The perfect Greek beach

Goodbye to Lugano and Switzerland and a short train trip to Chiasso, then Cernobbio by taxi to Hotel Asnigo, Again a fantastic aspect overlooking Lake Como, but a very steep path down to the town and the ferry. Back to Euros so a trip on the ferry to Como to sort that, but the banks closed at 4pm so just the autoteller. Como has a very fine duomo and square and a fine old shopping centre. The hotel had a good pool so that was the next stop. We had dinner on the terrace of the hotel on the promise of fireworks in honour of France’s National day. We were getting close to giving up at 11pm, but it was worth the wait as they were set up on a barge on the lake and were very spectacular

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A less steep path down to town and a side trip to see Ville D’Este, a very beautiful hotel for the beautiful people- a grand villa converted to an hotel in the 1800’s and with lovely gardens down to the lake. We got the ferry to Como and went to the Rubens exhibition, an excellent exhibition in a great old villa-Villa Olmo. The collection included some luxurious still lifes even with a yellow crested cockatoo in the middle of one, and the Circumcision of Christ, not often featured in religious paintings. Back for a siesta and a swim and we finished our sojourn in Italy at a high restaurant looking back over the lake to Como- a really spectacular aspect and good food too.

Friday Off to Athens

Hotel Novotel

The taxi as arranged at 8am and a slow trip to the airport, but no problems, Candy and Hal weren’t due to leave till 1.30 so goodbyes to them and the second instalment of our holiday. Switzerland and Italy have been great. Free seating with Easyjet and then the train into Athens- there is now a very good modern underground for Athens, which was easy to negotiate. We changed for Larissa and found the Novotel-recently refurbished with a swimming pool on the roof terrace and a great view of the Acropolis. Athens is such a white square city, sitting surrounded by barren hillsides, just as I remember it it still is special as the first Northern city we explored. We headed for the Plaka, via Syntagma Square, and in no time we were back in familiar territory not much changed from 32 years ago. We had a very pleasant meal to the bouzouki backdrop.

Saturday THE ISLAND CHIOS

Plane arrived Chios. As usual no children to meet us but before the luggage arrived Tim & Mary were there with wet hair just having a swim accross the road . Mary’s Birthday too So back to Aghia Georgiou and Marlon, Andrenicki and Julian at the house. Julian had 20 stitches just below his knee, a whole saga of rushing from one hospital to the next on a Sunday. We finished the day at Lithi, the idyllic Greek beach. just perfect Clear water , fine sand, sun lounges, the occasional coffee frappe

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