Day 24 Crete
This was the day we were supposed to be docked at Santorini. However, our third attempt to reach the Greek Islands had again failed, this time due to a recent earthquake that had damaged their port facilities.
So instead we tied up at Crete. As this was a last minute booking, we were in an industrial town on the less desirable north coast. The south coast is said to have sand. The north just had rocks. Every ships tour took one and half hours or more just to get somewhere moderately more interesting.
Crete is is long narrow island and it has a modern highway running its length. When you get off this highway the fun really starts. The bus squeezed down narrow alley ways with just inches of clearance between the building walls and the bus sides.
My favourite was the little village we passed through where the road had a 90 degree turn. They had to move a tractor and the lady that ran the local cafe had to move all the tables and chairs she had set up on the roadway so we could get through.
Eventually we arrived at a pretty little monastery which we spent sometime exploring. There was a platoon of armed Greek soldiers just standing outside the chapel. They were there when we came. They were there when we left.
Interesting feature was that the monks all used to organise their own lives and their cells each had their own kitchen and bedroom.
Our next stop was Rethymon, a medieval seaside town and port next to a large castle built to protect this area.
This was a lovely place with little winding alleyways.
Built originally by the Venetians, the old port has now largley silted up but the old stone whaves have been converted into lovely waterfront dining venues.
They looked so nice we stopped for lunch.
At the end of the breakwater is a lighthouse built, would you believe, by the Egyptians. Not the pharaohs but in the mid 19th century when Egypt managed to grab Crete for a few years from the decaying Ottoman Empire.
Hardys’ Travels 