Vacation Bliss Part II

So here comes part two of our holiday adventures!

As I said we woke up early every day, well relatively early for staying up quite late that is. Not early as in 7 am, more like 9 am.

[caption id="attachment_191" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Nicholas is ready for the day to commence!"][/caption]

We would then collect all the stuff we needed for the beach, which was quite a lot of stuff as we would spend the whole day there.

We would bring

• Sun Lotion for us and Nicholas


• Beach towels


• Nicholas' bucket, shovel and other play things


• Nicholas'  baby pool


• Nicholas' "swim seat"


• Beach tent (just so that we would have more shaded areas for Nicholas to play


• Food and Snacks for Nicholas


• Water


• Stroller and Blankie


• Books and Kobo


• Sun Protection Suit


• Diaper Bag

As you see most of the things we brought are for Nicholas as you have to plan ahead if you want to spend the whole day at the beach with a little child or toddler. Sun protection stuff is essential, as are umbrellas so that there is shade for the little one to sit in as much as you can convince him to sit there! I would put his little baby pool under the umbrella

as he spent most of the day climbing in and out of it and throwing sand in the water, that way the stuff he was most interested in was in the shade, and consequently he would spend most of the day under an umbrella.

[caption id="attachment_117" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Nicholas ready for the waves!"][/caption]

I had bought a sun protection suit in Sweden (they don't even know what it is in Greece, let alone sell them) but I managed to forget it at home so the first two days Nicholas wore a AIK jersey to protect him from the sun.

He became quite the little maimoudaki (monkey) while we were there and loved climbing the tables..

Then I met an English girl, Katie, that lives in Nea Skioni with her husband and two sons. She actually had a sun protection suit in Nicholas size that her youngest boy had grown out of, so she gave it to us! So nice of her!! After that and a hat was what Nicholas wore everyday at the beach.

He also loved to climb the sun beds. And got some new friends!

Nicholas loved staying at the beach, and would keep himself occupied most of the time, but from the area where we "made camp" he could see the play area in the distance, and every so often he would get it into his head that he wanted to go there, and would just take off at full speed, and we would just have to jump up and follow him.

[caption id="attachment_133" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="greek construction, the slip and slide has about a metre drop at the end of it!! It's like a ski jump, if we let him go he would go flying!! So of course we didn't..."][/caption]

Spending the whole day in the sand ultimately meant that Nicho consumed his fair share of sand

But he didn't seem to mind the crunch!

We enjoyed the beach just as much as him

The water was cold. Well maybe not cold, but not 29 degrees celsius like the water in the pool at Gran Canaria either, so I was quite reluctant to go in. I think I was all the way under only two times!! Nicholas didn't find it to cold though, he would quite happily sit in his little yellow swimming seat and splash his hands while Kenny and I passed him back and forth! I didn't get any pictures of that though, only video...

The beach tent we brought from Sweden was a great investment. We would put it down, facing whatever breeze there was so it wouldn't get to hot.

[caption id="attachment_116" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Kenny taking a nap in the shade"][/caption]

Around lunch time we would go to one of the many tavernas that lined the beach promenade, and eat delicious Greek food

Nicholas would enjoy a game of peak a boo with his feet

And after lunch we would head back down to the beach.

Ahhh, what a life!! I feel so blessed that we have the chance to do these things, go on vacation and enjoy ourselves together as a family. We are lucky!!

I actually lived in this little village when I was 6 years old, for about 10 months, and I have so many happy memories from my time there. Memories that include swimming in the ocean until late October, going to school and not understanding a word they said, picking lemons off our neighbours lemon tree, and eating honey still warm, straight off the comb. The last something that I really suggest everyone try, it is absolutely one of the most delicious things I have ever tasted!

We used to go there for vacation every summer after. But it had been six years now since my last visit. Things have changed immensely.

There used to be no tourists at all, and most of the roads weren't even paved back then. Now there is plenty of tourists, courtesy of the new and beautiful hotel that has been built smack dab in the middle of the town.

But essentially the village-spirit is the same, and my dad still knows most of the villagers, and they all hug me and kiss me when they remember me.

(Translation of typical conversation with old Greek women) "Maria, the Norwegians' daughter? The one who had a twin? Oh my I remember you when you were just a little thing."  

It is such a relaxing place to be with kids. It is so small that you do not have to worry about letting them run free in the evenings when you are eating.

I remember all the "moonlight walks" (yes, we actually named them that ourselves when we were 10 or so) that I used to take with my Norwegian family friends that had come with us on holiday..

I actually turned 25 on june first, and my dad had arranged a little surprise for me. My nonos (godfather) his wife and son came down from Kalikratia where they live to celebrate my day with me.

They gave me a lovely pair of earrings and Nicholas a beautiful gold cross. From Kenny I got the pink watch you can see on the pictures above. I had wished for one I can use when I am working out, and this one goes perfectly with my pink adidas runners!

We would go out and eat pretty late every evening, around 9.30 most days, and stay out until 11.45. Nicholas found something he loved more than anything to do, and he would point insistently on it every time we walked past, or sat anywhere around that area.

These were his absolute favourite, he would insist that we walked over and patted every animal here, and he would point at their noses and ears and mouth. And then when we walked away he would waive to them. When he actually rode them he would have the funnies expressions on his face, a mix between absolute terror and joy. Probably a bit how we feel when we get on the scariest roller coaster...

Close to Nea Skioni only a 10 minute drive over the mountain is the much bigger town of Hanioti, and 15 minutes away lies Pefkohori which is even bigger.

We drove to each of these towns a few times and enjoyed knowing that we didn't have to stay in these much more tourist-infested towns. It was nice to have a look around though!

[caption id="attachment_164" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="No it is NOT my picture that is crooked it's the lamp post!!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_165" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Sight seeing anyone?? Did I mention that this town can be walked through in 15 Min??"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_166" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="American style corn (pop corn)"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_167" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="...And Greek style corn. Corn on the cob (kalamboki)"][/caption]

We always made these little trips when right before Nicholas second nap, that way he could play a bit, and then go to sleep in his stroller while we had a coffee or an ice cream.

Every day Kenny and I would plan that my dad could stay in with Nicholas so we could go out and have a glass of wine (me) and a juice (him) but we only managed to actually do it one time! We were too drained from the sun most days to want anything but to sleep!

[caption id="attachment_173" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The one night we made it out, and hung out with my friend from back in the day Jonas, another half greek like me."][/caption]

We ate out every night

[caption id="attachment_176" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Giannis, another half Norwegian that is born and raised in Skioni"][/caption]

We also visited the tiny church that lies outside the city, and where Virgin Mary's footprint is located.

We had such a great time, and I just wish we could have stayed longer. I can't wait to go back, and hope I manage to do so before another six years pass!! One can live a long time on these relaxing vacations!

I know this was massive post everyone ! Hope you enjoyed the photos!! And please do comment guys! I had 130 something readers yesterday, and one comment! I would like to know who it is that is reading my blog :) And if you yourself write a blog I would love if you left a comment, and the address of your blog so I can check it out!

xoxo

Maria