My Weekend With Family in Kastéli
By Helen Grubner. Filed in Uncategorized |
Saturday 11 May-Sunday 12 May 2024
Although I still had some Euros leftover from my last trip, yesterday morning I thought it would be a good idea to visit an ATM and make a withdrawal using my CashPassport card, a Mastercard product I’ve used for many years without problem until now. The machine ate my card!!! Fortunately, I’ll still be in Kastéli tomorrow morning and when the Bank opens at 0800 hours, I’ll be waiting on their doorstep. Politely, I say… buggar 😡
Had lunch with Katina and Vasilis and saw Anna. Late afternoon walking back to Revekka, much to my surprise, I bumped into Anna’s daughter Kiki who had just arrived on the bus from Chania. Kiki was walking to the Zacharopoleio (Cake Shop) to buy a cake for Mothers’ Day today and she kindly bought me a piece of yummy Almond Cake.
Last night I had planned to visit Roma and Vanna but it wasn’t to be. Not my day as I received a communication from Blue Star Ferries advising that my ferry on Thursday from Heraklion to Rhodes will not be operating. That means on Wednesday I’ll be travelling all day on three buses to get from Kastéli to Chania to Heraklion to Sitia where hopefully I’ll be in time to catch the 1930 hours overnight ferry to Rhodes, arriving 0630 hours on Thursday. I also had to request a refund for my ferry ticket and cancel my overnight hotel booking in Heraklion.
Today… Mothers’ Day and a return to mostly clear, blue, sunny skies. Enjoyed a beachcombing stroll on the way to Anna’s. By early afternoon, the somewhat tiny family home was bulging at the seams, with the arrival of several extended family members from Chania. A table was laid and we all tucked into delicious food prepared by Katina… nothing but the best. Later in the day, it was appropriate to celebrate Oréstes birthday as he turned 6 yesterday. People kept coming and going however, by 1830 hours, I was ready to return to peace and quietness in my room. Tomorrow my day will begin early.
Monday, May 13th 2024 at 12:47 am |
What a fabulous weekend with family! I can’t wait to get back to Lemnos and start making dolmades. I hope you straighten out that card thing– I had that happen on Lemnos in January but it was my fault. I forgot to collect my card from the ATM (Themis and I were talking and I guess I ignored the beeping noise). The bank would not return the card (it took my 2 weeks to realize it was missing from my wallet) and I ended up having to replace it. I hope Cretan banks r kinder. And that you have another card you can use in the meantime
Xxoo
Monday, May 13th 2024 at 2:48 pm |
No, Cretan banks are not kinder. This morning, they couldn’t help me. My problem remains unresolved. I’ve spent the day at Balos lagoon beach. Tomorrow I’ll worry about how I’m going to eat for the next 7 weeks. I have an AMEX card and a VISA Debit Card, but this morning, the Ethniki Trápeza didn’t want to know that card either.
Monday, May 13th 2024 at 6:41 pm |
Uh oh. I was afraid they wouldn’t release the card. I called VISA’s help line in Canada and they backed up the Greek bank policy and said there’s no other option but to cancel the card and order a replacement which will be sent by courier. They said they would rush it but it still took 10 days to process the card and arrive on Lemnos. I did have other cards but as you say, Greek bank machines don’t always like them
Poor you. I hope you can use your Amex … but don’t delay about reporting the problem to VISA. They’ll need a mailing address though…
.
Monday, May 13th 2024 at 7:10 pm |
The swallowed up card was a CashPassport card. A Mastercard product.. prepaid preloaded with Euro. I can’t even login to their App… “Your card is closed and you can no longer access the App”. Tried calling their free line for Greece… “Couldn’t connect”. I’ve emailed asking for urgent help. Yes, I do have my AMEX card which isn’t always welcomed and my VISA Debit Card which wasn’t liked by the Ethniki Trápeza, but I’m hoping tomorrow to sort something out.