Kalimera!

I'm in Rethymnon now, I left Hania this afternoon for the hour long bus ride along the coat to get here. It's not as pretty as Hania, but I havn't explored it entirely yet. I could have stayed in Hania for a few more days, there really wasn't much to see or do but I just loved it there. I could just wander the streets and around the harbor everyday. 

Sunset cruise

Two nights ago I did the sunset cruise instead of the day one because it was canceled.  The group consisted of 3 couples, 2 old men and their grandkids, and me. Fun stuff.  It was just an hour, and we stopped for a few minutes to have some fresh fruit and a shot of some locally made alcohol to which i can't remember the name but i nearly choked. We sailed around a little island and watched the sun sink slowly into the sea. 

On the Ferry back from the Gorge

I went to dinner at Chin Chin, a Chinese resturant and it was surprisingly pretty good. The waiter was friendly, a guy from Yugoslavia now living in Greece for 7 years or so. In between working he'd come and sit at my table and chat with me and even ordered some food for himself in between jumping up and down to wait tables.  I actually had 2 dates that night, one of the many stray cats sat in his chair and stared at the food on the table, probably my fault for sneaking him bits of chicken under the table. 

Bedtime was early that night because I had to be up at 6:45 to catch a 7:30am bus to Samaria Gorge. At the bus station I ran into a Spanish couple named Rosana and Valentine who I had talked to in the tourist office the first day i got there. They were very kind and invited me to tag along with them.  It's an hour long bus ride on a long twisty turny road and serveral times I looked out my window and gasped and closed my eyes hoping to god we wouldn't flip over the side of the mountain and burst into flames!! 

The Hania Harbor

The gorge reminded me of pictures of Yosemite or something familar like that. It's amazing scenery and worth the journy.  Ten miles mostly downhill, over rocks and stones! My neck hurt so bad from looking down, you can't take your eyes away from where your stepping for a second or you could easily fall and twist/break an ankle.  I only fell once amazingly. But I didn't get hurt!  The walk isn't strenuous, just long and hard on your feet. It took about 6 hours. I didn't bring any lunch because for some reason I thought I could just buy something there, but there wasn't anything so luckily my Spanish friends shared their lunch or I might've starved to death! haha

Guys working on the front of the boat

My calfs are killing today! But I am proud of myself for doing it, I'd never hiked in my life so I feel like I accomplished something. 

I thought I wouldn't be able to walk after such a long day, but I was ok, just in desperate need of a shower then I was back out. I walked around for a while trying to decide which resturant on the harbor I wanted to try.  (One of the very tough decisions I have to make everyday, tough life isn't it ) 

The whole area is filled with resturants and each one has someone standing outside trying to get you to eat at theirs. It's annoying, but that's how it is. 

I chose a nice one with a front row table. I had a delicious Greek salad and Mousaka. I'd never had that before so I asked the waitress to explain, its in a round dish, layed with eggplant, potatoes, bits of pork and some kind of cream or cheese stuff.  It was really good so Im going to try it again at another place.  There was an older couple next to me who I asked to take my picture and got to talking to.  Harry and Micheline from Canada. A very nice retired couple who travel all the time and happend to be in Greece for there daughters wedding reception, she married a doctor and is also one herself.  They were traveling in Greece for 1 month, they have a house on the south coast of Spain where they spend their summers.. they just have the dream life it sounded like! They said that I reminded them of their other  daughter who is also my age and loves to travel.  I had a glass of wine with them and we talked about all kinds of places and things.  They obviously have major bucks, the man was the head of the IRS in Canada, I'm pretty sure that's what he said.  And their daughter and her husband were staying at at 1000 Euro a night hotel!! Must be nice eh!  So I really enjoyed talking to them. 

My date at the chinese resturant

It was too early to go to sleep so I went into one of the bars nearby and had a beer there and ended up talking to a local Greek guy for the rest of the night. 

I'm so tired right now but I'm not even checked into the hostel, I hope they have room for me!

Me on the sunset cruise in Hania

On the ferry

The beginning of the hike of Samaria Gorge

Hania Harbor

On the ferry

in the Gorge

Another part of the gorge, almost done!

Last night dinner in Hania

Another view from the ferry