Bucket List #1, Check

The Bloc Hotel is in the south terminal of Gatwick Airport. Now if I had good wifi I could show you a picture of a room in the Bloc Hotel. The room is the size of a queen size bed with a little alcove to stand in and a shower stall with a toilet in it. It has no window and it is bathed in purple light from a light fixture in the ceiling. We had this room from about 8 pm on the 21st until 3:20 am on the 22nd. You walk out of the elevator in the Bloc into the south terminal of the airport and then you take moving walkways to a shuttle to the north terminal where Easy jet awaits.

The flight to Zakinthos left on time at 5:45 am. We flew across France, over Switzerland and the Alps, down the East coast of Italy and then down to Zakinthos. I could also show you the Alps which were spectacular in the morning sun if I had good wifi. Maybe later.

Our driver was waiting with the wrong name on his card. But we found him and he drove us through the rather rag tag outskirts of the South Island and then up and over the island mountain range to our place. It took about an hour. This studio is on the north east corner of the island.

It is owned by a retired sea captain and his wife. It was built about 15 years ago in a rural area filled with farms growing olives mostly. The farming practises are fairly basic.

We have a lovely beach to use and in the morning and again in the evening we wander down and bob as we used to say when we joined the Grahams in Mexico. The water is crystal clear and so buoyant. It's very relaxing to just lie there and let the water carry you







We have a restaurant where we have our main meal of the day. It's usually later when the heat recedes. The deck at the restaurant looks over the sea and it's very easy to dine at leisure.









Across the road from the restaurant is a Mini Mart with basic grocery items that we carry home for our breakfasts and lunches.









And George, pronounced yorgy, the baker comes in the morning with fresh bread and sandwiches and even pizza.

John the fruit and veg guy comes twice a week with all sorts of local produce.

I think, on the whole, we are eating healthily. Jan and Brian showed us this show about carbs and we've been chastened We try to limit the amounts. And we are certainly getting more exercise.



This is a long held dream of mine, to be able to jump into a clear sea in a beautiful place like this.

The sea captain owner said that he could have gone many places to live but he was always drawn home to this beautiful island of Zakinthos. I can understand why.