Day 1, Gatwick to Skiathos

After a pretty good nights stay in the Courtyard by Marriott at Gatwick Airport, we're up and out for the shuttle bus to the South Terminal. The place is quieter than expected so we were waiting only a couple of minutes to be processed at the check-in desk before heading upstairs, through the security checks and into The Grain Store for breakfast. Where? I hear you say, yep the Grain Store; definitely a healthier option than the other more recognised establishments around here!

We'd not long left the restaurant and our flight was called to Gate 25, and after a leisurely stroll and just a ten minute or so wait we were making our way onto our Airbus A321. Luckily the third seat in our row wasn't taken so we were able to spread out a bit on the flight. This didn't help Elaine with her bad back unfortunately but at least she didn't have to keep

jumping up for the third passenger! No food on this flight, it was an optional extra and we'd just had a nice breakfast, though we did splash out on a very nice latte each, well come on, we are on our holibobs after all...!!! The two hour and fifty-five minute journey seemed to fly by (see what I did there) and at five minutes to two local time we gently landed at a very sunny Skiathos Airport and managed to pull up on the very short runway before plunging into the Aegean Sea at the very end of it...!!! We actually took off nearly twenty-five minutes late, but the captain said he was going to put his foot down a bit and try to make up the lost time; and he was as good as his word after flying at up to 575mph and at a height of 35,000ft for most of the flight.

As those of you that have been here will know, Skiathos

Airport isn't the biggest on the planet; on top of which we were the only arrival flight, so transition through the airport was about as swift as it gets and we were soon bouncing along in the Thomas Cook bus heading for our Cape Kanapitsa Hotel that was only some twenty minutes or so along the coast. The bus can't get down the road to the hotel so we're dropped off on the main road and have a five minute or so walk (in the blistering heat) to get there and we arrive just after our luggage that had gone on ahead in a small van! Check-in was easy as we were the only guests dropped off here, and our room is down just one flight of steps and has a pretty good view of the bay of Kanapitsa.

After a rapid unpacking of cases, and changing into more suitable attire, we check out the pool/bar area. It looks lovely

with amazing views across the bay and down to Kanapitsa Beach. Now, it's gone three o'clock already so guess what... yep, it's well passed lunchtime...!!! There's not a huge amount of choice at the pool bar but we manage to find something to sate our intense hunger and thirst... and no alcohol for either of us now! After lunch we still had plenty of time to get in some sunbathing, there's not a cloud in the sky and it must be into the low thirties temperature wise. There are considerably more rooms at the hotel than there are sun beds, but being perfectly placed between two glorious beaches they apparently seldom get fully filled.

We stayed put until the sun dipped down behind the hotel and only then did we decide to go for a bit of an explore around the nearby area. First we set off to check out Kanapitsa Beach

that we can see from the pool area, it's a slight up hill start and then either some steep winding steps down to the taverna or continue along the road that gently slopes around to the same point. This is a narrow strip of beach with a single row of sun beds and canopies. Set to one end is the Kanapitsa Taverna which is sort of a game of two halves, to the left is a cafe/bar style taverna suited for lunches, and to the right a more upmarket dining area better suited for evening meals, though they do serve all day. This is definitely on our radar...!!!

Now we had to head back up those winding steps and back passed the hotel to see what the Porto Nostos Beach area was like. This is a wider beach with three separate groups of three tiered sun beds and canopies, at the back of this there is a sophisticated looking taverna called Avaton, may check it

out if we're feeling flush one day! We then walked back up to the road and a little further down the hill to the little supermarket that served the local area. As we were here it would have been rude not to top up with drinks and snacks for the next few days!!! Just a few further steps down the hill is the very nice looking Johnny's Restaurant & Bar which we just might sample tomorrow. Why not today, I hear you all say, well I can't believe I'm saying this, but after our late lunch we're not really hungry, so will pass on dinner this evening...!!!

So it's back up to the hotel, some drink and snacks then off to bed... but it's very firm and Elaine's back is still bad so we try to soften it a bit with folded blankets under her side, not a great improvement but the best we can do as the hotel don't have any available mattress toppers! Could be a long night...