Friday,19th July 2019
Today we had had a leisure day – woke up about 9.00 am and had breakfast in the hotel. Hotel Mavridis is a family run hotel right on the beach hence we had breakfast listening to the waves rand rippling on the sandy beach, while the sun beds and sun shades were being set right to welcome the first guests.
This morning I wasn’t in the mood to spend the day on the beach but rather go on a sightseeing drive in the neighbourhood. We are at the most northern part of Chalkidiki – a region known for its three jutting peninsulas – Nea Plagia is situated some 20 km before the bridge that attaches the peninsula of Kassandra to the mainland. The other two peninsulas are Sithonia in the middle and Athos most east.
We drove for a while along the coastline but then we went off on a local road and arrived to what seemed like a canal. On one side – on the Aegean Sea, there was a small shipyard for yachts and fishing boats while on the other side, also the Aegean Sea, where we finally stopped, there was a pretty little marina with fishing boats and pleasure boats.
We then crossed the bridge to get the view of the mainland from the peninsula side and enjoyed watching boats go by……
By then it was time to have some refreshment and as we walked along the beach, we stopped at Mykonos Sea Side cafe and restaurant – very pretty and trendy and here we enjoyed a refreshing glass of fresh orange juice and cold water.
Here we also saw how life was before the bridge was built and how a ferry was used to cross the little sea canal.
After our little expedition, it was time to return to Nea Plagia and go for a swim……. the water was beautiful, calm, clean and refreshing. We spent a few hours swimming and relaxing under the sun shade, watching the different hawkers passing by and attracting people to buy their wares: plastic pegs, chains, necklaces, dresses, sneakers and doughnuts and boiled fresh corn on the cob – that last one is what I succumbed to – I had to get one as I just love fresh corn on the cob and here it’s presented salted…….. mmmmm…….. delicious!
Later in the afternoon we went up to our room to shower and relax – our internet connection doesn’t work too well and I was somewhat frustrated that I could not add my pictures to my blog ……..
This evening we were invited by Gerry’s good friend George to go out for a meal together with his wife Athena. We met George at the hotel and he was genuinely pleased to meet up with Gerry again after five years.his wife joined us somewhat later and we made our way to a restaurant just a couple of hundred meters away from the hotel. We were invited to a simple but ever so delicious seafood and fish meal accompanied by a fine local Sauvignon blanc wine. The company and food were great this evening!
By the time we got back to our hotel it was gone 12.30 and we agreed to meet up with George and Athena tomorrow morning on the beach for a good swim and relax time before lunch.
