The Helenic Republic

JUst got back from a week in Skiathos, Greece. Not my usual choice of holiday destination, but very enjoyable nonetheless. In fact it made a nice change from the usual queuing for ages at a bus 'station' that has no terminal, timetables or prices anywhere. Lots of good beaches all over the island and generally good nightlife.

Prices came as a bit of a shock at first - beer was about 2.5-3.5Euros, some cocktails costing up to 5.5Euro and a meal and beer generally 10-12. Compared to the UK though, it seemed fairly reasonable.

Riga, Latvia is on for last weekend in October.

Welcome to Albania 

The haunting beauty of Macedonia 

Nothing much to report over the past couple of weeks.

I see that Lonely Planet now do a Ukraine guide. It can only be better than the abysmal section in the Russia, Ukraine and Belarus book, but I hope that Ukraine isn't going to become too mainstream in the next couple of years.

Worked at the Rotherham Show yesterday, though was a total was-out, they couldn't have picked a worse day. Still, it probably meant it was quieter and able to go home earlier. Though apparently the Rotherham Show is the biggest free show in the north of England and regularly attracts 75 000 visitors...

Mr T has kindly leant me the first book of THe Lord Of The Rings, a series I've always intended to read. I remember reading The Hobbit at school back in 1990 and did start reading LOTR in 1992, but I never got very far, probably because it was too difficult.

Skiathos, Greece on Friday for a week.