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HOW TO CRASH THREE BIRTHDAYS AND A WEDDING ANNIVERSARY WITH TWO COMPANIES: NEWSTRAVEL AND MILLENIUM
OR ADVENTURES OF UKRAINIAN TOURISTS IN GREECE
I'll start with the main one. September has been a milestone for our family. Our wedding took place on September 19th. My birthday is September 20th. And my husband and mother managed to be born on the same day - September 21st.
Now, I think, it is clear why the best option to celebrate all the holidays at the same time has become a good tradition to travel abroad for this period.
My husband and I, as well as our friends, witnesses at the wedding, live in Kyiv. Parents live in the Zaporozhye region. In this regard, it is quite difficult to bring everyone together and organize a joint vacation. That is why we started organizing the rest in June, three months before the expected departure. Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, Croatia, etc. were already in the past. I wanted Europe.
I really wanted something turquoise-sea, white-marble and European-civilized…. All this was very similar to Greece.
The choice of the tour operator fell on the company NEWSTRAVEL, which seduced us with the recommendations of colleagues and rather competitive prices compared to other operators in Greece. In addition, this company offered a much more attractive flight schedule to Heraklion. While all Kyiv firms were selling late flights, around 11 pm, Newstravel published on the website the departure from Kyiv at 7 pm. It would be much nicer to be in Greece on the day of departure, and not at night, the next day.
We suffered for a long time, choosing a hotel and studying all kinds of reviews of tourists on the Internet. As a result, we stopped at the RINELA BEACH hotel - 4 *, all inclusive.
Guided by the experience and advice of experienced tourists, we chose double standard rooms with a garden view - VIP, which assumed the presence of additional services, such as: champagne, fruits, nuts and flowers upon arrival, bathrobes and slippers in the room, additional bathroom accessories, mini -bar, beach towels (there are no beach towels in regular rooms).
We gathered a company of 8 people (four couples) and booked tours from SEPTEMBER 19 to OCTOBER 3 back in June. In the application, we indicated the desire for the rooms to be nearby, well, and asked to take into account our festive mood, in confirmation of which we received a fax, where the hotel confirmed the rooms and that it was notified about three birthdays and “Anniversary of wedding”. Within two weeks, an advance payment was made and by the end of the month all documents for obtaining a visa were provided. Three of our company are registered in Kyiv, and the remaining five people are in the Zaporozhye region.
For absolutely illogical and incomprehensible reasons for us, the “Cossacks” deigned to accept only the Greek consulate in Mariupol. The Kievans served in the capital. In this regard, there was a little excitement about obtaining visas, and we had to wait until August, because the embassy did not accept documents in advance. But we are waiting for good news. Visas were issued to everyone. But! Five martyrs from Zaporozhye must report to the embassy on their return upon arrival, and the Greeks drew a visa for my mother on a separate piece of paper, not wanting to stick it in the passport, due to the presence of a trip to Taba, Jordan and Israel. The rest of the money for the tours was paid, and there were still more than three weeks before the departure. Newstravel gave us vouchers, insurance and memos, and they promised to return the tickets two days before departure. We relaxed and began to calmly get ready for the road.
Two days before departure, I received tickets by e-mail, where the departure time had already been moved to 11 pm.
The flight took off without incident. We arrived at 01.40 already on 20.09. 08, that is, the birthday had to be celebrated on the plane. It didn't spoil our mood. Boarding, passport control, baggage claim - everything is smooth. At the exit, we were met with a sign and taken to the Newstravel counter to receive documents, where we were given an envelope with the Millenium logo, in which there was a leaflet with a list of excursions and advertising booklets. The name of our guide was written on the envelope - Mikhailis, who in the end turned out to be a complete "Mihuilis". "Rinela Beach" was the first hotel in the queue, so literally after 20 minutes we were already at the entrance, and took out our numerous suitcases. The young lady from the bus, a representative of Millenium, did not come to the hotel with us to check our settlement, but simply and cheerfully advised us to go in and show our passports, they say, everything is already ready there.
Behind the counter was a lone Greek administrator in a tie, with a name tag - Manoilis (we also renamed him later, but for censorship purposes I will not announce it aloud, but will give you freedom for imagination). A little further away, on a summer playground, a small youth company (3 couples - 6 people) from Kyiv was sitting.
With a positive attitude and broad smiles, anticipating a cordial meeting, our company moved to the reception, and I, in my best English, greeted Manoilis and told him about our four holidays from the threshold, in connection with which I reminded him of our request for rooms nearby and preferably on second floor. In response to this, with an absolutely calm expression on his face, Manoilis informed us that we would live in those rooms that were available, namely in two family rooms, and laid out the keys on the counter.
This was followed by an indistinct explanation, saying that it was on this night that an emergency happened at the hotel, and several rooms were flooded due to the inaccurate handling of the plumbing by the residents. After a little confusion, I regained my composure and tried to re-explain to Manoilis that he was probably wrong, because we had booked rooms in advance and we even have a confirmation of the hotel. To which the administrator impartially replied that there were no more rooms, in confirmation of which he waved his hand at the counter with empty key boxes. This sobered us up a little and brought us to our senses. But, knowing tourist jokes firsthand, we answered him that this option did not suit us, for which we received a “slap in the face”: “if you don’t like it, go outside. ” This made my eyes pop out. This is Europe!
Due to the fact that from our company I was practically the only one who could clearly formulate sentences in English, I explained to Manoilis that he probably misunderstood us, and let him find an option so as not to spoil my birthday, which had already begun for 2 hours and continued. I wanted to invite him to put himself in our place and imagine that he and his girlfriend or his wife would be in such a situation. But I was told that he is not married and does not have a girlfriend. I asked: “Are you gay? » And Manoilis answered in his hearts that he didn’t, but he would soon. He was already nervous. And I was just shaking. I demanded that this "representative of the hotel" confirm in writing that the hotel does not have the opportunity to accommodate us in the previously booked rooms. But he refused and said that it was not his competence. Whose?? ? Chief reservation manager. Then we asked this "pleasant administrator" to call our guide Mikhailis.
It was already well after midnight on the clock, and more specifically, the beginning of the third morning on September 20th. Manoilis cheerfully dialed Mikhailis's number and chirped with one in Greek that we didn't yet know but promised to learn for our next trip (which I hope will never happen again). He talked about something with the guide and hung up. Continuing to smile vilely, he answered with a hackneyed phrase, the accommodation option we already knew. But we did not agree on two toilet bowls for eight people, especially since I had a slightly different scenario for my festive night. I continued to pester Manoilis with the same irrepressible energy with the same demand - to find us numbers.
During the debate, one of us went with the escort, Manoilis's partner on this and subsequent nights, to see the room offered to us, and returned with the firm intention to continue the war, because the room by no means looked like not only a VIP, but in general a normal type of accommodation : a small damp little room in which two people can comfortably accommodate is unrealistic. In general, I got the administrator, and he re-dialed our guide. At first, quite civilly, I outlined our situation to him and told him in colors that our company was already nervous, after two days of the road I was tired and wanted to relax in VIP rooms. After listening to my tirade, the guide calmly suggested that we use the proposed option and wait until the morning, when the manager comes at 10 o'clock and tries to help us.
This made me angry, and I said into the phone that in order to avoid problems, let this guide get his Greek ass out of bed, come to the hotel for help, and then it would be fair, otherwise it would be good to advise from a warm bed. In response to this, Mihuilis (I can already call him that) frankly sent me to hell and hung up the phone. This turned out to be the last straw. I already furiously explained to Manoilis that he dialed the responsible booking manager for me by phone (unfortunately I no longer had any contacts of the sending company). And all the same, through a broken phone, this vile bastard with glasses began to communicate with this young lady himself, if she were not okay, like the entire Greek hotel business system. I interrupted his incomprehensible chatter and demanded to give me the phone. This muck did not even turn its slanting eye in my direction. Oh, you rotten infection!
I had to climb onto the reception desk to reach the telephone cord, with which I pulled the receiver centimeter by centimeter from the hands of this smelly, stubborn Greek. Finally, I was lucky enough to win back the pipe and for the third time I told our story to an English-speaking (not a single bastard in this hotel wanted to speak Russian) young lady who screwed up our reservations. She condoled with me for a long time and told me that she would come the next day at 10 am and try to help us. I reminded her of her job responsibilities and told her that if their fucking hotel is not able to accommodate us, then let it be kind to find rooms in a hotel of the same category for the required number of days, as is done in good old Africa. She asked the administrator and continued the conversation with him. Hanging up, Manoilis contacted some hotel and found out that there were no available rooms.
I could not believe that at the end of the season there were no free rooms in Rinel. Manoilis answered me that there was only one free room, but, unfortunately, it was not cleaned, and there were no maids at night. Nothing, I said, I can change the bed linen myself, but he did not agree to this.
By the way, six guys from Kyiv, toiling on the summer playground, have already moved closer to the reception, and told us that they had the same problem, and that they were also told the tale of the “flood” and were given two family rooms for six. All this was like nonsense. Instead of drinking champagne on the balcony of our VIP room, we were bobbing in the lobby with this idiot Greek and feeling like garbage. In my heart I threw everything on the floor that was on the administrative desk: the phone, folders, advertising signs and the rest of the crap, and began to walk nervously down the hall, making some kind of decision.
From anger, resentment and impotence about a spoiled birthday, tears welled up from his eyes. I rushed to rummage in my bag in search of a sedative and found it, swallowed all the pills that were at once. Then, nervously tearing the tape protecting the suitcase from Ukrainian and Greek customs thieves, I took out a camera and gave it to my husband to film all this chaos. She continued to freak out and yell at Manoilis. Our whole company was simply indignant and was ready to strangle this donkey with glasses. My husband, seeing my tears, rushed behind the reception desk and, grabbing Manoilis by the tie, knowing neither Greek nor English, clearly in Russian loudly told this goat to give us the keys to our VIP rooms. The administrator was frightened and tried to get out of her husband's tenacious hands, shouting to him that this was a “private territory” and that it was impossible to enter here. But who cared!
Seeing that my husband was already in an insane state, two men from our company, with an effort, disengaged them and pulled them apart on opposite sides of the counter. Manoilis, with trembling hands, tore off his tie, and then his badge with his cursed name, and threw it all away from him, fearing a relapse.
My patience snapped, and I decided to call the police. Call the police! I demanded from the administrator. He froze, trembling all over. Then give me a number! - I said, and having received the coveted three digits (100), I hurried to the phone. I dialed the number and, hearing a voice on the other side of the wire, told with tears about the lawlessness that was happening in the four-star Rinela Beach Hotel. In principle, I called in order to find out the number of the tourist police of Crete, which I was kindly informed on the other end of the wire. But I could not get through to the tourist police.
Assessing our whole situation from the outside, I went cold: how do tourists feel who do not speak English and do not know their rights ? ! It's just a violation of human rights.
I called the regular police again and asked them to help. They agreed, reassured me and hung up. A moment later, Manoilis' phone rang and he spoke Greek for a while, then hung up and grinned victoriously in my direction. The husband continued to shoot all this insanity on camera, and the Greek, seeing this, began to yell that it was forbidden to shoot in the hotel. What are you, - I was surprised, - and where is it written? We continued to record everything on camera, keeping a safe distance from Khunoilis waving his arms (I didn’t want to call this moral monster any other way). Since there was no movement, I decided to call the police again.
Having dialed the number and hearing a familiar voice, I affectionately asked how they could please us. The policeman began to tell me that he had the honor of talking with the administrator of Rinela Beach and he explained to him ...Probably you were told that the hotel was not to blame for anything and that Russian "banditos, mafioso" are raging here? - I asked, and having received an affirmative answer, I asked, simply begged him to come and see for myself in this arbitrariness. They told me: "Calm down, madam, we will arrive now. "
Literally 5 minutes later, a police car pulled up to the hotel entrance. It was already half past four in the morning. I joyfully ran out to the car, hoping to meet our saviors and be the first to describe our situation to them, until this nit again misrepresented everything. I began to speak English quickly, quickly, following the two men in uniform, but after a moment I was disappointed: they explained to me with gestures that there was no belmes in English ...It's a shame, damn it!
They sent it, they sent it...
Then, for half an hour, a long explanation of the whole situation followed: ours in Russian and English, Manoilis - in Greek ...I demanded that he comment on everything in English. Our company of already 14 people, including the people of Kiev, angrily inserted replicas. Some people, taking sofa cushions, lay down directly on the marble floor at the glass sliding door to the hotel, clearly demonstrating the lack of accommodation. It was felt both in intonation and facial expressions that Manoilis and the policemen were at one with their national solidarity, but at the same time the policemen were in no hurry to leave, and confidently recommended Manoilis to settle all this turmoil. The most remarkable thing was that this Khunoilis was the only intermediary-translator between us, and, of course, he translated information in a dosed manner, choosing what was necessary and beneficial for the hotel.
Some time later, Manoilis found two vacant rooms in a nearby hotel, where four of our companions agreed to “temporarily, until the morning” move for the night. Having loaded our partner Manoilis with suitcases, who was very worried about his fate and was afraid to leave us alone, we sent our delegation to a nearby hotel. They themselves took the keys, and spitting on the only awake porter, they decided to deliver our huge suitcase to the room on their own. As a result, we, the remaining four martyrs, were given the keys to two family rooms located in absolutely opposite parts of the hotel. And in the meantime it began to rain on the street, which was the apogee of this whole story.
The most interesting thing is that the room turned out to be not bad, but for two people: spacious enough, although very old, with one bathrobe, greasy bedspreads on a wide bed and dirty bed linen with the remnants of someone else's hair.
...In the bathroom there were 4 sets of small bottles of shampoo and bath foam - that's it! On the table stood some kind of bottle (0.33 l) with a suspicious liquid and a small bowl of peanuts. This, as we later found out with the help of deduction, was "champagne, flowers, fruits and nuts upon arrival. "
We went into the room at the beginning of the sixth morning, and there was no more strength left. I didn’t even have the strength to unpack the suitcase, because the next day, right in the morning, it again had to be transported to our legal room. Before breakfast and before the showdown, we had 3 hours of sleep. Before leaving for the rooms, our unfortunate company agreed to meet at the reception at 9 am. Good, blah, night, my dear readers!
The morning came unexpectedly. Fell fast.
At nine in the morning, we, like almost unbent bayonets, stood at the counter, which had fallen in love with the night, in the same clothes in which we flew in, because we still had neither the strength nor the desire to change into resort guests.
The assembled detachment stomped languidly into the dining room, pathetically called a restaurant, and after tasting a good breakfast, returned to the post. At the agreed time, at 10 am, we were already standing in place, waiting for our guide, who promised to come and rescue us. Our second affected company joined us and we discussed in chorus how everything would be settled now, and that the Millennium Company would now flatten out before us in apologies and compensation for the lost night and frayed nerves. With hungry eyes, each of us caught people entering the hotel, trying to look out for our savior in them. But at 10 am no one came. Exactly like at half past ten. To my question, “where is the boy”, fortunately the administrator who replaced him told me that the meeting time of the Millennium guide with tourists was at six in the evening. Taken aback, I ran to the counter, generously pasted over with leaflets from different companies, and made sure that the administrator was right.
A couple of questions, calls and we were reassured: Mikhailis will! But at 13.00. In general, I noticed that the Greeks are not particularly in a hurry to strain. They slowly enjoy life under the aroma of cigars, which are allowed right at their workplaces. Nobody is in a hurry. I thought that the Spaniards had the eternal “Asta Magnana”, but it turns out that the Greeks were ahead of even the Finns and Estonians in their speed.
Slowly waving a shapeless black bag with the long-awaited letter "M", similar at first glance to the famous diner, imposingly floated into the coolness of the hall, a strong, middle-aged man of about 40 years old. A wrinkled gray suit, a beer belly, plump fingers squeezing the handle of a suitcase and greasy eyes , oily embraced all the tourists sitting in the lobby. After exchanging a couple of phrases with the administrator, Karlssonchik headed in our direction, but we, startled, prepared to apologize.
The formal greeting was followed by the question: “Who did I talk to on the phone yesterday? and an oily look burned me. I diplomatically kept silent, and our comrades-in-arms laughed it off - yes, everything in general.
- the administrator has problems, he is in the hospital, takes off the beatings, and wants to sue you.
Beatings? - I was surprised, - from where, after all, no one touched him with a finger yesterday, except that they shook him in order to regain consciousness.
It turned out that when I tried to take away the handset from this eccentric with the letter M, I scratched him around the wrist. The most interesting thing is that I didn’t even notice this, but he didn’t even show it. "Manoilis", in a word. Now this name I call all the people who are not pleasant to me. Let him give, - I answered, it worries me less than our state of affairs. How will we decide? – and I looked inquiringly at Mikhailis. (Did you notice? All their especially significant names, like the name of an equally significant company, begin with one letter! ).
It turns out that half the hotel is filled with English tourists who were sent by a would-be travel agency that went bankrupt shortly after; and poor Englishmen toil in "Renel Beach" in anticipation of their non-existent charter, which should someday soon, with the assistance of the English government, deliver them to their homeland.
We felt the influence of the West in our own skin for two weeks, right up to the flight to Kyiv.
Mikhulis resisted for a long time, joking and trying to get off with excuses, but our company, raped by the Greeks for our own money, was inexorable: sign a paper with your promises and we agree to wait until tomorrow, for how long can one believe empty words.
Having called for help and support of the booking manager, who will also remember for a long time the night from September 19 to 20.2008, Anna, who convinced me at 3 o’clock in the morning, “that the morning is wiser than the evening”, I was once again convinced that the Greeks and the “buckwheat” it is impossible: since she misrepresented her own nightly testimony, any criminal can envy. Having encircled both Greeks, we did not give up to the last. Anna named the room numbers, and Mikhailis signed the following text with his signature: “I, the representative of Millennium Travel, Mikhailis, confirm that tourists such and such (by name) will receive paid and booked VIP rooms on 21.09. 08 (this is to the fact that the rooms are actually booked and paid for from the 19th, and given the late check-in at the hotel, the first day of the turquoise-sea, white-marble and European-civilized rest was shattered by the warm welcome of the hosts of European civilization.
Well, here it was perfectly legal to demand a free extension of the rooms on the day of departure, since the return flight was promised to be late, at 2 am from 3 to 4 October. This demand Michuilis, reluctantly his heart and his weak Greek teeth, confirmed with his signature.
We achieved accommodation in our rooms on the second day of torment. But the sediment remained and spoiled my mood until the end of the holiday. And even to this day I cannot calm down when I remember Manoilis, Mikhailis and Millennium. After all, I read the reviews of tourists who suffered from the above persons, but something stopped me, they say, we are not just tourists, we are welcome guests in this hotel. After all, tourists who have four holidays at the same time will not go anywhere, but will choose only a worthy company and a worthy hotel. And, I thought, such a choice should flatter both.
But alas, Ukraine, and first of all Greece, is still oh how far from the turquoise-sea, white-marble and European-civilized .. .
OR ADVENTURES OF UKRAINIAN TOURISTS IN GREECE
I'll start with the main one. September has been a milestone for our family. Our wedding took place on September 19th. My birthday is September 20th. And my husband and mother managed to be born on the same day - September 21st.
Now, I think, it is clear why the best option to celebrate all the holidays at the same time has become a good tradition to travel abroad for this period.
My husband and I, as well as our friends, witnesses at the wedding, live in Kyiv. Parents live in the Zaporozhye region. In this regard, it is quite difficult to bring everyone together and organize a joint vacation. That is why we started organizing the rest in June, three months before the expected departure. Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, Croatia, etc. were already in the past. I wanted Europe.
I really wanted something turquoise-sea, white-marble and European-civilized…. All this was very similar to Greece.
The choice of the tour operator fell on the company NEWSTRAVEL, which seduced us with the recommendations of colleagues and rather competitive prices compared to other operators in Greece. In addition, this company offered a much more attractive flight schedule to Heraklion. While all Kyiv firms were selling late flights, around 11 pm, Newstravel published on the website the departure from Kyiv at 7 pm. It would be much nicer to be in Greece on the day of departure, and not at night, the next day.
We suffered for a long time, choosing a hotel and studying all kinds of reviews of tourists on the Internet. As a result, we stopped at the RINELA BEACH hotel - 4 *, all inclusive.
Guided by the experience and advice of experienced tourists, we chose double standard rooms with a garden view - VIP, which assumed the presence of additional services, such as: champagne, fruits, nuts and flowers upon arrival, bathrobes and slippers in the room, additional bathroom accessories, mini -bar, beach towels (there are no beach towels in regular rooms).
We gathered a company of 8 people (four couples) and booked tours from SEPTEMBER 19 to OCTOBER 3 back in June. In the application, we indicated the desire for the rooms to be nearby, well, and asked to take into account our festive mood, in confirmation of which we received a fax, where the hotel confirmed the rooms and that it was notified about three birthdays and “Anniversary of wedding”. Within two weeks, an advance payment was made and by the end of the month all documents for obtaining a visa were provided. Three of our company are registered in Kyiv, and the remaining five people are in the Zaporozhye region.
For absolutely illogical and incomprehensible reasons for us, the “Cossacks” deigned to accept only the Greek consulate in Mariupol. The Kievans served in the capital. In this regard, there was a little excitement about obtaining visas, and we had to wait until August, because the embassy did not accept documents in advance. But we are waiting for good news. Visas were issued to everyone. But! Five martyrs from Zaporozhye must report to the embassy on their return upon arrival, and the Greeks drew a visa for my mother on a separate piece of paper, not wanting to stick it in the passport, due to the presence of a trip to Taba, Jordan and Israel. The rest of the money for the tours was paid, and there were still more than three weeks before the departure. Newstravel gave us vouchers, insurance and memos, and they promised to return the tickets two days before departure. We relaxed and began to calmly get ready for the road.
Two days before departure, I received tickets by e-mail, where the departure time had already been moved to 11 pm.
The flight took off without incident. We arrived at 01.40 already on 20.09. 08, that is, the birthday had to be celebrated on the plane. It didn't spoil our mood. Boarding, passport control, baggage claim - everything is smooth. At the exit, we were met with a sign and taken to the Newstravel counter to receive documents, where we were given an envelope with the Millenium logo, in which there was a leaflet with a list of excursions and advertising booklets. The name of our guide was written on the envelope - Mikhailis, who in the end turned out to be a complete "Mihuilis". "Rinela Beach" was the first hotel in the queue, so literally after 20 minutes we were already at the entrance, and took out our numerous suitcases. The young lady from the bus, a representative of Millenium, did not come to the hotel with us to check our settlement, but simply and cheerfully advised us to go in and show our passports, they say, everything is already ready there.
Behind the counter was a lone Greek administrator in a tie, with a name tag - Manoilis (we also renamed him later, but for censorship purposes I will not announce it aloud, but will give you freedom for imagination). A little further away, on a summer playground, a small youth company (3 couples - 6 people) from Kyiv was sitting.
With a positive attitude and broad smiles, anticipating a cordial meeting, our company moved to the reception, and I, in my best English, greeted Manoilis and told him about our four holidays from the threshold, in connection with which I reminded him of our request for rooms nearby and preferably on second floor. In response to this, with an absolutely calm expression on his face, Manoilis informed us that we would live in those rooms that were available, namely in two family rooms, and laid out the keys on the counter.
This was followed by an indistinct explanation, saying that it was on this night that an emergency happened at the hotel, and several rooms were flooded due to the inaccurate handling of the plumbing by the residents. After a little confusion, I regained my composure and tried to re-explain to Manoilis that he was probably wrong, because we had booked rooms in advance and we even have a confirmation of the hotel. To which the administrator impartially replied that there were no more rooms, in confirmation of which he waved his hand at the counter with empty key boxes. This sobered us up a little and brought us to our senses. But, knowing tourist jokes firsthand, we answered him that this option did not suit us, for which we received a “slap in the face”: “if you don’t like it, go outside. ” This made my eyes pop out. This is Europe!
Due to the fact that from our company I was practically the only one who could clearly formulate sentences in English, I explained to Manoilis that he probably misunderstood us, and let him find an option so as not to spoil my birthday, which had already begun for 2 hours and continued. I wanted to invite him to put himself in our place and imagine that he and his girlfriend or his wife would be in such a situation. But I was told that he is not married and does not have a girlfriend. I asked: “Are you gay? » And Manoilis answered in his hearts that he didn’t, but he would soon. He was already nervous. And I was just shaking. I demanded that this "representative of the hotel" confirm in writing that the hotel does not have the opportunity to accommodate us in the previously booked rooms. But he refused and said that it was not his competence. Whose?? ? Chief reservation manager. Then we asked this "pleasant administrator" to call our guide Mikhailis.
It was already well after midnight on the clock, and more specifically, the beginning of the third morning on September 20th. Manoilis cheerfully dialed Mikhailis's number and chirped with one in Greek that we didn't yet know but promised to learn for our next trip (which I hope will never happen again). He talked about something with the guide and hung up. Continuing to smile vilely, he answered with a hackneyed phrase, the accommodation option we already knew. But we did not agree on two toilet bowls for eight people, especially since I had a slightly different scenario for my festive night. I continued to pester Manoilis with the same irrepressible energy with the same demand - to find us numbers.
During the debate, one of us went with the escort, Manoilis's partner on this and subsequent nights, to see the room offered to us, and returned with the firm intention to continue the war, because the room by no means looked like not only a VIP, but in general a normal type of accommodation : a small damp little room in which two people can comfortably accommodate is unrealistic. In general, I got the administrator, and he re-dialed our guide. At first, quite civilly, I outlined our situation to him and told him in colors that our company was already nervous, after two days of the road I was tired and wanted to relax in VIP rooms. After listening to my tirade, the guide calmly suggested that we use the proposed option and wait until the morning, when the manager comes at 10 o'clock and tries to help us.
This made me angry, and I said into the phone that in order to avoid problems, let this guide get his Greek ass out of bed, come to the hotel for help, and then it would be fair, otherwise it would be good to advise from a warm bed. In response to this, Mihuilis (I can already call him that) frankly sent me to hell and hung up the phone. This turned out to be the last straw. I already furiously explained to Manoilis that he dialed the responsible booking manager for me by phone (unfortunately I no longer had any contacts of the sending company). And all the same, through a broken phone, this vile bastard with glasses began to communicate with this young lady himself, if she were not okay, like the entire Greek hotel business system. I interrupted his incomprehensible chatter and demanded to give me the phone. This muck did not even turn its slanting eye in my direction. Oh, you rotten infection!
I had to climb onto the reception desk to reach the telephone cord, with which I pulled the receiver centimeter by centimeter from the hands of this smelly, stubborn Greek. Finally, I was lucky enough to win back the pipe and for the third time I told our story to an English-speaking (not a single bastard in this hotel wanted to speak Russian) young lady who screwed up our reservations. She condoled with me for a long time and told me that she would come the next day at 10 am and try to help us. I reminded her of her job responsibilities and told her that if their fucking hotel is not able to accommodate us, then let it be kind to find rooms in a hotel of the same category for the required number of days, as is done in good old Africa. She asked the administrator and continued the conversation with him. Hanging up, Manoilis contacted some hotel and found out that there were no available rooms.
I could not believe that at the end of the season there were no free rooms in Rinel. Manoilis answered me that there was only one free room, but, unfortunately, it was not cleaned, and there were no maids at night. Nothing, I said, I can change the bed linen myself, but he did not agree to this.
By the way, six guys from Kyiv, toiling on the summer playground, have already moved closer to the reception, and told us that they had the same problem, and that they were also told the tale of the “flood” and were given two family rooms for six. All this was like nonsense. Instead of drinking champagne on the balcony of our VIP room, we were bobbing in the lobby with this idiot Greek and feeling like garbage. In my heart I threw everything on the floor that was on the administrative desk: the phone, folders, advertising signs and the rest of the crap, and began to walk nervously down the hall, making some kind of decision.
From anger, resentment and impotence about a spoiled birthday, tears welled up from his eyes. I rushed to rummage in my bag in search of a sedative and found it, swallowed all the pills that were at once. Then, nervously tearing the tape protecting the suitcase from Ukrainian and Greek customs thieves, I took out a camera and gave it to my husband to film all this chaos. She continued to freak out and yell at Manoilis. Our whole company was simply indignant and was ready to strangle this donkey with glasses. My husband, seeing my tears, rushed behind the reception desk and, grabbing Manoilis by the tie, knowing neither Greek nor English, clearly in Russian loudly told this goat to give us the keys to our VIP rooms. The administrator was frightened and tried to get out of her husband's tenacious hands, shouting to him that this was a “private territory” and that it was impossible to enter here. But who cared!
Seeing that my husband was already in an insane state, two men from our company, with an effort, disengaged them and pulled them apart on opposite sides of the counter. Manoilis, with trembling hands, tore off his tie, and then his badge with his cursed name, and threw it all away from him, fearing a relapse.
My patience snapped, and I decided to call the police. Call the police! I demanded from the administrator. He froze, trembling all over. Then give me a number! - I said, and having received the coveted three digits (100), I hurried to the phone. I dialed the number and, hearing a voice on the other side of the wire, told with tears about the lawlessness that was happening in the four-star Rinela Beach Hotel. In principle, I called in order to find out the number of the tourist police of Crete, which I was kindly informed on the other end of the wire. But I could not get through to the tourist police.
Assessing our whole situation from the outside, I went cold: how do tourists feel who do not speak English and do not know their rights ? ! It's just a violation of human rights.
I called the regular police again and asked them to help. They agreed, reassured me and hung up. A moment later, Manoilis' phone rang and he spoke Greek for a while, then hung up and grinned victoriously in my direction. The husband continued to shoot all this insanity on camera, and the Greek, seeing this, began to yell that it was forbidden to shoot in the hotel. What are you, - I was surprised, - and where is it written? We continued to record everything on camera, keeping a safe distance from Khunoilis waving his arms (I didn’t want to call this moral monster any other way). Since there was no movement, I decided to call the police again.
Having dialed the number and hearing a familiar voice, I affectionately asked how they could please us. The policeman began to tell me that he had the honor of talking with the administrator of Rinela Beach and he explained to him ...Probably you were told that the hotel was not to blame for anything and that Russian "banditos, mafioso" are raging here? - I asked, and having received an affirmative answer, I asked, simply begged him to come and see for myself in this arbitrariness. They told me: "Calm down, madam, we will arrive now. "
Literally 5 minutes later, a police car pulled up to the hotel entrance. It was already half past four in the morning. I joyfully ran out to the car, hoping to meet our saviors and be the first to describe our situation to them, until this nit again misrepresented everything. I began to speak English quickly, quickly, following the two men in uniform, but after a moment I was disappointed: they explained to me with gestures that there was no belmes in English ...It's a shame, damn it!
They sent it, they sent it...
Then, for half an hour, a long explanation of the whole situation followed: ours in Russian and English, Manoilis - in Greek ...I demanded that he comment on everything in English. Our company of already 14 people, including the people of Kiev, angrily inserted replicas. Some people, taking sofa cushions, lay down directly on the marble floor at the glass sliding door to the hotel, clearly demonstrating the lack of accommodation. It was felt both in intonation and facial expressions that Manoilis and the policemen were at one with their national solidarity, but at the same time the policemen were in no hurry to leave, and confidently recommended Manoilis to settle all this turmoil. The most remarkable thing was that this Khunoilis was the only intermediary-translator between us, and, of course, he translated information in a dosed manner, choosing what was necessary and beneficial for the hotel.
Some time later, Manoilis found two vacant rooms in a nearby hotel, where four of our companions agreed to “temporarily, until the morning” move for the night. Having loaded our partner Manoilis with suitcases, who was very worried about his fate and was afraid to leave us alone, we sent our delegation to a nearby hotel. They themselves took the keys, and spitting on the only awake porter, they decided to deliver our huge suitcase to the room on their own. As a result, we, the remaining four martyrs, were given the keys to two family rooms located in absolutely opposite parts of the hotel. And in the meantime it began to rain on the street, which was the apogee of this whole story.
The most interesting thing is that the room turned out to be not bad, but for two people: spacious enough, although very old, with one bathrobe, greasy bedspreads on a wide bed and dirty bed linen with the remnants of someone else's hair.
...In the bathroom there were 4 sets of small bottles of shampoo and bath foam - that's it! On the table stood some kind of bottle (0.33 l) with a suspicious liquid and a small bowl of peanuts. This, as we later found out with the help of deduction, was "champagne, flowers, fruits and nuts upon arrival. "
We went into the room at the beginning of the sixth morning, and there was no more strength left. I didn’t even have the strength to unpack the suitcase, because the next day, right in the morning, it again had to be transported to our legal room. Before breakfast and before the showdown, we had 3 hours of sleep. Before leaving for the rooms, our unfortunate company agreed to meet at the reception at 9 am. Good, blah, night, my dear readers!
The morning came unexpectedly. Fell fast.
At nine in the morning, we, like almost unbent bayonets, stood at the counter, which had fallen in love with the night, in the same clothes in which we flew in, because we still had neither the strength nor the desire to change into resort guests.
The assembled detachment stomped languidly into the dining room, pathetically called a restaurant, and after tasting a good breakfast, returned to the post. At the agreed time, at 10 am, we were already standing in place, waiting for our guide, who promised to come and rescue us. Our second affected company joined us and we discussed in chorus how everything would be settled now, and that the Millennium Company would now flatten out before us in apologies and compensation for the lost night and frayed nerves. With hungry eyes, each of us caught people entering the hotel, trying to look out for our savior in them. But at 10 am no one came. Exactly like at half past ten. To my question, “where is the boy”, fortunately the administrator who replaced him told me that the meeting time of the Millennium guide with tourists was at six in the evening. Taken aback, I ran to the counter, generously pasted over with leaflets from different companies, and made sure that the administrator was right.
A couple of questions, calls and we were reassured: Mikhailis will! But at 13.00. In general, I noticed that the Greeks are not particularly in a hurry to strain. They slowly enjoy life under the aroma of cigars, which are allowed right at their workplaces. Nobody is in a hurry. I thought that the Spaniards had the eternal “Asta Magnana”, but it turns out that the Greeks were ahead of even the Finns and Estonians in their speed.
Slowly waving a shapeless black bag with the long-awaited letter "M", similar at first glance to the famous diner, imposingly floated into the coolness of the hall, a strong, middle-aged man of about 40 years old. A wrinkled gray suit, a beer belly, plump fingers squeezing the handle of a suitcase and greasy eyes , oily embraced all the tourists sitting in the lobby. After exchanging a couple of phrases with the administrator, Karlssonchik headed in our direction, but we, startled, prepared to apologize.
The formal greeting was followed by the question: “Who did I talk to on the phone yesterday? and an oily look burned me. I diplomatically kept silent, and our comrades-in-arms laughed it off - yes, everything in general.
- the administrator has problems, he is in the hospital, takes off the beatings, and wants to sue you.
Beatings? - I was surprised, - from where, after all, no one touched him with a finger yesterday, except that they shook him in order to regain consciousness.
It turned out that when I tried to take away the handset from this eccentric with the letter M, I scratched him around the wrist. The most interesting thing is that I didn’t even notice this, but he didn’t even show it. "Manoilis", in a word. Now this name I call all the people who are not pleasant to me. Let him give, - I answered, it worries me less than our state of affairs. How will we decide? – and I looked inquiringly at Mikhailis. (Did you notice? All their especially significant names, like the name of an equally significant company, begin with one letter! ).
It turns out that half the hotel is filled with English tourists who were sent by a would-be travel agency that went bankrupt shortly after; and poor Englishmen toil in "Renel Beach" in anticipation of their non-existent charter, which should someday soon, with the assistance of the English government, deliver them to their homeland.
We felt the influence of the West in our own skin for two weeks, right up to the flight to Kyiv.
Mikhulis resisted for a long time, joking and trying to get off with excuses, but our company, raped by the Greeks for our own money, was inexorable: sign a paper with your promises and we agree to wait until tomorrow, for how long can one believe empty words.
Having called for help and support of the booking manager, who will also remember for a long time the night from September 19 to 20.2008, Anna, who convinced me at 3 o’clock in the morning, “that the morning is wiser than the evening”, I was once again convinced that the Greeks and the “buckwheat” it is impossible: since she misrepresented her own nightly testimony, any criminal can envy. Having encircled both Greeks, we did not give up to the last. Anna named the room numbers, and Mikhailis signed the following text with his signature: “I, the representative of Millennium Travel, Mikhailis, confirm that tourists such and such (by name) will receive paid and booked VIP rooms on 21.09. 08 (this is to the fact that the rooms are actually booked and paid for from the 19th, and given the late check-in at the hotel, the first day of the turquoise-sea, white-marble and European-civilized rest was shattered by the warm welcome of the hosts of European civilization.
Well, here it was perfectly legal to demand a free extension of the rooms on the day of departure, since the return flight was promised to be late, at 2 am from 3 to 4 October. This demand Michuilis, reluctantly his heart and his weak Greek teeth, confirmed with his signature.
We achieved accommodation in our rooms on the second day of torment. But the sediment remained and spoiled my mood until the end of the holiday. And even to this day I cannot calm down when I remember Manoilis, Mikhailis and Millennium. After all, I read the reviews of tourists who suffered from the above persons, but something stopped me, they say, we are not just tourists, we are welcome guests in this hotel. After all, tourists who have four holidays at the same time will not go anywhere, but will choose only a worthy company and a worthy hotel. And, I thought, such a choice should flatter both.
But alas, Ukraine, and first of all Greece, is still oh how far from the turquoise-sea, white-marble and European-civilized .. .
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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