We hope to relive last year’s walking holiday in Crete with the same people plus another couple and Mark. Last year Helen left early and this year she’s arriving late.
We began our journey at a civilised hour and picked up the Rileys in Maggi’s car to drive to the airport. We dumped them at the checkin area and proceeded to the Club Europe and Fast Track and then onto the Lounge.
The Club Lounge seemed like Euston when the drivers are striking. We wandered around and eventually discovered two seats together in the far corner. Once settled we did what you do in a lounge eat drink and read.
The plane set off more or less on time, arrived on time at Athens and then we waited on the tarmac for a landing slot. Smoothly through customs and then outside in the warm Greek air. We had a mini panic about where was the shuttle coach but that was soon resolved when a small bus arrived plastered with the name of the hotel.
Rafina
A bumpy ride on the bus to Avra Hotel in Raffina via the back streets took about 25 minutes. The modern hotel stood beside the port so we will only have a short walk in the morning to where we pick up the Ferry to Andros.
A meal out with Riley’s, Clare and Martyn near the hotel then back to bed at the hotel.
The Ferry sets of at 7:30 so we all agree to meet for breakfast at 6:15.
Maggi sets the alarm for 5:45 and I rise. It feels like a real shock to the system getting up so early after going to bed at nearly midnight. If you then throw in the two hour time shift from London to Greece you maybe understand how I felt.
After a large but un-exciting breakfast we walked down to the harbour where several ferries awaited departure. We found the right one and then found a spot to close my eyes for a short while.
The 2 hour journey passed without incident and we arrived on Andros on time.
Jonathan greets us in Andros
We walked off the ferry and immediately Jonathan waves and gives everyone a hug. We step outside where our bus and driver greet us. We take a windy road trip from Gavrio where we landed for ¾ hour to the capital of Andros, Xora.
We arrive at our boutique hotel Anemomilos in Xora and are handed our keys to room 8 which has a nice view of the countryside and sea. Standing on the balcony I can hear the sounds of the surrounding country, the occasional distant barking or the rooster crowing. Below a Bourgonvillia in bloom attempts to climb the whitewashed walls of the hotel and provides a beautiful display of flowers.
The group re-gathered by the small hotel swimming pool and we all wandered down to the town guided by Jonathan. A lunch of salad and a few bits and we walked back to the hotel where I fell asleep for a couple of hours.
A pool swim in the late afternoon sun, a shower and then a meet up for the band at 6:30.
We wandered down to town with Jonathan and Myriam leading the way and ended up at a taverna by the beach. A pleasant enough meal of the usual sort of stuff and then a tramp back up the hill to the hotel.
