Happy Birthday or whatever that is in Danish (for Liselotte)

Earlier this week the weather forecast for today was not too good so we had everything crossed that today would be dry, fine would be excellent but dry would be good because after having to cancel before Christmas today we were taking Liselotte and John out to celebrate Liselotte's 50th which was in November and John's 70th which I think was in January when they were in New Zealand.  We had decided to take them for afternoon tea at the Elysium which we were sure they would not have done before.

We were lucky, the day started out dry and with deep blue skies and remained as such until we got back up into the hills, we picked them up at 12.00 and took them down to the venue via the scenic route which took us through Akoursos and along by the reservoir - it was a road less traveled for them in fact one which they had never traveled before and they loved it!!!

We arrived at the Elysium and decided to sit outside which was a result because the whole experience is so much nicer if you can sit outside in February.  We have been for afternoon tea before - it is served from midday so whilst technically afternoon it was to be our lunch rather than tea!!!

We were served tasty little sandwiches, fancy cakes and scones, jam and clotted cream.  Liselotte and John loved it but if I am honest there was something lacking in the service this time - maybe because it is early in the season but for an establishment which bills itself as five star plus tables around us were left uncleared and became the smorgasbord of all smorgasbords for the local sparrow population.  We waited a long time for our food to arrive whilst others around us were being served and no-one came to reassure us that we hadn't been forgotten which we thought we had!

Previously the staff used to whisk away any uneaten cakes etc and
box them up and return them without being asked but yesterday we had to ask and we had to box things up ourselves.  Minor things and things which our guests would not have been aware of not having been previously but it was certainly not as good as when we had taken Di and Rob for their anniversary.

The hotel has undergone a refurbishment since we were last there, an expensive one by all accounts although I can't think it really needed it and we liked it just fine the way it was before.  What hits you is that there are vast areas of unused space which is a luxury where bums on seats must be the order of the day and on that subject the new 1930s style chairs are beautiful and would look lovely in our conservatory although not in blue obviously.

We were slightly saddened that the room which had previously been decorated to look like an old library or gentlemen's club with squashy leather sofas and old accessories like the camera on a tripod with bellows which we used in a picture when Paul and Elaine were there after their wedding ceremony in Peyia, has been given a complete change of personality.  Very nice, very interior designed but slightly lacking in atmosphere.

Next to this room was an area which I don't remember seeing before but which housed what looked to be a replica of an old mosaic floor and you could have been in Kourion or somewhere similar.  Again it was a vast space given over to a very pretty scene but it was unusable as anything else. - I did like the lamps though, they were really nice and whoever recreated the ancient mosaic had done a fabulous job.

We had a wander around inside before venturing back outside to take in the grounds and the gardens which are large and beautifully manicured even this early in the season.

It always amazes us, as we are walking around like hicks from the sticks that you see young couples with young children staying here - we always look at one another and ask ourselves "how on earth do they afford to stay here???"

It is a luxury destination resort and when they have sorted out their issues with afternoon tea staff it will be perfect!  Liselotte and John were impressed and that was the point of the exercise.

We were blessed with a lovely day, if not a little blustery, and it meant we were able to wander around and take in our surroundings and enjoy the sunshine.  Some mad tourists were even sunbathing around the pool!!

 

We walked down to the beach to have a look at the area which is used by the hotel and to walk out on the jetty to look at the sea and I have to say it didn't look at all warm and inviting to me!!!  We decided that we would make our way back slowly to Arodes and stop at the Baracas Beach Bar for a drink as they hadn't been there before.

The venue is in a lovely spot and it is all clean and modern but it is always a bit of a disappointment and today it didn't let us down - we ordered drinks from the menu only to be told they didn't have them and then we couldn't decide what we did want.  This place could so do with sending their staff down to watch the staff at Oniros and to see how that place functions and why it is so popular!!!

We finished our trip out with a final drink at our local winery - by the time we arrived it was quite late and we were the only ones there and lovely Maria brought a plate of cheese and some olive biscuits to accompany our wine.  I had said I would drive to I only had a taste to be sociable but I didn't really mind.

The days are really beginning to get longer - the photograph above was taken at 5.00pm - we had thought it would be sunset but that is clearly not for another half an hour or so.  We didn't wait outside to see it happen because it was getting a bit chilly and the winery closes at 6.00 and lovely as Maria is I doubt she would be overly impressed if we outstayed our welcome!!!

All in all a very nice day and Liselotte and John seemed to enjoy themselves and as that was the point of the exercise then that was good.  We may have had to wait a while to get them there but it was worth it!!