A Greek Hike and a Marketing Idea

I like Kalamaki on the island of Zakynthos because they have turtles. This means there are no late-night flights. I guess if I were a turtle meandering up a beach to lay my eggs, I wouldn't appreciate being buzzed by a Boeing 737. Suits me fine as I prefer early morning flights in and out. I'm a lazy git on holiday; I lie around reading and soaking up the sun. Although I’ll fit in one run and hike, I decided to hike up Mount Skopos to the monastery.

The Joy of Hiking

There's something about a long run or a hike that frees your mind and helps you ponder. I guess that’s an oxymoron? As a child, I thought it was a stupid donkey. Anyway, I took a copy of my first book, The Siege of Mr Khan's Curry Shop, on this holiday with the intention of reading it. As I walked, I had an idea—more on that later because this is the hiking part. It was a great trail, and so quiet.

Unexpected Sights

I've seen some peculiar viewing points over the years, but never graffiti and a sun lounger halfway up a trail. Who knew?

Reaching the Summit

Once you reach the top, there are spectacular views of the island and, of course, the monastery. The exact date the monastery was built is unknown, but 1453 was a guess by a local I spoke to. It was destroyed in the earthquake that shook Greece in 1953 and rebuilt in 1962-1963.

A Well-Deserved Break

After a rest in the café—yes, there is an actual café up there run by a lovely lady who kindly offered us a glass of water when we reached the top—after a bite to eat, it was time to head back down.

A Creative Marketing Idea

Getting back to the idea I had earlier with my book. I wrote a note inside the front cover and left it on the hotel library shelf. It disappeared for a day, then reappeared and disappeared again. It's still there now. I'm not sure if this is a good marketing ploy or if it’s been done before, but I thought over a thousand holidaymakers visit the hotel every year, so why not? I’ll leave a book in every hotel I visit from now on with a little message. 😉

Happy Trails, folks x