Crete.........breathtaking.

I am sitting in a taverna on the ocean front in the harbourside of Chania's old town on Crete.

This place has survived Turkish Occupation, the 2nd world war bombings and muc much more.
it is a place steeped in history that you can smell, touch and viscerally experience with every breath.

We began in Heraklion Sunday evening and then moved on in a little rental car, "putt putt" and came to this place.
We are staying in a fantastic old Venetian styled building dating back for 100's of years. Coved ceilings, a fireplace of marble and 3 rooms, sleeping, kitchen and living room that looks out onto one of the many pedestrian only, cobblestone strrets.
It is heaven.

We did go to the Palace of Knossos before leaving Heraklion and this place was magic.
Excavated with one man's impetus, the site is full of conatiners, frescoes and architecture...much for me to run my fingers along :)

Now however, we are very much transported to old world Europe and all that it offers.
The food is amazing.

We spent today travelling to an ancient ruin in Phallasarna and the white sand, cerulean blue ocean that was hradly disturbed by other people. there are certainly benefits to travelling during the shoulder season.

I just can't get enough of this place.
We also visited a monastery that has construction dating back to its roots in an acroplois to Artemis. The monks moved the stones from that place to the spot they are in now and the threashold stones that are worn, the doors and the smell of incense is heady and beautiful
It must be a wonderful place to be a monk these days.

S and I are venturing out for dinner to an bombed out builidng ( 1941) that has been reserected as a courtyard restaurant wioth live music, and great ambience. The vione covered walls and venetian ruin of a building is spectaculr.

Last night we were in an old Turkish bath, now also a restaurant and had amazing food...lots of flavours of European influences in the cooking here.

We move down to the south of Crete tomorrow and the weekend sees me saying farewell to my friends and embarking alone to Athens and the pellopenese.


It is amazing to have seen a month go by already.....will write more as I go....