We climb up to the main part of the town from St Paul’s bay, noting there are so many more sun beds, possible landscaping, and cars around the bay. As we step into the initial part, we recognise the office where we signed the official deeds the day after in the mayors office. We go into a roof terrace Cafe called Melia, & Leon had a halloumi salad & I had a feta and avocado toast. It was all really delish, and we were served by a lovely friendly lady with an American twang.
Once suitably refreshed, we stroll into the old narrow winding maze of shop fronts, selling the usual touristy bits, jewellery, and some local produce. It’s funny walking back through these alleys, as we have faint recollection of so much of it! The donkeys, and of course our wedding day restaurant, Kalypso. I discovered this through showing one of my bosses the photos, as he also happened to get married in the same place AND had reception at Kalypso! His folks know them well, and live out here. Small small world. It’s not open yet, and far too early, but we are pleased to have located it.
We pootle round some more, and then go to chill on a nearby beach, with stunning shallow light blue twinkly water. We treat ourselves to deck chairs. We had a few dips in the salty waters, snoozed a bit, and I read some more of my book, the chap is now in Iran trying to get his fussball table onto all the FA pitches, to varying success!
At about 3pm, we head over to our apartment for the night, drop off our things, bathe, and get ready for our anniversary meal.
About 5pm, we head into town, and go for a walk about the perimeter underneath the acropolis while trying to get back to St Paul’s bay. we went completely the wrong way, and missed the sun light but we got a decent walk in to earn our food.
We stop at Yannis Bar, as they added me on Instagram, and I had a Hibiscus secret cocktail, that was so tasty. Rose flavour mainly. Right up my street.
Once in Kalypso, it was yet another trip down memory lane, trying to match up photos from 15yr ago with how it is today. we recognise some railings, though now they are white instead of back, and the advertisements for an Indian restaurant have disappeared. Again, I can see my family and friends sat there, remember funny little moments.
The waiting staff were hilarious and having a really good time, and cunningly threw the orders from to top and middle terraces, to other staff below to save their legs. I couldn’t believe their stamina! It does make you realise that the staff being happy and joyful is infectious, and then makes the punters happy.
We had a bottle of local light refreshing white wine (leon wasn’t so keen) and 3 starters to share. The flavours of these 3 dishes complemented each other so well! A local Greek spicy sausage, fried feta, and wild garlic mushrooms. For mains, I had a steak souvlaki & Leon had ‘the best’ Moussaka. He thought that was a bold claim, and prefers our one local in Lardos haha! They gave us complementary orange cheesecake. There was a funny, boisterous Greek lady who seemed like the Matriarch of the staff, who once she discovered our anniversary story, she looked at our photos and recognised the waiter and wanted to send a photo to him so we had to trail around after her very busy self, until we had the photo and she wanted to add Leon on Facebook. So we waited around again, as she beautifully multiskilled. I took a photo of her and sent it to my boss … he recognised her, and said ‘that’s Kiki! She’ll know me, show her a photo, she knows my Dad really well.’ I do this, and yes, she’s over the moon and can’t believe that I know him, haha!
We head back towards our apartment, and see an inviting looking cocktail bar called ‘crazy moon’, and as it’s very near full moon, it seems like that’s the place we should stop off! As we sit down, one of the staff rushes over, announcing in a broad Southern accent, ‘oh my gosh, hi!’… I have no clue who she is. ‘Don’t you remember me from the cafe? You commented I was efficient!’. It’s the lovely waitress from Melia cafe! I apologise to her and explain it’s because of the mask, and she quickly uses her hands to cover her mouth and nose, and says ‘now do you recognise me?’. She’s really funny and sweet, and turns out her name is Elia. She sits with us whenever she can, and her and Leon discuss country music, and we have a little sing of ‘shes country’ and ‘dirt road anthem’. 3 or 4 delicious cocktails later (a ‘crazy moon’ lime & coconut secret recipe, and a grapefruit juice and st germain elderflower liqueur for me, Long Island ice teas for Leon), we bid her goodbye, and set back to the apartment.
