New adventures to the west

DESPITE being on the island for almost 11 years there are so many places we have never visited, and we do try! This week was an opportunity to explore new ground to the west and south, thanks to a trip organised by our senior citizens group KAPI.
  So it was an early start to take in Kourna Lake, which we had been to previously and then Reythmno before turning south to Paleochora.
  Situated on a peninsular, 74 kms south of Chania it is a small town, surround by the Lybian sea. Pretty with nice beaches and plent of attractions. It's famous for it's small bays, tourism and the cultivation of olive oil and tomatoes.
  Refreshed by a good overnight sleep in an excellent  beach side hotel it was time to head to the Samaria Gorge. It is a national park, rich in flora and fauna, famous as a 16 kms walk. Not an idea walk as it takes more than five hours, so it was a look and time for photographs of the rugged terrain. Visitors usually arrive at the village of Omalos at an altitude of 1,250m and then end their walk in the village of Agia Roumeli. Having arrived usually by bus, the walkers usually take the ferry back to Paleochora, tired and refreshed at the same time.
  Heading inland it was then time for  lunch at Theriso, famous for the starting point for the uprising years before, time in Chania and then to Akrotiri overlooking Souda Bay.
  There was just enough time to squeeze in a visit to Georgopolis for some of their famous wood oven bread,, a local church and then home - phew!! 

Brilliant Balos - Great Gramvousa

OUR final excursion of the year has been for three days with our senior citizen group KAPI, to the western tip of the island to visit the former pirate outpost of Gramvousa and the fantastic lagoon of Balos, and the efforts was worth it. We were based in Chania for two nights at the Hotel Kriti. Been here before and very good value, only 300 meters from the main town.
  There was time on the first and second nights to explore the town and have a meal. One shock was the small local hotel by the harbour we had been to before has now changed hands and upped all their prices for the winter, so that has been crossed off our list.
  However the main reason for the trip was the island of Gramvousa.  Departing from the port of Kissamos and travelling for approximately 55 minutes in the gulf, first you see a vast cave, that is believed to have been the ancient shipyard - Tarsanas. It is found near the Roman city of Agnion, thought to be the god Apollo (today Ag. Sostis).
   At the end of the Gulf there is an impressive geological phenomenon where, as a result of the passage of time, the western part of the island is raised, while the eastern part is sunk.
  This phenomenon was created by catastrophic earthquakes that took place in 66 BC and 365 BC. These earthquakes, caused by the movement of the lithospheric plates of Africa, caused the abrupt elevation of Crete from 6m to 9m above sea level. This ancient sea level can still be seen today as a black trace along the rocky coast. According to scientific estimates, this geographical phenomenon is still continuing today, but at a much slower rate.
   During the voyage across the gulf passengers often come across marine turtles (Caretta Caretta), the Mediterranean seal (Monachus Monachus) and dolphins of the region, no such luck for us however.
   We were impressed with the island, although declined the long haul up to the very top to explore the castle fortress. Sneaked a few pictures from another source so we could see what was missed.. However Balos was something else, little rock pools from which you could extract sea-salt before the main lagoon. Walking knee deep it was a great experience.

Weekend in Chania

THERE is so much on the island of island of Crete and we had the opportunity of exploring much of the western end and particular the Chania end at the weekend. This was not a trip organised by our senior citizen organisation, but another and exceptionally good value.

First port of call on the route to Chania was the area of Askifou, Sfakia and in particular the war museum founded by George Hatzidakis and his family following the events of 1941. Germany gained control of most of Europe and it was decided to invade Crete in the largest airborne attack ever staged.

Defending the island were some 40,000 British, Australian and New Zealand troops, as well as 10,000 unarmed troops from Greece. Some 500 Junkers planes were loaded and sent to take the island, but it was a disaster as some 90% of the first wave were destroyed. It took until the end of May before the fighting was over, but it was a mistake that Hitler never made again. The museum is a personal effort by the family and well worth the effort to see.

It was then over the mountains to the coastal area were some many troops were rescued from before returning to Chania and our hotel, and time to make personal explorations of the town. There was a surprise by the next morning, when we discovered a local market behind the hotel and there was time to explore before breakfast, and bag a few bargains.
  First point of interest today was the monastery Agia Triada, dating back of the 1600's, well preserved and maintained it was a perfect setting for photographs before going to the traditional village of Elos famous for its chestnuts. Someone in the party brought more that 20 kilos of them so they must be good!! We had a modest half kilo.
  Then it was the famous springs at Argyopolis for a cracking lunch, time to buy the famous sour dough bread at Georgeopolis some cheese at a famous maker and a break at Rethymno before returning tired and well fulfilled.