Halkidiki Treat

  Our Halkidiki treat with my sister and her husband came just at the right time, giving Z’n’me a welcome respite from the demanding home and garden projects we were involved in. The weather, too, lightened up after a week of regular rain squalls and so we readily enjoyed seeing the Gerakini area in all its glorious verdure. There was also a gloriously gnarled olive tree.

                

   

                               

  There is a real concern that some areas in Greece are being over-fished in terms of tourism. Certainly, it is said that the infrastructures of incredibly popular islands such a Mykonos and Santorini cannot continue to cope with the magnitude of the high season ingress. Thought: will they implode or explode?!In Gerakini there were some signs of this phenomenon. You can see the hotel blocks and lines of recliners and umbrellas stretching a fair distance, though nothing like the claustrophobic extent in some of the Spanish resorts.

             

                   

This was early season so there were few locals and most cars parked around were from Romania or Serbia. And it’s not just Greek resorts that can be inundated now – a couple staying near us had been here for a week in May and now 2 weeks in June – to escape the tourist hordes in their home area of Cornwall.

 Our hotel was the 4* Philoxenia Hotel in the Psakoudia area – a large complex with two pools and lots of recreational facilities and events organized.

                                                

 We particularly enjoyed an evening of music provided by the Thessaloniki band The Beetroots. Their singer had the amazing ability not only to sing the songs well but also to emulate the voice. We could almost believe Elvis and Tom Jones singing to us!

                                             

 We were on a full catering programme so we dutifully staggered to the dining area three times a day – we had completely forgotten what hunger felt like! And the access to booze was unlimited so …… :o

                                                     

 The chef, Marinos Chontrolidis, was exceptional. He produced vast buffets with a great variety of very tasty foods. One evening he even manned a gyro stand that was very popular. Our particular favourites were his moussakas, giant beans in tomato sauce, pasta flora as well as light, not-over-sweet doughnuts. Waiters Aris, Ioanna and Markos were always ready to oblige, smiling and up for a wee chat.

Early  morning a band of cleaners, pool tenders and kitchen staff swept into the hotel keeping the services smoothly efficient. Post-Pilates work-out, I went for a seaside walk in the morning cool on the beach. Sometimes the still slightly sluggish brain was better able to unravel tricky crossword clues there.  After breakfast the pool was only six steps from our room and couldn’t be ignored.

I’ll share with you some of the soothing scenes I recorded to remind me of our great break.

                                                                                        

 

On the radio today they announced that Halkidiki was very busy this year. All the reasonably priced accommodation was booked and all that remained were rooms for rent at 150 euros per night! We were so lucky to go when we did. We’re back refreshed and ready to pick up on home and garden projects.

My final shot –taken through the mosquito screen! – is an early morning one of tranquil time.