As you might recall, the American delegation is in the so-called 5 star hotel - Sithonia, while the Indian delegation is in Meliton. The location is gorgeous, the weather is chilly with a 10C as the lows and the windchill as low as 5C. So though sunny, it is rather cold nothing like the Greek Islands.
Well, one cannot fight mother nature. But this Sithonia sucks big time. Only our devas and devis know when this hotel was constructed. Maybe I am spoilt after enjoying the luxuries in Cancun, Bahamas, Nashville, Orlando, Maasai Mara, Costa Rica itiyadi, this Sithonia is rotten. The lobby seems to be okay, but as you exit the elevator to enter your room there is this stink that hits you. At first I thought it is urine smell, I still do. Probably it is the water because the water on two days was brownish in color. I could not believe my eyes and nose. Everything is old.
Language is another problem, moi speek no Greek; and even their English sounds Greek to me. FIDE probably struck a nasty deal with the hotel, so though we pay a high amount the entire tournament got only full-boarding, and not all-inclusive which was what I was hoping. Like Cancun, I thought I would be able to nurse my drink thinking how my son should have won the lost or drawn game
right at 10:00am. Alas no, I have to drown my sorrows in water that I paid for. Yes, no drinks of any kind included. Not even coffee. They serve some coffee and pale juice during breakfast. The food is awful, it is more International and less Greek - and we are trembling at the thought of having to eat this food for another 10 days. Food at Athens was divine, and I was hoping to eat with the gods for another 13-14 days. Bad luck, food is miserable.
I heard Meliton is newer, so the Indian delegation is having newer rooms than us Amerians onree.
And, WiFi is extremely bad. There is strong WiFi onlee in the public spaces; once you enter your room the signal strength drops to almost zero bar. One simply cannot connect. Luckily every room has an internet jack, but unfortunately they do not always work. I had come prepared with a Ethernet cable, but had to get the technician to do activate the jack. I also had purchased this device from Amazon:
HooToo Wireless Travel Router {disclaimer, I own AMZN shares}. It is a phenomenal device, I connected the Ethernet cable from the jack on the wall to the device, and after a few quick setup all my electronic devices have WiFi now - all secured. So my son can do his homework, I can browse BRF, SHQ can do her browsing itiyadi. The round pairings are also published on the internet. And we are able to share pictures with the family in India.
Some parents came prepared with other International packages, but others are at the mercy of Vodafone which is making a killing by selling USB dongles, SIM cards itiyadi to poor parents - who are not happy with its performance.
and 
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