Kalimera Chania

... timorous drive east from the airport on Saturday, hugging the side of the road and shuddering every time a truck overtook at speed in no passing areas. We met a couple from New Zealand (he was born in Invercargill) who were also in Crete for a week and they both remarked on the terrifying driving habits of the Cretans.

Dinner that night was more leisurely than usual – grapes, local bread, fetta and emmental cheeses, tomatoes ...

... area and headed back in the opposite direction – when we got off the highway onto a rutted lane we asked where the old road was and eventually got onto it. Using our method of hugging the shoulder we managed to find the Leoniki Residence, which did not look much like the photos, but is pleasant enough. The desk clerk tried to sell us on the merits of buying half board – breakfast and dinner each day. But at €19.90 ...

... necessary as well, as the sun gets brutally hot in the gorge as the day gets later. Along the way, there were some cool curiousities such as abandoned settlements and ruined stone buildings. Apparently the Samaria Gorge was also a key place for refugees to escape to during the battle of Crete. We caught sight of a couple mountain goats, this breed being one that apparently only lives in Samaria Gorge. Another fixture of the hike was the donkey station ...

We ended up taking a bus to a town called Rethmynos to see this big old fortress with a mosque and a church within it, overlooking the water. It was interesting enough, but then we headed to the main part of town, which our "trusty" Lonely Planet had referred to as the second most charming city in Crete. I can only come to the conclusion that Crete is full of some **** cities. It was a weird ghost town full of ...

... a while but I am really ready and looking forward to it! Flying into Vancouver next wednesday then somehow getting over to Victoria where will meet dad, Lena and Karen then on friday mom is arriving! oh man it is going to be so much fun! then on sunday we are all flying home together! Which I think is really nice!

So thats about it have to get out in that sunshine to keep up my dark tan ;-)) Life is so hard!!!

... how lucky am I to be Canadian where I am allowed to walk free and where I don't get harassed and where I don't have to ask for permission for anything. it's weird and freaky and good and bad all at the same time. I don't knwo what else to say it messes your ehad a little bit and makes you sad at the same time. And then you think wow maybe you take everything for granted you travel around europe by yourself having good and bad things happen but at least you have the choice.

... arrived! with YES YUMMY chocolate breasts! yes I know strange but seemingly perfect to our strange situation of people from last year and a new mistmatch of people from this year and previous years! OH and by the way the boobs were DELICIOUS!!!!! YUMMM!!! In the next few days Julia the crazy German pronounced YULIA will be arriving! and perhaps Marcus who last year showered me in rose petals while I was sleeping (not creepily might I ad!) SO almost the whole ...

To my little sister

- And jealous? :p Oh we really should have brought Ollie with us - so many cats to play with! What do you think mum & Babe would think if I brought one (Cesar) home? *g* Lots of love from sunny Crete

Sis & Eve

~*~

To Tini

-As promised a card from our next destination. Still on crete but 2,5 hours further on ...

A mix of chocolate, cherry and banana as I taste my icecream. We arrived at Kissamos today and we treated ourselves on a well deserved treat. We are sitting on the main square shaded from the sun by big palm leaved parasols while the crickets make as much noise as possible so we don't forget them either. Now and then a car passes or a woman walking her dog. It's ...

... s favorite place, Kalamaki Beach, where we swam way out in the clear sea to an island of rocks. One of my favorite memories of her was how her short hair fluffed straight up in the sea wind, as she laid on her beach towel.

And the last time we hung out was really nice; we met at a bar. I drank wine, and she had a beer called "Mythos." (Everything in Greece is called, "Mythos.") It was one of those situations where we were just laughing and smiling and feeling ...