St George, Utah

 

Crete - Lathissi Plain and Psychro Cave

Day two, Crete. If I had to decide what my favorite time was in Greece, I would put on the list; driving the beautiful island of Crete. I had no idea that I would see a beautiful, mountainous island filled with olive tree orchards, vineyards and sea views. Who knew?

During its heydays, the Lasithi Plateau had over 10,000 windmills -some say 20,000. Fewer than 5,000 stand today. Most of them have been abandoned and replaced by modern diesel and electrical pumps.

A drive-by photo of the windmills today.

Today we visit Psychro Cave or Dikteon Cave, the most visited cave on Crete, because of the myth that it is the birthplace of Zeus. I am going to put this one on Jim, and his enthusiasm to get to the cave. There is a difficult, steep and rocky hard way, and a much less difficult paved way to get to the entrance of the cave - both with the option of riding a donkey. Well, we took the hard way up, and the easier way down - no donkeys. 

I've chosen to be the photographer from the top of the cave.

Posing for work.

All that hiking made for hearty appetites and we were highly rewarded at Restaurant Kronio in the village of Tzermiado. Waiter, Phillipa, could not have done more to make our lunch more enjoyable. This was just the first of many roadside tavernas where we enjoyed so many delicious Greek meals.

Our gracious hosts, Paul and Killa, at Via Galini in Agios Nikolaos, Crete

Poolside with Jeannie and George,

enjoying some Boutari wine.

Island of Crete - Heraklion

Our first day in Crete, and the day is not yet over. We strolled the street named 25th of August, that connects the city center of Heraklion to it's harbor. The modern name of the street is due to a tragic event on the 25th of August 1898, the feast of St Titus, when a maddened Muslim mob slaughtered many Christians, including 17 British soldiers and the British Consul Lysimachos Kalokairinos. Today, it is a fun filled street, with people of all ages, shops, restaurants, and street performers. 

The Church of Agios Titos

Happy tourists!

Jeannie and George in front of the Morosini Fountain 

Street view of the 25th of August

Last, but not least, our view of Koules Fort, as we dine in the harbor of Heraklion, Crete. 

Island of Crete - Knossos Palace

Athens was truly awesome, however, we have now met up with Jeannie and George at the airport to fly to the island of Crete. This is where the fun begins!

George has spent months planning and organizing our trip, and just as planned, has a rental car waiting for us at the Heraklion airport to begin our eight day tour of the island. Wasting no time, our first stop was to visit the ruins of The Palace of Knossos, the largest of all the palaces of Crete. The first palace was built around 1900 B.C., and destroyed around 1700 B.C., when a new palace was built.

The Palace of Knossos

A wannabe princess!

Pithos

The 'Ladies in Blue' fresco

The Cup bearer fresco and Procession fresco

The Throne Room

The Raging Bull fresco depicts a young man performing what appears to be a handspring or flip over a charging bull. Bull-leaping is thought to have been a key ritual in the religion of the Minoan civilization in Bronze Age Crete.

Refreshments are needed, after a hot day in the sun touring ancient ruins! What is there better to do than a little wine tasting at the beautiful Boutari Winery.

The Boutari vineyard

So... we skip the tour and go right to the tasting!

How many stoppers does it take...