We haven't driven off a cliff. F had a fail on one of her accommodation bookings and we decided to move to something else. She had booked an apartment in a pedestrian area in Ioannina, and we got there to find it was a room with a bed so big there was no room for anything else. Our bags even had to be stacked in the doorway. It was meant to be equipped with things that humans need - like stuff to make hot drinks, and eat their food off, sit on, stow their furs in, but it didn't have a kitchen of any kind, or chairs or.... you know, human stuff.
There was nothing to explore.
What makes a 'room' an 'apartment'? (Regardless of the difference it didn't live up to description and wasn't suitable for a couple of OLD codgers and a cat, because to top everything off it lacked any effective soundproofing: we could hear the miniature dachshund running about in the neighbouring room, were plagued by a relentless industrial hum and the noise of nearby nightclubs didn't stop until 6am. At 7am F found us somewhere else to stay.)
The day involved exploration of the 'Kastro' of Ioannina and in particular the two mosques from a past period of Ioannina history - both now museums.
The smaller one (Fethiye mosque of the Ali Pasha) had chequered uses since the end of the Ottoman Empire here so lots of it is lost, but recent restoration has endeavoured to preserve what remains.
The mosque of the Aslan Pasha is more complete, and now a municiple museum. After a couple of hours exploring the castle and old city and the Byzantine tower we didn't really have time to appreciate the inside of the big mosque museum and had to do our moving thing.
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My humans had also scheduled a visit to a winery (Zoinos) which interested F because it is a production co-operative originally set up to promote wine from local grape varieties from lots of small growing areas around the village of Zitsa.
Our 'emergency' accommodation was a proper apartment AND it had a courtyard. I explored, conducted diplomatic detente with a local feline and we all ate outdoors in the quiet of a suburban Monday evening. Lovely.
so very happy it all worked out for the good and you did see some lovely places and things PLUS a visitor CAT.. how cool is that? bob and i had a favorite beach, we stayed a few days and 6 months later went back, with reservations in the same hotel.. it stunk, like pee, the whole place, the room, the hall it was a horror and i should have listened to daddy who said aways ask to see the room before you check in.... we stayed that night, early am went for a walk and found a wonderful place, that we spent many years twice a year in.... worked out great. Driftwood Inn, step from room, walk around heated pool, down steps and into the beach and Atlantic ocean....
ReplyDeleteThat winery sounds just the sort of thing we should visit next time we are up there. I'll make a note. A lot to see in Ioannina. I really like the place.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness you found other accomodation. Room for felines to stretch and humans to enjoy some of that wine no doubt
The staff at the winery were fab and love their purpose.
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteArrrrgggh... my first comment got swallowed by the ether due to i'net drop out. Sigh... now I can't recall what I said. No matter - glad you found a suitable place to stay after all. The Ottoman architecture is very attractive... hugs and whiskeries, YAM-auntyxxx
Dear YAM-aunty I dictated a long comment to someone the other day and the 'publish' button refused to work. I learned some new words from F. Hugs Mr T
DeleteBut was there a cat litter tray?
ReplyDeleteThere is always one of those. My humans bring it along. They complain that my luggage takes more planning than theirs.
DeleteIt happens to all of us.
ReplyDeleteWe ring ask questions and book only to find a totally different story
Once we arrive. I’m glad you found somewhere more suitable
Your having an amazing holiday
I suspect F doesn't ask enough questions.
DeleteI'm sure Tigger would appreciate the bed, he'd probably try and hog it all to himself but us hoomans need other sustinance.
ReplyDelete