Grecotel Creta Palace Rethymnon

... and we talked about architecture, the cruise, our lives and everything in between. Our destination was the Palace of Knossos, about 90 minutes away, and the route took us along a coastal road with spectacular views to the turquoise sea. We had one hour once we got to the site due to an early 3 pm closing. It is off season, after all.

Highlights

1. The Palace of Knossos is worth a visit, and in my case it was a second visit. I found ...

Well I suppose we were pretty spoilt in Santorini. But I have to say Crete wasn't exactly what we had in mind!

We left Santorini on the slow boat (took about 3 hours) to Crete (which we heard was fabulous) and were sorely disappointed!

The weather was grey and pouring with rain - like really p!ssing down - and neither of us had any wet weather gear (or cagoules). Bugger. Not such good weather for people with yucky head colds!

Anyway, we ...

... Jewish settlers brought in from Venice. The owner/waiter was a little rude, more intent on flirting with two middle aged blonde women of indeterminate origin, than serving us. The meal was fine though.

Our driving has improved – Chris navigates and Kevin drives in a much more relaxed manner than our earlier expeditions, negotiating the narrow, crowded streets even overtaking slower drivers on the motorway. A far cry from ...

... side of the carton.

Milly and Chris were arriving at Iraklio at around 10.30pm, but we did not want to try finding the airport in the dark, so drove there in the later afternoon. This was again not an easy drive, but the road improved as we neared Iraklio, and there was not as much bad language.

After locating the airport and driving around it a few times to get out we decided to drive to Keratos, an area by the beach about ...

...And of course, I overslept my alarm and awoke at 7:06am. In a display that still boggles my mind, I somehow managed to get ready and run to the main square by 7:12am. I definitely got a few stares from all the Greek people chilling on the streets as I crazily sprinted to the Starbucks a couple streets over. Luckily, we made it to our bus just in time.

Our bus went at breakneck speed as it wound up the top of the mountain (this seems to be a theme ...

... stores with an underwhelming waterfront. We were glad in a way that we had gone though, if only to affirm that Chania was the best city to stay in. We got back to Chania for another late dinner -people eat so freaking late in Europe...I even saw a woman in sequinned booty shorts pushing a baby carriage around 11pm. Anyway, we went to bed early, but still dead tired, to get up for the 7:30am bus to Samaria Gorge.

... and doing nothing!

I can't believe I only have 2 ngihts left here! The time is coming so fast!!!! Dave is thinking about staying another week! ahha this place it is just like the Hotel California song you can check out but you can never leave! He is already planning on coming back next August and was devising a plan so that I could meet him here for 2 weeks haha! I am excited to go back to Athens and go ...

... about that later

So I am just putting the toothbrush in my mouth when one of the bathroom doors opens up and this (could be if it wasn't for his personality) decent lookiong guy emerges saying HELLO where are you from- me in my bikini bed head make up from the night before toothbrush in mouth says "canphada" and Yuuuurrrrppphhselllff while spitting out toothpaste Pakistan- ok cool "well never met anyone form Pakistan before!" shook his hand and now he is trying ...

... Clown's conversation telling the story of the most romantic moment of his life. I enjoyed mentally auditioning all the candidates for that title in my own life, and silently relived the winning moment, Thanksgiving Day 2001. It is more Bear's story than mine, so I will respect his privacy by not retelling it here. But the memory was bittersweet, as it ...

... are sitting on a terrace sipping fresh orange juice, enjoying baklava and listening to Grecian radio. Nex t week we will try to take a ferr to Italy so whish us good luck! I hope you are well and not becoming too jealous *g*

~*~

SMS from mum

- Liesel are you wlaking through the (Samarian) Gorge now? At the end you can take a boat. Love mama