Hi all
Haven't a clue what date it is but I think it is Tuesday at 11pm. We have just finished dinner and the others have gone to bed.
We had a 45 minute flight yesterday from Athens to Crete and am staying in a lovely boutique hotel - all very funky as it has been just redecorated recently. I have a large balcony overlooking the harbour, fishing boats and the Venician Fort. Funny place Crete. Mountainous, rugged, untidy looking towns.
Some reallly nice shops - specialty is jewellery and shoes. The island is about 250k long and etween 12 and 60ks wide. To-morrow we do a tour of the island.
This morning we hd a 3 hour guided tour of the Kanossa Palace. Built 4000 years ago in the Minoan civilization it was excavated in the 1800s. The ruins cover 22,000 square metres and there was once 1500 rooms. It also was the place of the first European toilet with a flushing system. I won't go into that now but I know you are all thrilled to know this little gem! Bulls and cows were sacrificed to the Gods but there are no cattle on Crete to-day (must have run out of them) and all milk has to be flown in from Athens. Not that you get fresh milk much in Greece. Everyone serves Evaporated milk for your tea or cereal. Yuk!!!
After the Palace we went for a cooking class which was fun. Made cheese pies, stuffed vine leaves and Tzatziki. We then ate it all when it was cooked as well as lamb and fried potatoes which is the traditional Crete dish.
Will post some photos next time. I am using a friends tiny 8 inch computer at the moment and it is too fiddly to try and download pics. Have taken 120 so far and to-day had copies made onto a CD for safe keeping.
Off to bed now
Crete
5 Comments
June 4, 2008
Hi Jo, Thanks for the info re the toilet, you learn something every day so they say. Did you buy any shoes or jewellery ?Sounds like my sort of place !! I am so pleased you are having a great time.
Keep safe and happy,
Love Annie xx
June 4, 2008
Hi Jo
As Liam said, the weathr has cleared, thank goodness. Kylie at Why Weight wants to know where all my friends are? I rattle off, Greece, Singapore and Capetown. WOW!!!!! Great to hear you are travelling with a good bunch, lets face it, there are 60 year olds and 60 year olds if you get what I mean!!!! Things going well with the new committee but sadly Roy is on the "rampage". Enjoying your blog, keep up the great communication. Off to bed now, Open Ladies Day tomorrow (Thursday) with 8am shotgun.
Tootlepops
Jackie
xxxxxx
June 11, 2008
hooray back on line again.
thanks for the rapid response to my request.
Crete was one island we missed during the Greek safari...
sure sounds an exciting place.
will be pleased to know you are home safely on Saturday.
Sounds like you are having a fab time so far. We are having a ball - thanks so much - you have a wonderful home and we have had a glimpse of what is surely a wonderful life.
Will and Monet are best buddies (we apologise in advance for bending any of his habits!) He is certainly getting plenty of exercise.
The weather looks as though it has cleared up today which will be nice. I may go and hit some balls at the range this afternoon and hoping to have a game tomorrow (thanks for the voucher!) Will try Jackie & Terry.
Ros went home y'day, got her to the airport with 25 mins to spare only to get back on the pacific hwy (stuck in traffic cause of the Tugan bypass) and she called to say their flight was delayed 2 hours! Oh dear.
Anyway, all is well here. We just need the kids to sleep past 4:30am so it starts to feel like a real holiday.
Stay safe and we'll keep in touch.
Lots of love from Liam, Kari, Will, Sienna and Monet