Imperial Belvedere Hersonissos

... pashas – have all left their mark on towns and villages throughout the island. We had opted against booking an organized tour and decided to team up with our new friends: FIU lecturer David Rifkind (who had given an amazing talk about Crete the previous evening), his wife Holly, Toronto realtor Bill Thom and his girlfriend Angela. It made for a group of six and our attempt to find a van that we could drive ourselves was difficult due to the fact ...

... just say! Don't just point in any ******n direction and send people on a wild goose chase! Breathe... Luckily, it just so happened that after we had a bite to eat and set off on the search again we found the hotel! Geez! Bout time! <br><br>So we pretty much stayed the night then flew out the next morning - that part was really good! Except for when we were in ****** Iraklio airport and all the power went out. Nobody so much as batted an eyelid. Typical.<br><br>

... of a water flushing toilet.<br><br>Today we will wander around the old city with trips to the open air market and the archeological museum. <br><br>The ferry and airplane rides seem to affect my (Nancy's) inner ear in a way that on land, everything continues to move. It is annoying and made hiking up and down rocky hillsides a little extra challenging. Hopefully it will quiet down now that there are nop more ferry rides.

... was magic but the cocktails were dreadful. Kevin&#8217;s martini had ouzo in it but the barman refused to do another. Chris&#8217; margharita seemed to be alcohol free and Milly&#8217;s Manhattan didn&#8217;t taste very good. So we moved to Axos for more drinks &#8211; this time excellent, and then to our favourite eating place, Yannis, for dinner. The drinks and food there were superb too and they gave us free cheese pies and raki (as if we needed more booze). Nice.

... 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.<br><br>Holly

... ago whemn it said it was still delayed! So we rushed towards our gate (of course first through security) and me making some impressive acrobatic moves trying not to fall with my slippery flipflops on the marble stones. But we made it and are now on our way to Crete! I think that's all for now. Oh I just spend £2,- on a cup of tea! How expensive can it be?!<br><br>Holly<br>

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 &amp; 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.<br><br>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.. <br><br>Holly<br>

... Eve is more determined and says firmly 'no'. Despite that they are helpful pointing out the bus stop. We travel by bus to Heraklion center - buying a postcard for Tini and myself and thereby picking up the courage to aks the shop girl which bus we should take to Agia Pelagia. After discussing it with granddad she sent us along the road to the port bus station ...