Hotel Maryelen Malia

... deck overlooking the harbor and old Venetian walls, as well as the Mt. Idi mountains. Not shabby - we even get a couple of chaises. Of course we won't actually be spending much time lounging around the hotel because we have to see the Minoans.

We went off in search of food and found a quiet taverna - crushed fresh tomatoes and olive oil on a baked brown bread; greek tomato, feta, pepper, and olive salad; and ...

... any discount for pensioners unless you're over 65), and we were greeted by a guide – Eva – she suggested that we would benefit from her services. She was right, without her knowledge and panache it could have been just another pile of rocks. It is a palace of the Minoan civilization that pre-dated the Greeks and ruled the Mediterranean with the world’s first navy. The myths about the Minoans (Minotaur, labyrinth) were probably inventions of ...

... on the house with George. There is a wonderful array of people sitting at the bar in the evening,(mostly long time friends of George) of all ages and from all over the world and they just all seem to gel even though some of them have just got to know each other. We spent some wonderful evenings at this bar and are so thankful we found this campsite as it is by far the best, cheapest and friendliest on Crete.
It is a very clean and has ...

... especially now that I am listening to Ave Maria on my iPod - the song I want to be married on, It makes me feel so calm, so peaceful. There are no words.

Holly

We had a delay. Got up around 3:45 am and left Rose Cottage at 4 O'Clock for the airport. It was already starting to get lioght as we cruised by sleeping English villages. By the time we arrived at the airport it was fully light. Stood in a lond que(sp?) for check-in where we were told that our plane was delayed adnd that would we would hear further news at 10 am! (the joy of ...

... e bine, avem ceva pentru dumneavoastra. Apartamente cu 2 sau cu 4 camere, pe colina cu vedere la mare. Sunt ale Manastirii Agios Nicolaous. Au cel mai bun pret.
- Au cel mai bun pret pentru ca sunt ale manastirii sau?…
- Ale manastirii Agios Nicolaous sunt mai ieftine decat ale bisericii Metamorfosis. Biserica a ars acum zece ani si are nevoie de bani, nu reduce preturile nici in extrasezon.
- Nu avem nevoie de vedere la mare, ceva mai ...

Just finished reading Portraits by Cynthia Freeman. Makes me feel even more grateful for my family. I must be one of the luckiest girls around to have a family who love and support me.

Went out to dinner last night. Nicky & Graham had given us a lovely card which us a great trip and £40! for us to spend so that we at least are able to go to dinner once - so that's what we did. We walked down to town. It's a pretty place build around teh bay with here and there a fisher's boat resting in the sea. Seeing all the restaurants we were afraid (well that's not really the right word but you know what I mean) of being hassled by every restaurand emplyee ...

... exhausted on our bed.

Being so very hot we changed into our bikinis and with our big bags of this and that -books, puzzles, Lonely Planet, paper, pen, iPod etc- we went down to the swimming pool. How come it's so difficult to find the courage to just into the pool?? Sitting on the edge with your legs dangling in the water is one thing, but to make the jump is quite another feet..

Holly

... we stood, the two of us, backpacks at our feet thinking what are we doing here?! Crossing the road and going down the path where we find a sign to our villa '500 m'. Now it might just be me but these Greek meters are sure longer than ours! We walked, and walked, and in the end climbed - although climbing? Seriously struggling to get up the hill in the burning sun with ...