This week saw closure of the Yvette Prang Incident, so here are the gory details! On arrival in June we parked outside The Wave and Votsalo with the intention of finding a better semi-permanent spot within a few days, but we did not do so, and within a week we were called in by a local taverna owner who showed us both the damage to the hatch (which would now not open) and a copy of an insurance form in which (allegedly) full culpability was acknowledged by the owner and driver of a local pick-up which had backed into her. An official had already been to sign the form and take a photo. We were assured all would be well, and heaved a sigh of relief that the deed had been done in full sight of two crowded eateries. We did panic and called Fuerteventura, but it was all to be done through Athens and within a few days we were Skype-calling a helpful English-speaking person there and making real progress. On the way to Matala we called in at the Fiat dealer in Chania and showed them the damage. On the way back we went again to have formalities completed, and then we returned to Paleochora to wait for the call to say that a new door had arrived and we could have it fitted.
When the call came we decided to stay two nights on the seafront in Chania rather than do two return journeys. The weather was beautiful and the hotel we use is also very pleasant. We chilled out, and ate well after an extensive and contorted search for two particular Chinese restaurants, which have probably disappeared! Unlike in Paleo some efforts have been made and Blue Flag status 2013 has been awarded to Nea Hora. To mark this a man went up the flag poles and everything in wood or metal was being painted blue. This included a handrail used by Ruth. Katastroph as they say! The man with the white spirit wasn't sure how to react!
We were called to say the car was ready, said farewell at the hotel and took a taxi. Yvette was gleaming, we paid a lot of cash (the only way they would do it!) and drove off. On the way to the supermarket a warning light and sound came on suggesting "Engine Failure". We also seemed to be losing some power. In the car park we pondered and decided we would have to go back as the garage's closing time was approaching. We made the journey worse by getting onto the National Highway in the wrong direction! Back with Fiat they tried diagnostics, and declared that it was safe to return over the mountains. Back to the supermarket, this time completing the extensive stock-up including six huge buckets of low-fat yoghurt! We re-join the highway (in the right direction) and head off home. As we speed along the coast there is a profound diminution in power, so we slow down, take the turn South and it gets worse. When we try the first real ascent - just after Voukolies we know we are not safe to attempt the rest of the journey (even with the strange set of foodstuffs we now have aboard!) Too late for the garage so we return to the hotel, and are given back the same room. A lot of yoghurt goes into the fridge, we collapse, have a disappointing meal and make contingency plans involving buses and yoghurt. They weren't necessary, though! We arrived at the garage as they opened and the problem was traced to a dirty filter (which should have cleaned itself but hadn't). No charge and we were back at the hotel in time to claim our free breakfasts! This time the southerly trek was uneventful and we stopped in Voukolies to buy a mint plant. Within a few days we were sent an e-mail to say that a cheque made to cash would be at the insurance agent's local office the next day. Well, the visit there was worthy of Feydeau."Do you speak English?" "No!". Sign language of cheque, letter, car, thump, etc. He rings his daughter and Bob tries again but is assumed to be lodging a claim. We mention some names, Fiat etc. He looks in his journal and locates the incident when he was called in. He rings someone else, whom we recognise, so tell her we don't think she can help. Suddenly we see outside Giorgos who used to run the cantina. He comes in and acts as an intermediary. In the end we establish what we already suspected:- that the cheque hadn't arrived. Nor the next day, nor the next day, then it was the weekend... Anyway in the end we got it, signed and took it over to the bank. Out of pocket with rounding, no refund for diesel, fares ... but it could have been so much worse! All Yvette has lost is one Spanish bull sticker!
Meanwhile the beach situation had improved in our absence, but we did have a run of rough seas and high winds. One day the shoreline was marked by "pink stuff" as is found on nearby Elafonisi. It was gone by next day! The water has been getting warmer - though possibly not to the level we enjoyed in Chania! The cantina has been getting busier, and Vicky is now serving breakfasts there between 8 and 12. We have been benefitting greatly from our "clever trick" of securing our own (5 year-old) sunbeds to a noticeboard, with the approval (and protection) of plagist Tony, and an excellent point for sea entry.
The International Chess Tournament happened with absolutely no prior publicity!
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| The view from our balcony! |
There was great excitement last Thursday evening! A strange vessel suddenly came into view. Ruth called Bob who said it looked like a stealth boat, but when identified on line it was Main - an Italian-registered superyacht last docked in La Spezia. Half a dozen Googles later Ruth found (allegedly first in the village) that it belongs to Giorgio Armani. (Hence the colour black!) Inexplicably the party ate at Caravella. Giorgio himself was photographed sitting in the pharmacy. Was this before or after eating?
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