our trip to KOS

Well, it's been raining and storming for 3 days, we almost had to call off our shopping trip to Kos, but this morning the sky was clear and it was a gorgeous day for a boat trip.
We met at 8 AM, about 40 foreign ladies, equipped with empty suitcases, trolley arts, extra bags, back packs and plenty of Euros....
the ferry took off at 9 AM sharp, at 10:15 we were in Kos. the water was like a mirror, very calm.
the atmosphere was charged with anticipation, all the goodies that we would be bringing back, the biggest item of interest was PORK, everyone was dreaming of hams, bacon, pork chops, pork roast, salami etc. but we had heard that customs was really strict these days in checking for pork and confiscating it. a lot of us were debating whether we chance it or not. We heard a story of one Englishman who was relieved of his Pork booty just 2 days before. So it would be iffy..
We walked into the square, and to our delight, there was a nativity scene. I took a photo of it, and walked on, after all, we had tons of shopping to do.
we stopped at some little shops before we filed in to cabs (4 to a cab) to a large (and I use the term large loosely, but compared to bodrum, it was large) department store. first thing I put in the cart was a suitcase....I hadnt brought one along,
then I hit some chocolate santa type items, then I picked up what I am hoping is evaporated milk (it's all greek to me...)
then we hit the deli counter...(im sure the ladies there were happy to see us go) I bought hard salami, parmesan, blue cheese, sausage, ham....I didnt want to spend over a hundred euros and have it all confiscated, so I stopped at that. there were ladies that bought pork chops, pork roasts and what not.
well, I bought and I bought, and I bought, I shopped till my feet could not carry me. We went from one dept store to another grocery store, I filled the suitcase and had plastic bags, paper bags, etc.
We headed back to the center of town, and we were so surprised to see a festival in full swing.
christmas carols, stands selling crafts, foods, decorations. It was so great, we all got misty eyed, let me tell you.
You dont realise how much you miss this part of our Celebration
Anyway, I am liable to get cut off so I want to post a picture of two real quick.

this is the nativity scene

this is the band

again the nativity scene in the afternoon

By the time we came back to the ferry, we were all exhausted, some of the ladies were a little toasty, and there was singing and what not. We were all worried about going through customs, and were happy to see a car on the ferry, cause the customs officials would have to spend more time on that and let normal people through.
we went through passport control, then couldnt miss up the opportunity to shop at duty free, so got some stuff there, and then on to customs.....
we were so lucky that they just waived us through, I dont know if anyone got checked, cause at that point, most people had left already, cause I was in duty free with a group, we sailed through.
I wasnt too worried, but a gal with me (american) had a backpack full of pork products...

anyway, we are now ready for Christmas, in fact, I even found S & W cranberry sauce....
does it get any better?

Woohoo! (Wish I had been a fairy in your jacket pocket for the shopping trip!)

Well, there ya go .. pebble!! .... Thanks for sharing your shoppin' trip with us !! ...

Wonderful pics .. and so glad to see there was a Nativity scene too. It and the christmas carol singing, should've jes warmed the cockles of your heart, 'ey ?!! ..

Glad things went well .. and all ya got was a 'wave thru' @ Customs too !! .. (whew)

I'm most curious .. as to jes how 'big' that suitcase was, you bought after you arrived in Kos .. for your personal stash of goodies-? .. hee ..

You and yours .. have a very Merry Christmas .. pebble !!!

- Magpye

This message was edited Dec 20, 2004 4:34 PM

Pebble...It looks like you had an enjoyable....but exhausting...shopping spree...now...I gotta ask...where is KOS?

♫Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas Time♫

Love & Hugs

Jo

Jo, it is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea. (See Americans do so learn some geography lol.)

Pebble
That sounds like a fantastic day!!!! I could feel your excitement about sailing through customs!!

you shoulda seen us gals when we got on the ferry to see the car, we were positively ecstatic to see that there would be something to keep the customs people occupied....
We had hard salami sandwiches with saurkraut for dinner last night..
I also got some bailey's at 13 euro, that was a good buy...
I am thrilled with my bootie, and have decided that I must do this a couple of times of year, just for fun....stock up on stuff....
you should see the cheeses I got, I cant wait to break into them, but I have to wait to share.....
I also got lots of goodies for my daughter and husband.
I did get a cordless phone, and a boom box for me.
there was a Body shop, dropped a fair amount of euros there

Jo, as Magpy said, it is an island on the aegean, just a stone's throw from here, we can see it from where I live. On our way back, there were some turks on the boat who are turkish but have lived in kos for generations, like since before the division. they were coming back to see family. sad isnt it? that they draw lines and separate families....

heehee .. Pebble .. (your 'shopping spree' adrenalin .. must still be 'running' rampant) - for that was 'frogsrus' that gave the rest of 'us' our geography lesson .. not 'me' ! ..

Hee .. You've not managed to answer my inquiry about the size of that suitcase you purchased - but now that you've mentioned all of those goodies in your 'booty' - it sheds much light, and reveals .. that the case, indeed .. was SOME plenty BIG enuff !! .. lol ..

- Magpye

all that shopping made me foggy in the brain
lol - sorry frog, you are correct....how do u even know where Kos is??? Have you been?
Magpye, the suitcase was big...on wheels, and even pulling it made my arm sore. does that give you an idea of how much I had? I came home and quickly unloaded and put most of the stuff away and hid the suitcase, cause my husband thinks im daffy as it is, if he would have seen all the stuff i got, he would have thought I was downright crazy...as it is, he made fun of the things that I brought back.....

Thanks, Frogs!! Now all I need to know is what KOS stands for...or does it stand alone...hmmm...I'll ask Google...LOL Jo

Never mind! Jo


http://www.hippocrates.gr/

oh yeah Jo, I knew that it was the birthplace of Hippocrates. I had forgotten, I had read that there is mildly famous hospital there.
It was fun...I didnt see the hospital though, truthfully since I had forgotten about it, I didnt even think about it while driving around from one market to another...(4 to a cab)

Pebble, went to the Greek isles many moons ago. Stayed at the Polytechnic University in Athens before it was opened to students that fall. Had a great view of the Acropolis. That was before they roped off all the sites of interest because the tourists were stealing it rock by rock. Anyway, took a cruise around the islands. It was great fun.

musta been fun......I love the islands, they all are very unique.