Our bags needed to be ready by 10.15 am for our 10.45 transfer to the new port to head off to Paros on the hydrofoil. Liz and Gert had warned us that getting on the Hydrofoil can be a chaotic experience. We were delighted to find out the authorities have changed the system since the others last did the water transfer. It was all quite civil. The only difficulty for me was lugging my now quite heavy suitcase up the gang plank over the anti slip ridges - calunk, calunk. 
This property is a small family-run concern with only 10 villas. Magda (another loud and lovely character) and her husband Michael (it’s really the Greek version of this but I don’t know how to spell it) are assisted by their only daughter, Eliki and son-in-law, Sargos. The food has been great! ‘Captain Sargos’ also has a boat and takes passengers out for tours of the surrounding islands and many beautiful swimming spots.
On our first evening we walked to a local taverna about 5 minutes away, recommended by Magda, and sat on the water's edge to enjoy our meal with another beautiful sunset!. We were able to watch as they ‘prepared’ octopus. Several of our group are octopus / calamari addicts and gave it the thumbs up! John had lamb and I had chicken souvlaki. I am adoring the tatziki!! It was dark by the time we were ready to head back to the Dolphin Hotel so the waiter gave us a torch to borrow. Magda had offered to come and pick us up when we were finished but it was a lovely night .
This place is so very picturesque I hope the photos can capture some of it’s beauty. The view from our room and balcony is stunning. I am sitting here typing up this blog - John has done some more writing on the computer also.
We had been told by other guests that there are mosquitoes here. The hint was confirmed by the mosquito nets around the bed and the mozzie coils on the balcony. We slept with the mozzie net around us the first night with no sign of any mozzies so haven’t bothered to do so again.
Yesterday we went on Sargos’ boat and had a fantastic time. I couldn’t believe it as he came up so close to so many cave like openings in the rocks and proceeded to sail through them. Obviously he has done this many times before!!! The colour of the water is like the water under the Forster / Tuncurry bridge on it’s best day. We had many swimming stops with a beautiful water temperature - we think about 22 degrees. When we climbed back on board after our first swim we were given a drink in a plastic cup. It looked like water but certainly wasn’t! It was the Greek version of the German Schnapps and Italian Grappa. Too many of them and you would be under the table!
When we returned from the boat trip we all gathered around the pool area. John announced he was ready for a swim in the pool. I prepared to take a photo of him about to enter the water but he dived in before I could get his photo. When he surfaced I could see blood streaming down his face. Gert, the nurse, and Marie who works for a doctor, assessed the damage and dealt with the injury. John did a good job - a gash in his forehead (5 steri strips), skin off his nose and also off under his moustache. He said all he felt was a slight graze. John took it quietly after that - no more head in the water for him for several days.
Gert (Gerlinde) was our next patient. When she came to dinner she was very woozy and chose to retire for the night before the meal was finished.
We had dinner here last night. Two nights each week the hosts put on a special meal night. Last night was the traditional Greek goat dinner. We could smell it cooking for most of the day - yum! It was served with potatos, baked eggplant topped with cheese and tomato and of course a Greek salad and lots of bread. We have never had goat before - I would liken the flavour and texture to tender lamb shanks. I would have it again! Desert was a kind of baklava - very sweet - John thoroughly enjoyed it. We also had a bottle of Greek white wine which was very good. We have tested many during our trip and this one was right up there with the best. Jann you would like it!
In our complimentary gift basket in our room is a packet of Greek delights and a bottle of Ouzo. We bought some ouzo in Santorini and enjoyed it. The delights can be likened to an apricot, honey and nut version of Turkish delight. John and I are sitting on the balcony having them with a cup of tea each as we look out onto the water, pool, beautiful gardens and palm trees swaying gently in the breeze. It is really tough - now let me think where would I prefer to be - here or back at school doing reports? Ummh.Again our villa has meal preparation facilities but we have only made tea. The coffee percolator has been in both of the last villas - good for all the coffee lovers.
The weather has been so beautiful! We awoke to another sunshiny day today. The slight breeze keeps us cool as the sun has some sting.
After breakfast this morning Magda offered to drive us to a nearby cave. We were told there were many steps to climb. The stalactite cave is 3 kms from the hotel. Due to John’s injury he decided to pass. I opted to stay here with him and catch up on my blogging. John has to go to the office here to post blogs. Magda doesn’t mind but it is a little more difficult doing it here. John has to do it on her computer as his won’t connect - of course I don’t understand any of the technical side of all this. I just type, look at photos and then leave the rest to my wonderful husband.
Mel H - have a think about a geology school excursion to this part of the world. John and I will come as chaperones. Could also link in with ancient history!!!
Magda has also told us that both Tom Hanks and Madonna have properties here as did Yves St Laurent - it would be part of his estate now. It seems like it is an up and coming location for the rich and famous. We will have to make sure we get back here before it is out of our price range!
Dave, Marie and Liz have just returned from the cave exploration. I haven’t heard all the details as yet but I did hear the steps are not an issue! Apparently there is even a hand rail! If I’d have gone all of this blog would not have been written!
Liz is now filling me in on the cave trip. I have seen her photos. This is a Community Enterprise for the Tourism and Culture development of Antiparos. It is located in the south east section of the island, atop Ai Yiannis (St John ) Hill at an altitude of 177 metres above sea level. Residents of Antiparos have known about the cave for a very long time, though much of it’s interior remained a mystery until 1673. It is said that Archilochus (c.710 - c. 650), an ancient lyric poet who hailed from Paros, appears to have been one of the first recorded visitors to the cave. The huge stalagmite found at the entrance is the oldest in Europe and goes back 45 million years. You need to descend 411 steps to the heart of the cave according to the brochure but Liz, Dave and Marie contest this. The temperature in the cave hovers around 15 degrees C - with humidity around 65%. It has been estimated that that between 80 and 120 years are required for a single centimeter of stalagmite to be created. Liz commented on the dates on some of the graffiti in the cave dating back to 1700’s and 1800’s. There are railings that prevent this happening now. Liz commented that there were no OHS issues at the caves which is a change from many places we have visited - the volcano site comes to mind immediately.
One of the villas here at the hotel is occupied by some archeologists who are digging each day on the island opposite here - named Despotika - it is actually the one you see in the background of most of our hotel photos. They have been here for quite some time. Yesterday we saw them with a bag of goodies they had uncovered. They are Greek and will apparently be taking their findings back to Athens. If we had more time we could head over there and to look at the archeological findings and virgin beaches.
Magda offered to take us into Chora, the island’s main town, but suggested we leave it until later when the sun had lost some of it’s sting. Magda cannot do enough for us - not only for us - she offers such amazing hospitality to all the guests. She said “Just ask for anything you want or want to do!”- this is definitely a ‘must return to spot’. The hotel seems to be full with 8 of us, 12 in a group from Britain, a French couple plus the archeologists.
Once again I have to give credit to Liz for such a fantastic choice. We keep thinking it can’t get any better - but it does! She certainly has arranged the trip perfectly. After the 2 fairly-on-the-go tours we had the unwind of the Croatian cruise, followed by our 4 nights in Santorini and now our 3 peaceful and perfect nights here in Antiparos. This is really unwind time! Usually after we have been away for a month or so I am feeling like it is time to head home - this has not happened this time!
The visit to Chora was great - we walked slowly through the town, which took us all of 15 minutes, saw the old castle walls which are still inhabited by local families and watched a beautiful sunset at a beach-side bar whilst sipping our cocktails. Magda then took us to the Hotel Galini where we all enjoyed a traditional Greek meal - lots of familiar food, but prepared quite differently. After the meal, Magda invited us to party on at a nearby bar, but we poor oldies all piked out, claiming exhaustion.Sadly tomorrow we need to check out of here and head back to Paros to catch our late afternoon flight to Athens to then fly straight on to Dubai.
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