andy64
Roda Probationer
Posts: 44
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Post by andy64 on Jun 5, 2009 13:47:02 GMT 2
Our first time in Roda, we stayed in Alexandros Apts. We got a last minute holiday at the end of May/beginning of June and paid £485 for two weeks. We loved every minute of it, wishing we'd spent our honeymoon the year earlier in Roda. Spiros, Anna and her husband (I forgot his name) were fantastic. I spent about an hour and a half one afternoon, searching the shops for the cheapest/best li-lo, returning to the pool having saved a whopping 150 Drachmas. Then lying down, realised I'd trawled around the shops in the baking mid-afternoon sun to save about 30 pence The only complaint we had was the two weeks were up too soon, but we've been back nearly every year since, and though there's other places I'd like to go, we just can't stop booking holidays to Roda
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Post by racheyr on Jun 7, 2009 12:03:46 GMT 2
Andy, Anna's husband is called Angelos I also have a Roda addiction which keeps me going back!! The first time I stayed in Roda was with my mum and we stayed in the apartments above the Chinese restaurant (not sure of the name) it also was a last minute holiday in July unfortunately only for a week!! The first people we met were Adonis and Nikos from Domus (now Oscarz) who made us feel very welcome, I then spent the whole week partying and my mum was happy for me (aged 17 at the time) to stay out all night in Domus without her, as everyone was so lovely and she knew that Adonis would make sure I got back to the apartment safely, even if it meant leaning me against the wall before banging on the door and leaving before my mum saw the drunk parcel that had been left for her!! lol Loving reminiscing about the good old days!! Ever since then I have been staying for at least 2 weeks and in 2004 me and my friend stayed for an entire summer!! Rachael
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Post by jimroden on Jun 20, 2009 15:05:22 GMT 2
Me and Tracey went over to see her dad Bob and mom Yvonne I was orders not to drink to much as I had never met her dad bob. That went out the window the first night Bob got me very drunk on the wine we had at dinner. Me and bob got drunk most nights... Much to the amusement of Morgan and Jessica our two kids.Apparently I was walking back to the apartments looking up at the stars ( I think they made it up). Spiro's were the first apartments we stayed and was made very welcome. We have been going back ever since the place is brilliant and a lot of good friends have been made over there.
Jim
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marg
Roda Probationer
Posts: 24
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Post by marg on Jun 22, 2009 1:56:16 GMT 2
We booked a last minute holiday and did not know where we were going. We arrived in the early hours and were dropped off and had to walk down a gravel track to our apartment, we were told that we were at Roda. When we woke later in the day our daughter who was ten at the time could not believe her eyes when she opened the shutters to find that we were nearly on the beach. We were at the Lilllian apartments which is now Yannis Opa taverna, (Lillian was his mother). There was no harbour bar only Andreas house with the shop on the end. The beach was a lot narrower than it is now and not many good roads but we LOVED it and have been coming back every year since, We have seen lots of changes, not all that we like but Roda and the people is what we love and keeps bringing us back. Our daughter who is now 33 still tries to come to Roda for a week while we are there, must look for some old photos. Oh happy days!!
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Post by petra on Jun 22, 2009 15:09:49 GMT 2
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Post by Debbie Anderson on Jun 22, 2009 16:51:07 GMT 2
My first time was in 1994, my eldest son was 10 months old and My ex husband and stepdaugther also came along we wanted somewhere quiet, family orientated, good value and flat to push the buggy about in and we were recommended Roda by a lovely lady in our local Thomas Cooks, I will be eternally grateful to her for introducing me to my favorite place in the world. The first few visits we discovered Spiro down on the beach, Julie Ann and Mikey at the cheeky monkey and mainly used the the pool at The silver beach, each year we came back we found more new friends like Yianni and Eleni at the 5 roses(OPA), THe team at Roda Park, George and Stathis (and wives) from the drunken sailor Scooby (As my youngest son calls him) at the Mistral and more recently Chips and Sue etc at the tavern . What I loved was the fact that each year we were recognised and welcomed even by people from places we hadnt had a chance to frequent. When we had a problem with my step daughter everyone rallied round to help us ou and I have never forgotten that. I dont think we have ever stayed at the same place twice though, we have always had to find the cheapest available! We have only missed an occasional year when circumstances prevented a visit and we can't come over this year, my two sons are gutted, never mind we will be back for two weeks next year hopefully.
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parsonsgang
Roda Anorak
Roda Riddler 2009 - 2013
Posts: 1,722
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Post by parsonsgang on Jun 22, 2009 23:33:08 GMT 2
Hi Dibble I thought I was reading about myself then as our experiences are so similar. I also first came to Roda in 1994 (although I had been to Corfu before) and our favourite bar was the Cheeky Monkey where we met Mikey, Aris, George and Gina. We've been invited to George and Ginas home in Nymfes quite a few times for a meal and went to Katerinas christening. We bumped into Mikey in Roda a few years ago and he hasn't changed a bit. Over the years we've made many new friends and think of Roda as a second home. Our daughter was once taken ill and everybody was so helpful. Like you, we've only missed the occasional year, unfortunately this year being one of them Should make it back next year though Nikki
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Post by Debbie Anderson on Jun 24, 2009 10:05:03 GMT 2
I wonder if we have ever crossed paths Nikki, I love to hear everyone's stories, it's surprising how Roda can be different for everyone but loved by all, I dont know a lot of the people mentioned on this site by name but I am sure I have seen a lot of them out and about. ROda really is the place I love the most in the whole wolrd and I can't wait for my lottery numbers to come up!
Debbie
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Post by johnandliz1976 on Jul 13, 2009 14:00:32 GMT 2
Hi all,
Our first time to Roda was about 7 or 8 years ago and we have been five times in all.
The first four were with the kids but as they are now 18 and 19 they din't want to go with us last year - yippee!!
We had a lovely week but it was just a week and were hoping to go for a month this summer but things haven't worked out job wise as quickly as I had hoped so hade had to postpone that plan. Still hope to have a week in September and a full month next year.
Why do we love Roda so much then? No groups of teenagers for astart, small enough to bump into the same people in bars and that makes you feel welcome, pleasant walks around the village, drunken walks around the village, good beach.
In honesty there are probably lots of places that tick the same boxes but there is just something special about Roda that puts it above every where else we have ever been.
One last point, whilst it is lovely to go away without the kids I can't wait until they are well rounded young adults fully out of the grunting stage and we can all go back together.
Cheers, John and Liz
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Post by valbrown on Jul 13, 2009 14:50:42 GMT 2
Our first visit to Roda was 22 years ago and we stayed at The Roda Beach Hotel,we didnt venture into the village at night time as the hotel had entertainment on every night,For the next few years we stayed at the Roda Beach,but as the entertainment was geared to the Germans we started to walk along the beach at night to sample the bars in the village.We started to book self catering holidays as we liked the freedom to eat when we wanted and not have to worry about walking along the beach which was very dark. Over the last few years we continue to book self catering holidays, to Roda and are always made very welcome by the bar and taverna owners who remember us every year. Roda offers us a relaxing holiday, the prices in the bars and tavernas have remained very reasonable,and we look forward to returning in August. One of my friends has returned from Kassiopi he always goes to have a day in Roda,he found that it was very quiet...but this was during the day.Hopefully when we come out it will be a bit busier,But even if its not we dont care as we will still enyoy our holiday to ouf favorite place
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kaz
Roda Anorak
Posts: 3,961
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Post by kaz on Jul 13, 2009 20:32:32 GMT 2
Hi All........Our first holiday in Roda came after twice being in the South of the Island and thought for a change we would try the North.......well, never been anywhere else since...we first stayed at The Roda Studios (anyone remember it?) above the Taverna, which is now The New Port,beautiful appartments(you wouldn't think so looking at them now!!)..that's where we first met Costa (now has The Roda Park) and have been friends with him ever since) after that we stayed behind Smileys which was The Roda Star and met Jannis (he had 2 appartments there, he now works at Roda Park.........we have seen his daughter grow into a beautiful young lady..........and does anyone remember "The Strike "which was on and you could only buy bread and very little else??........too many tales to tell, but we made many friends, who join us every year, we are from the South and they are from the North...can't wait to have a "Crack" with them again in Sept........The people in Roda are so special to us,kind & caring and Joann who has the Bakery, we have watched her 5 girls grow up too,we are so looking forward to "going home" again...more if you want to know...Kaz
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Post by artisans on Jul 14, 2009 8:57:32 GMT 2
Yes please, Kaz - do tell all! For those of us who have only been coming a mere nine years, it helps to fill in the pieces. Any old photos you could scan in? Steve
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kaz
Roda Anorak
Posts: 3,961
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Post by kaz on Jul 14, 2009 13:06:28 GMT 2
Hi All..........sorry, unable to show photo's.......we had so much fun back in the late 80's early 90's (ever since really!!) a few of our fellow holidaymakers have died (so sad), but the rest of us return every year, we're not in each others laps, perhaps a bit of sunbathing & a swim to-gether but in the evenings we meet up for a meal & drinks...we have known Roy & Evlyn for many years and sure you must know "of" them!!(she usually dances on the tables!!)Also our good friends are old Alkinos & Christina ( they live behind the now "Smileys" bar it used to be the Roda Star) their son-in law is Jannis at the Roda Park..we remember Angelo (who now has a bar & pool)Chris a Canadian Greek waiter, young Vangelis,Captain Vangelis(who is now on the mainland)..Barbi a young lad who worked in the kitchen with Adonis(who runs The New Port)and not forgetting our dear friend Costa who is not at the New Port this year due to a bad accident chopping wood at home ( chopped into his hand , ended up in hospital & having physio on it), he was in Roda a few weeks ago and hoping to come again with his Mother & Sister to see us........anyways, I'm getting carried away here...there used to be a row of rocks as you step on the beach in front of the New Port( in the sea of course) and I used to sit on them with a friend & look back along the beach,which was only narrow at the time, my Gson used to swim around the rocks,until something slid between his legs, he had to see the Dr. he was in so much pain, never didfind out what caused the welts, a fish of somekind.............one year we took Mother-in-Law and she had her 80th birthday at the Roda Star(now Smileys)and Jannis made her a beautiful cake, she was "over the moon" with it, she was in the early stages of Althzimers and she went missing one day, we were lucky, everyone was out looking for her and being a small village she was soon found safe nd sound, we were so grateful to everyone.................I left my purse behind at The Roda Studios and the owner was kind enough to post it home for me "all intact".I would trust the Greeks with my life.....no more, don't want to bore you all, well just one more,there used to be a Jewellers next to Smileys run by Yiannis, my friends & I used to buy a lot of jewellery there and he made me bracelet the same size as the one I wore belonging to my mother (will show you at the F meeting Sept)but he gave up the shop and later, sadly he died.......see you all Sept..Kaz..( the one you lent the book to???)
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Post by jeanp on Jul 14, 2009 15:23:19 GMT 2
What a great read kaz, brought back many happy memories. Also used to go horse-riding on Adonis horses......he was quite a character wasn't he? (sadly no longer with us). Also had good nights at the 'Night-Flite' / Piano Bar....which is now Vibe, and the 'original' Tropicana. ..and does anyone remember "The Strike "which was on and you could only buy bread and very little else??......Kaz We remember the strike very well - 1988 - our first visit to Roda..... We were staying at the Fiona and had only been there a few hours, when luckily our next-door neighbours warned us there was to be a strike the following day and to stock up with water / pop / booze etc. It became a mad dash as it was 9.30pm and the mini-markets (cavas) used to all be closed by 10pm. The following day we all had to queue up at the bakery for bread and were only allowed 8 slices so there would be enough to go around .......none of the bars/tavernas/shops were allowed to open, but the Afrodite did and we were lucky enough to get a meal there before the 'Mafia' all rode up on moter-bikes, shouted (no, screamed at the staff) and promptly smashed all the windows........a bit scary, but also exciting!!!!. We ended up going along the beach with our torches, to the Roda beach hotel which was open and there was entertainment on in the beach bar........there were quite a few people a bit "worse for wear" on the way back. Think the 'strike' went on for about three days? and we were not even allowed to hire a sun-bed......we hardly spent anything that holiday and everything was very cheap anyway....... .........now I'm going on a bit.....(should have put this epistle in the 'Roda Mag') I'm sure we must have been in Roda at the same time and our paths may have crossed many times over the past 21 years
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Post by artisans on Jul 14, 2009 17:38:57 GMT 2
Thanks Kaz - That's great - keep sending little snippets as they occur to you - maybe others can pick up on some of the things you say. We saw Kostas from New Port briefly a few weeks ago & we heard that Vangelis now has a restaurant and apartments on the mainland just outside of Igoumenitsa - a shrewd move, perhaps, now that the new Egnatia Highway is finished. We always say hello to Alkinos but we never knew his name - so thanks for that. Three years ago, one of our friends left a pack of 18 cigarettes at 'Ilo Ilo'. Three weeks later, when we returned for the first time, Panaiotis returned them to us - by now our friend had long gone. We still have them and he's back in August. As for Roy & Evelyn ....... Steve
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