CRETE AND THE TWO OF US

Today when we arrived in Heraklion, Crete we were met by our driver who took us directly to the hotel. We were here about noon and shortly after our arrival, we walked up into the market area. There are lots of really nice walks to do around the area. We stopped for lunch in a little outdoor café and had calamari, tzatziki and beer. It was very good and the calamari had just the right chewy texture. We continued to walk around the market streets until we were home about 3:00 and then both of us had a nap.

At the beginning of the evening we walked a different route. This time our walk took us down along the sea wall. That walk ends at the Museum of Natural History. We must see that before we leave Heraklion. On the way back from our walk we stopped at a restaurant with outdoor seating. The waiter asked if we wanted to sit downstairs (outside) or upstairs (inside). We chose outside and Tina enjoyed a pork chop while I had a “boat” of steamed mussels. They were good. We find that Greeks use a lot of salt in their cooking but they give you half a lemon with your meal and when you squeeze it on your food, it drastically cuts the salty taste.

When we asked for the bill, our waiter brought us a little glass bottle with ouzo and 2 shot glasses, a plate of cut apple and pear and another plate with some sort of desert on it – kind of a pudding/cake with cinnamon and honey. So he poured us a shot of ouzo each … well we didn’t want to be rude …… so we downed that. Then he came back a few minutes later and brought a third glass and refilled ours. So once again we thought we should show our appreciation. They we quickly paid our bill and continued our walk.

Our next stop was a tourist /fast ferry place and thought we would go in and ask about a sightseeing trip. He said we would be better to go on the public busses on our own if we had the time. So he wrote out a list of the things we should do and see and how to go about that. The biggest part of the list he gave us was the different foods to try and the local drink. Since we had already tried ouzo, he said they we must try raki. At which point his manager came out with 3 shot glasses and a bottle of raki and there we were again not wanting to seem impolite….So as I write this to you now, I have had 2 shots of ouzo and 3shots of raki and other than the letters being blurry – I hope I am managing to write an engaging blog.

So back to the hotel and tomorrow we will try the local buses and see where we get to. I have a feeling that ouzo and raki will not be on the menu tomorrow.

I’ll echat with you soon

THERE WAS MORE TO ATHENS

I know that I said I would I would be writing from Crete next, but I realize that I’m not finished with Athens. I never told you about the dogs of Athens. There are many dogs wandering the streets and ruins of Athens.

They don’t bother anybody and they are happy to be patted or just left alone. When I asked our guide about them, she said that they are the pets of the city. They are not wild, but they don’t belong to anyone. They are treated with medicine if needed, they are fed and they just roam and live where they want. They all seem to be shepherd / lab crosses and you can see them all over the city – usually sleeping or walking about.



There is marble everywhere. On the sides of buildings, the floors, the sidewalks, counters, walls, stairs – it must be deadly when it gets wet. It can be so slippery at the best of times – I was so glad for my rubber soled walking sandals. Up at the Acropolis – which is entirely made of marble…you are seldom walking on anything else. The patterns on the walkways are different from each other. It was really beautiful, but you had to be careful walking!



Now about the bathrooms. The first one I saw, I just had to take a picture. Just where is a lady supposed to sit??? Do a quick check to make sure it's not the men's...it isn't! Then when you close the door for privacy, there is a sign on the back of the door that says don’t throw toilet paper in the toilet….please put it in the garbage container. Ok – so picture this – you are squatting over the toilet trying to hold your purse (which if you’re lucky is already around your neck)…then while balancing carefully you have to pull of 4 or 5 squares (if they come off easily – NOT) wipe yourself. Now you have to get the lid up from the garbage container - most do have lids (there is a handy foot pedal - give me a break) pop the paper in (you are still balanced aren’t you?) …then stand up pull up your pants …and oh my god. Now that was only about having to go #1 …I don’t even want to think about #2.

Now I think to sum up Athens in a few words...traffic…cabs…vacant buildings…people smoking everywhere…(except perhaps while they are in the toilet as mentioned above – that would just be impossible)…marble…olive trees…ancient ruins…churches…sooooo many banks and keeping your balance! Now we can move on to Crete.

ATHENS ON THE RUN

Today started early. After a relatively good night’s sleep, Tina and I had a wonderful breakfast which included fresh squeezed orange juice. Our bus came to pick us up at 8:15 and we were off for a day of sightseeing.

First we went to the Acropolis to see the Parthenon. I was surprised that I made it up there. I have named the hike up the hill, The Acropolis Grind. But we did make it up and had a wonderful look around. It is quite amazing to think that it was constructed in 447-432 BC. Walking on slippery marble all day it was hard to imagine the number of slaves and oxen required to push, pull and drag all these enormous pieces of marble to these hilltops to construct these monuments. Our excellent guide was very informative and loved telling the mythology to explain how the times were back then. The design even took into consideration that the columns, many of which are still standing, had to be curved into a bulge in the middle in order for the structure to look straight and not crooked from the city of Athens down below …. wayyyyy down below!

We went to the Acropolis Museum that only opened its doors in 2009. It is an incredible structure built on columns so that the architects can continue to excavate the ruins that lie beneath the building. As you walk to the museum, you walk on glass panels and can view the work that is going on down below.

Lunch was included in the tour and we had a sampling of all things Greek – it was delicious and quite filling – then it was off to Sounio to see the Temple of Poseidon also built around the same time as the Parthenon. More stunning ancient architecture….and another hike up a hill.

We came back to the hotel to relax for a bit and then took a taxi to the Plaka (touristy shopping and eating area) – Tina popped out of the cab and bought a pin from the Athens Hard Rock Café and in the Plaka we walked and shopped from about 8:00 until 10:30. Athens is such a bustling place at all hours. Now we must go to bed. We need to meet our driver who will take us to the airport for a short flight to Crete (Heraklion) for the next 3 days.

Lesson from today – make sure when you get in a cab that they are not going to gouge you – we had to get out of one in the middle of the street cause he was going to charge us 3 x as much money to get home as it took to get there! He’s probably still looking for us!

Talk again tomorrow from Crete …

GETTING HERE

First let me say that business class is amazing! All you can drink anytime you want and you don't have to pay. Chairs that make into beds - Airbus A340 WOW! Tablecloths on our tables and a 3 course meal. Champagne as soon as we boarded and Bailey's after dinner. MMMmmm.

We arrived in Frankfurt a bit late and then we were delayed at the airport by a security breach. Good thing we had 3 hours between flights as some of the people that were in the lineup with us waiting to go through security were not going to to make their connecting flights. So thank goodness we were ok. Next flight to Athens we were seated with the riff raff!!! No room, not at all relaxing - but it was only 2hours and 40 minutes.



When we arrived at the Athens Airport, our driver was waiting for us, with a Mercedes no less, and we were whisked away to our lovely hotel in downtown Athens.

We walked a couple of blocks to a bar/restraurant and had some dinner and then it was back to the hotel to get some much needed rest! Friday is an all day tour of Athens...so we need to be rested for that!

Next post will come in a few hours ...

STARTING OFF RIGHT!

We were pulled out of line when checking in at the YVR. "Are you two ladies travelling alone?" ... was the question. OMG I thought - they are looking for us ..... maybe they are warning us ..... or maybe a police BOLO - what could it mean? "Yes..." we replied a little hesitantly. "Lufthansa would like to upgrade you to Business Class for this flight." said the attendant.

So that was our fantastic happenstance for today! This adventure is starting out in the most amazing way already! Now the 10 hour flight to Frankfurt will be roomy, relaxing and perfect in every way!

Are we lucky or what!

NEW ADVENTURE COMING SOON!

My friend Tina and I will leave for Athens on the 27th of April for a wonderful 4 week adventure. The first week will be spent between Athens, Crete and Mykonos after which we will fly to Rome and embark on a 12 day cruise on the Pacific Princess. We will visit such wonderful spots as Sorrento, Jerusalem, Nazareth, Egypt, Ephasus, Patmos and Santorini. After disembarking, we will return to Santorini for 6 nights before coming home on the 26th of May. I understand there will be good internet connections throughout our travels. So once again I will pack along my laptop and document our journey. I hope you will follow along and enjoy some of my ramblings as we wend our way in and around some of the holiest and holeyest places on the planet. We hope to visit the Grotto where St. John the Theologian lived and wrote the Book of Revelation and then we may be perched on the edge of a giant caldera. We might even visit the Dead Sea which at 412 meters below sea level is the lowest point on Earth. I can't wait to tell you more when we get there!

Stay tuned ...