Our ‘season’ opened with our first guests, Marina and John
arriving while weather was still unsettled with thunder and lightning storms –organized
purely for their entertainment! So
off we went, anyway, to the Katerini beach area, to find weather much the same
there.
On our first evening stroll, we chanced upon a
cultural exchange performance – the young Russian dancers stole the show.
Intricate choreography, impeccable training and the wonderful poses these wee
dancers struck really made their performance special. Later we go to Ta Binelikia where we enjoyed a nice
meal-with-sea-view. To my delight later on we saw the little dancers enjoying
their suppers too. The blondest, cutest, most cherubic of all sat, amid gales
of laughter from his fellow-dancers, doing an extreme-chip-face-stuffing stint-
- well, you gotta do naughty some time!
We were staying at the Principal
New Leisure Hotel – I felt there was a ‘Marigold’ missing somewhere in
there! Here are internet shots, but I fear the use of a wide-angled lens gives
an extended sense of space. Z and I even braved their pool twice though it was
a bit ch-ch-chill still.
The Greek spirit is a naturally hospitable
one: get the right people in the right place and Greek tourism is seen at its
best. We were well taken care of by Eleni and Manolis, who cheerily worked long
hours and brought that personal touch to our stay.
Z gladly befriended
Gino, a wee stray that Eleni had adopted and who had recently been run over by
a car. He wore his scars well and could throw the saddest glance, but was
totally mobile, with no loss of appetite, so all good.
On our second day we were chased
off the beach, without so much as a toe-wetting, by a fast-approaching storm,
so we took refuge at the Capetanios Taverna
Ouzeri for meze. Now something clearly got lost in translation for we were
served a banquet and I bitterly regret having no pictorial evidence of it. We
had whitebait, prawns, mussels, roast vegetables, dips and chips, beers and
wine, with excellent, friendly service. I could not believe we paid 21 euros
all together for what really a substantial meal. Waddling home, we determined
there would be no evening meal, so decided to go to the nearby Cosmopolitan Hotel and Spa. Our
charming waiter not only whizzed up some mean cocktails but also proffered this
artistic fruit platter – mmm! All this to the background sound of 60s and 70s disco
music – magic!
Next day the weather improved so
we went for a stroll round Dion,
sanctuary of Zeus. Another dear green place, one understands why in ancient
times people believed the gods resided near such verdance. I love this place,
where dark-blue butterflies flitted about, while frogs gave up rasping croaks, as
if someone had just told them a very dirty joke! As you can see we had some
sunshine and as we walked along a column would suddenly appear or a forlorn
little statue.
My favourite philosophers are now housed in the museum.
Shame, really - to me they seemed more reflective in the green marshland. And these ancient peoples were into their bling. 
Here are our intrepid tourists
still smiling after tramping vast distances. So, time for a spot of lunch. Now
both Z and I have great reservations about establishments that resort to
touting outside for custom; it’s either suspicious or smacks of desperation.
This time, however, instead of going with gut reaction, we thought of our gut
needs and went to the café directly opposite the museum- you have been warned!
Here we are smiling there …. before receiving the bill! Their fare was meagre
and unimaginative, the establishment basic in every sense. They had the gall to
charge us more than the Capetanios which had had served generous, impressive
dishes in a wonderful setting. That, sadly, can be, another aspect of Greek
tourism where providers think they have an endless stream of clients so make no
real effort. They do their country such a disservice.
But let’s end on a positive note:
Mount Olympus continued to be reticent about showing its magnificence and its
peak remained shrouded in cloud. So here is a shot taken earlier, and by
someone else, of that awesome, mystical mountain.
