easy and we were soon sat having breakfast in the Flying Horse. Our gate was called and we boarded the plane for our three and a half hour flight to Crete.

Arriving we found the Car Hire desk. It wasn't one of the main national companies but a local firm. Having completed the formalities including an old style credit card payment slip we headed out on the road to Malia where our hotel was.

Following the example of the locals we drove half on the hard shoulder. We were overtaken on double white lines and drove at 90kph in a 50kph limit. But when in Greece etc.

Arriving at the Akrogiali Beach Apartments we found reception but it was empty. After wandering around for a while we found a member of staff who said, "Bar and Boss". Taking this to mean that the owner was at the bar we walked through. Just in time to see the owner heading for reception.

Having checked in and changed we strolled down to the pool bar for a welcome drink. We chatted to the owner "Loula" and the barman "Michael" for a while before taking a walk along the beach.

Walking out for dinner we found Taverna Pyrgos that did traditional Cretan food. Cooked by George the owner's Mama. After a nice dinner we walked back and went to bed.

Tuesday 26th April 2016

Waking up this morning the wind had got up before us. We had a nice breakfast on the balcony before driving to Knossos. Parking the car and paying the entry fee. We chuckled at the German lady who was insisting that the entry fee was only 8 euros. The lady selling the tickets was getting quite cross as that was the concession price for OAP's and the German lady clearly wasn't that old.

We wandered around the site avoiding the coach tours and listening to the staff blowing their whistles and telling people off for climbing on the archaeology. When we had seen enough we left and had coffee, feta cheese pies with honey and Greek yoghurt with fruit & nuts in a cafe next to the car park.

Driving back to the hotel we sat by the pool and had a drink before retiring for a siesta. Later that evening we walked into town to find dinner.

Wednesday 27th April 2016

Leaving the hotel we drove two hours down the coast to Rethimno. Parking at an open air car park we walked down to the sea front past the mosque. Arriving at the Venetian Fortress we looked around then strolled back towards the car, zigzagging through the narrow winding alleys.

We came across a little Taverna in a courtyard beside the alley we were ealking down. Stopping for lunch and a toilet break we shared a Cretan Salad and a 3 Cheese platter. As we tried to pay we were presented with a peice of coconut cake soaked in sweetened coconut milk.

Full we found the municipal park and sat in the shade and watched the people.

After queuing for a while we got the car out of the car park and headed home. Nearly back to Malia and approaching the road works we were following a slow moving boat on a trailer. Martin indicated and pulled out to overtake. Half way past we saw the flashing blue lights on the pickup towing the boat. Oh bugger well we were committed so completed the overtake. Time will tell if we get a visit from the police. It wouldn't be the first country that Martin has got a ticket in.

Back at the hotel for the now traditional drink sitting at the pool bar chatting with the staff.

Thursday 28th April 2016
Heading into Heraklion this morning to sightsee and collect our fast ferry tickets for Santorini. Following the parking signs we wove through the back streets until we came to a multistorey car park. Pulling into the enterance we got out and a member of staff whipped the car away to park it. With our ticket in hand we eventually found our way out of the back streets.

Declining the "free" roses and selfie stick salesmen we found the travel agent and collected our tickets. Walking to the harbour we walked out to the Fortress for a photo opertunity. Walking back we heard raised voices coming from one of the fishing boats. Turned out that the man driving the boat had managed to run over the rope between a bouy and the harbour wall and was close to getting it caught in his propeller.

We stood and watched the entertainment as bystanders and other boat owners offered constructive suggestions as to how best to get untagled. Walking up through town we found the fountain and decided to have a coffee. Getting the car back was trouble free as was driving back to the hotel.

As soon as we got Wifi we got an email from the ferry company saying that the ferry we had just collected the tickets for had been cancelled. We should go to the agent to be issued with tickets for a different ferry. We got Michael the barman to phone the company and sort it out for us. We can now change the tickets in the morning. After tea and baguettes on the balcony it was time for an early night.

Friday 29th April 2016

Up at six o'clock load the car and leaving the key to the hotel room on the table we left for the thirty minute drive to the airport. Returning the car went smoothly and we found a taxi to the port.

We found the Seajet booking office and changed out tickets to Hellenic Seaways Highspeed 6.

While we were waiting to board an articulated lorry leaving the port caught the gate with the back of his truck and brought it crashing down. Fortunately no one was hurt and we watched the security guards and the driver discussing the finer points of manoeuvring an HGV. After an half hour wait we boarded and leaving our suitcase in the baggage zone on the car deck we climbed the stairs to the passenger deck and found our seats. Grabbing a coffee it was then time to snooze for an hour or so.

Arriving at Santorini we disembarked and found a car hire company. Arranging a two day hire we drove up the switchbacks to the top of the cliff. A short distance down the road towards Fira we pulled in to our hotel. After a short wait we had checked in and stood on our balcony looking at the spectacular view over the caldera.

Jumping back in the Smart car we drove out to Oia, the town on the northern tip of Thira. Walking through the narrow lanes of town to the Byzantine fort. After a while we drove back to Thira and had dinner at "Mama's Place" before returning to our hotel for the night.

Saturday 30th April 2016

Driving away from the hotel we made our way to Akrotiri and spent an hour or so walking around the ruins buried under metres of pumice from the eruption of the volcano.

Leaving the excavated town we drove on to Akrotiri Lighthouse and looked back across the sea to our hotel. On our way back we stopped in at Pyrgos to walk up to the two churches. All the way up we passed burnt out tins where the town had been lit up for the Orthodox Easter parade of the crucifixion. Back down near the road we stopped for coffee.

Driving into Fira we spent another hour or two walking around the shops before a late lunch / early dimner. Back in our room we watched the beautiful sunset.

Sunday 1st May 2016

Checking out of the hotel it's time to move on. After a drive around the island and coffee in a cafe on tje edge of the cliff we drove back down to the port and returned the car.

This time the fastjet ferry took five and a half hours to get to Pireas Port for Athens via Naxos, Mikonos and Tinos.

Leaving the port we walked the short distance to the nearest Metro station for the 80 cent ride into the centre of Athens. The station was closed with the barriers locked so we flagged down a taxi and paid €10 instead. Turns out that the workers were on strike.

The taxi driver dropped us off at Monastiraki Station. Walking through the crowd we headed north to oir hotel. After a short walk we foind the closed fruit market and our hotel. Checking in we took the lift up to our room and looking out of the window we saw the Acropolis lit up for the night.
After unpacking we climbed the short flight of stairs totthe roof terrace and looked out over the city whilst havinga little drink before bed.

Monday 2nd May 2016

We spent the day exploring Athens on foot. Climbing up to the Parthanon we marveled at the ancient structure and the conservation work going on. At ten o'clock the tour busses started arriving and it suddenly got very crowded. Having seen what we wanted to see we decided it was time to go.

Wandering away from the Acropolis dodging the cafe staff trying to get us to eat in their cafe we found the park. We found a tortoise and a pond of terrapins and lots of windfall oranges.

Arriving at the Parliament building we watched the guard perform their drill. At the Metro station we found the excavated ruins they found whilst digging the station. This is probably the only station in the world with a grave complete with skeleton in the ticket hall.
Exhausted we made our way back to the hotel for the night

Tuesday 3rd May 2016

Buying a two day "Hop on hop off" bus ticket we decided to spend the day sightseeing from the open top bus. As it is Easter holiday all the museums and archeological sites are closed.

Getting off the bus in an area that we hadn't explored we started walking up hill. Before we realised where we were we had climbed half way up Lycabetus Hill. Having come this far we completed the climb to the small church at the top and were delighted to find a cafe there as well. Sipping coffee we watched the rain from a short shower cause everyone else who had taken seats outside rush for the indoor seating. By the time we returned to the hotel another day was over.

Wednesday 4th May 2016

We visited the ancient Olympic stadium today and spent time shopping before collecting our hire car and driving it back to the hotel. With no Sat nav we got a little lost but eventually made it into the underground car park for the night.

Thursday 5th May 2016

Up early this morning and weaving our way out of town we drove the two and a half hours to Delphi. Parking the car on the side of the road by the edge of a cliff we paid the entry fee.

This acording to legend is the centre of the world. Apparently Zeus released an eagle from each end of the world and Delphi is where they met. The Sibyl of Oracle of Delphi was consulted by all world leaders back in the day.
Why they couldn't have found a bit of flat ground to build on I don't know. We climbed up and up before reaching the stadium. Getting back down was easier and Martin was delighted to find that the Gymnasium was closed.
The drive back to Athens went smoothly until the last part weaving back through the narrow one way back streets. With the car parked again we treated ourselves to another drink on the roof terrace.

Friday 6th May 2016

Packing for the trip home we checked out of our hotel and loaded the car. With our flight not until evening we decided to sight see on our slow trip to the airport. Heading west we drove out to Corinth and the canal. It is a very deep and narrow canal with sheer sides cut through the isthmus linking the Ionian Sea with the Aegean Sea. We visited both ends of the canal and watched the bridge sink to allow three boats through.

Leaving Corinth we drove back past Athens towards the airport but turned off north before we got there. We pulled in at the battlefield of Marathon and walked around the burrial tumulus of the Atheans. Driving further on we found the victory column and were a little disapointed to find it was a reproduction not the original.

Heading to the airport we returned the car and found a cafe in the terminal as we were too early to drop our suitcase. Jackie collected food and drink from the counter. Boy did she get a surprise when the miniture bottle of white wine turned out to be a bottle of Tsipouro which was 40 percent proof alcohol.

Finally checked in we boarded the flight home and collecting our car from the car park we arrived home at midnight with another adventure comleted.