Backgammon

We were out and about and stopped off for a beer yesterday as it started chucking it down and what's the point getting wet on the outside when on the inside is much more preferable?

As it happens, it was a guesthouse, not a bar or taverna, but it had a sheltered patio/forecourt with a little bar and tables and chairs and it was advertising Efes at YTL 3.00 for a full pint.

We settled in more than comfortably and noticed the old timers playing backgammon (again, hugely popular as it is in Greece) but the odd thing was that after each game, instead of simply changing colours by turning the board (or box as is the case), the two gadgies got up out of their seats and swapped with each other. It was all rather amusing to see and I still can't work out why- there was no sun advantage or anything else that I could see for this manoeuvre. Still, they were happy and that is all that counts.

Another oddity about the place, was that it didn't have a loo for the bar and when we needed to go (the down side of supping beer), the barman gave us a key to the first room. It not only gave us the opportunity to get some instant relief, but also to see what the standard was like.

Basic- a twin room with not much else (no TV/hairdryer etc) but en suite, obviously and what looked like a good shower. Naturally I enquired as to the price and was amazed to find they wanted the same as we're paying for our hotel suite, which as you know also includes free internet, a swimming pool and breakfast and dinner.

Again, it pays to haggle...