Arbroath !!!

Saturday 25th August.

Have had a lot of internet connection problems this week - actually typed up all my activities but then the internet went down and I lost it!!   So here we go again.   Limnos was just wonderful and I can't thank Takis and Julia enough for allowing me to stay there with them.   Tony and Lisa really put themselves out to ensure I had a lovely time and thanks to them, too.    The days were all hot and sunny and the nights balmy and warm.    To describe Limnos in a few words is impossible, but imagine white sandy beaches, sparkling deep blue ocean, cloudless blue skies, dry and sometimes barren rocky countryside, lots of people (apart from siesta time!), dozens of tavernas all bustling with life ....... the list goes on.    In Limnos the shops usually open between 8.30 am and 9.00 am and are quite crowded during the morning, especially in "Souvenier Alley" which doesn't only sell things to the tourists but also general shops for the local population.   However around 1.00 pm every day they all close their doors and head home for lunch, which is usually around 2.30 pm and then Limnos slumbers in the hot afternoon sun.    Only a few tourists can be found on the beach or in the tavernas.    Around 6.00 the island starts to come to life again and by 7.00 pm the shops are once again open and people starting to appear.   The evening meal is usually eaten around 10.00 pm to 11.00 pm and by this time the port area is thronged with people, with mopeds darting in and out along the narrow streets, and with cars which seem to have no intention of keeping road rules - as long as you put your hazard lights on, you can drive or park anywhere!!    Tony and Lisa organised for us to go on a sunset cruise one night and this was fabulous.   With no clouds in the sky, there was not the dramatic formations we have in Melbourne, however the sun was a glowing ball of red gold and sank slowly over the horizon - words can't describe it.    We also went on a drive around part of the island and through small sleepy villages clinging precariously to the mountain sides, with unbelievably narrow, twisting streets (one car width wide).  

Unfortunately this idyllic existence came to an end and on Wednesday we were up before the larks (do they have larks on Limnos??) and headed for the airport for the short flight to Athens (in a prop.jet aircraft).   A long and boring day spent waiting around Athens airport and then we were off on our flight to Heathrow and our connecting (delayed!) flight to Edinburgh where my brother David met us, along with his partner Brone and his daughter Kylie.    In two cars we made the trip up to Arbroath and were very glad to tumble into bed at our lovely B&B which, as Kylie said, is straight out of the Antiques Roadshow.

The next morning was spent exploring the old ruins of the Abbey, wandering around the harbour (and seeing how the traditional Smokies are smoked).    A trip out to Auchmithie (a tiny village which was once a thriving fishing area) and a walk along part of the cliff path took up the rest of the morning and after some lunch we set off for Kirriemuir - and my favourite lollie shop to get my Starry Rock and Scottish Tablet (my two favourite pieces of confectionary).   We got the opportunity to put up our brollies here but it was only a passing shower so after admiring the statue of Peter Pan in the main square, and having a look at  the birthplace of J M Barrie (unfortunately we were too late to go inside) we drove back to Arbroath to go out for dinner in a small restaurant in Auchmithie.  

Yesterday we were up bright and early to another hearty breakfast made by our very attentive host in the B&B and then we were off to Glamis Castle for a tour (and I discovered that although it is a common belief that Macbeth killed King Duncan there - this happened 300 years before the castle was built!!!)   Next stop was up in Glen Esk, where I visited on many many occasions before we left for Australia, and we walked up to Loch Lee at the top of the Glen.   (Bruce:   Tony didn't see "Nessie" there either!!   Funny about that!)   The heather on the hills was not quite out in full but there were a few patches we could see.  

Coming back to Arbroath we met up with my cousin and her husband for afternoon coffee down at the Harbour.    How lovely it has been to show Tony Lisa and Kylie around my home town.  

Today Kylie drove us all early to  Edinburgh airport to drop off Tony & Lisa for their return flight to Oz via Athens and Singapore and then we spent the day in Edinburgh, visiting the National Gallery for an art exhibition (Van Gough to Kandinsky) and then having a tour of the royal yacht Brittania, which was just fabulous.   (Ken:  I took some nautical type photos to show to you when I get back - of turbines and engine rooms and so on!)

On the  beach!!

Limnos beach

Lunch with the family in a Taverna

Statue of Maroula - a Limnian heroine

Another beach at Limnos

Courtyard at the house

Limnian scenery

Tony & Lisa in Souvenier Alley- about midnight!!

Cost of petrol - in Euros!

Souvenier alley in the mid-afternoon!!!

The port area at Limnos

The boat we took the sunset trip on

Tavernas in the port area

The port area again

Another view of the port

Limnian coastline from the boat

Sunset on the Aegian.

So now I am up to date and will try to post some photos for you to look at.     Heard you have had lots of rain and I have to admit that today we too had lots of rain!!!