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Post by iannoble on Nov 20, 2009 12:12:27 GMT
Hi all, just thought you would like to know, Piraeus hasnt changed a bit, dug up roads, mad taxi drivers, and dogs everywhere! had the fortune?.... to visit an old ship last week, so had to pop into Dennis dans for old times sake, Paniottis, never a man of many words, recognised me ( I was there this time last year) he complained about the lack of Europeans now working on the ships, no business, then we went through a collection of dog eared photos, of us all in our youger days! there is still some on the wall under the staircase at the back! fun times!!
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Post by jant on Nov 21, 2009 8:16:38 GMT
Dennis Dans!!! I remember when Dennis opened, I was at the time on the Galaxy, '82 or '83 i think. The galaxy only had 2 UK staff me and a gay hairdresser..... On the lead up to the opening we would let Dennis know what an English breakfast consisted of. Trouble is he never, in my opinion, got the bacon right it was far too crispy! and he just could not understand fried bread!!! oh & then he served it on PAPER plates!! When i revisited after along period of absence, Dennis & i went out to plaka in Athens and had a wonderful evening. Many may not be aware that he was ( is? is he still alive?) a very generous chap. he refused to let me pay for anything on the Athens night out, including the plates we chucked on the floor!!! I wonder if i told him that his paper plates were rubbish!!! I only really knew Panniatuose (sic) when he arrived as the washer upper, ( cant recall him ever washing up paper plates though) Denise's temper was always volatile and he would chuck things down to him in the cellar area....... oh happy days, I think it was that old rouge Alan shaw who set up office proper in the place... For anybody not party to this infamous spot, the nature of the Greek cruising was 3 & 4 days, the galaxy at that time would berth at around 06.00, i would go to Denise's for around 9, breakfast by 09.30, beers..... then wobble on for embarks & the cocktail party by 11.00!!! No wonder the staff captain signed me off, 2 weeks before the season ended...... I think Percival took over from me then..... You may wonder why i am waffling on a bit here, well i am booked to take colne clipper out of the water today, and the crane driver has called off because its to windy!!! bloody wimps, I think i will attempt to recreate a Dennis Dans breakfast instead..... anybody got ant bottles of amstel? Jant
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Post by kit on Nov 21, 2009 21:09:28 GMT
Ian! Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I obviously first came across Dennis's after John and Co had got him trained up in english fry ups.
I only saw Dennis himself a few times - "Panni" however - I can't believe he is still there.
Loved the comment about lack of Europeans! Where's Greece then? Have they moved it? (But I do know exactly what you mean)
And the dogs! Still able to scrounge food and procreate obviously.
I dread to think how much of Marine's cash has passed through Dennis's doors or the total value of the financial transfers that took place in that hallowed cafe! Probably enough to buy and sell the place a few dozen times!
So - Ian - What ship were you visiting? Good trip?
PS: Jant - There's no such thing as bacon that is too crispy! Soggy bacon should be banned.
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Post by iannoble on Nov 23, 2009 13:43:05 GMT
Hi Chaps, well good to see it brought back some happy memories, Dennis is in fact alive, however nothing to do with the cafe, just Panni and his wife helps out at busy times! He did mention a past operations Manger that he remembers, who managed to never dip his hand in his pocket......now who was that......!! I was visiting a ship called the VISTAMAR, in fact I was packing all the lab up to come off there, luckily it was just a couple of sony dye sub printers, a few computers and video set up, and would you believe it actually all got back here last Friday, all intact and complete. yes, business goes on onboard the old ships, Fred Olsen Black prince was sold a couple of weeks ago to a Venezuelan company, to cruise out of La Guira, and only keeping within Venezulan islands...Ocean Images remained onboard...so that will be an iteresting one, Venezuela being such a stable country.....!! oh well, something else to look after from my side, I havent been down that way since we were on the Atlas in '86, it probably hasnt changed much either, we only used to go as far as a restaurant across the road which served amazing Tomato Soup, funny the things you remember! would be good to catch up sometime, so my next trip to Ipswich, will let you know, cheers!
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Post by blackangus on Sept 25, 2010 10:29:16 GMT
That restaurant in La Guaira was called "Avila"after the nearby mountain (I think). We always used to go there too for the amazing tomato soup. The cured ham hanging from the ceiling was excellent too. Always remember hving a sangria drinking competition in there one day. Photogs v casino staff. Drinking from jugs! This was from the time on the Victoria in 1985. My No.1 was Nigel Haines. We lost. The Casino staff did cheat though, by visiting the toilet to throw up in between jugs. Cheats! I still can't look at sangria anymore, never mind drink it!
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Post by kit on Oct 10, 2010 11:09:56 GMT
Hmmm, I suspect it could have been a crowd from Casinos Austria? A dodgier bunch of gamblers I've yet to meet.
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