Greece 22/08/05

Trip Journal From 22nd August 2005 - 11th September 2005

We entered Greece on the August 22nd 2005 and slowly made our way towards Athens the goal being the Athens Motor camp where we had stayed on our last visit, thinking it was going to be a real challenge to find in a city of 2.7 million, I don’t know who was more surprised Lawrie or I when we navigated right to their doorstep. A spot of island hopping was our intention and Lawrie wanted to surprise me with a trip to Crete, as my father had fought there during WW2, and before we knew it we were onboard the ship with Ruefee heading towards Crete. The trip cost E150, the crossing was smooth and took 10 hours, it was amusing for us to hear all the click click as the Greek men swung their chunky beads around in their hands. The beads are called Koboloe and it has been a tradition for the Greek men to do it for over 200 years, they are said to do it to pass the time. Lucky them! Lawries friend on the boat woke up with a start and let forth a string of Greek at him, pointing her finger between her legs……Aahh, puzzled then we twigged so we gave her directions to the loo…..lol



It was very emotional visiting Galatas, near Hania where my Dad had fought during WW2, it’s a lovely little town, white washed houses, small winding streets, and all the locals sitting outside chatting and drinking at the little cafes. We looked out over Pink Hill, and the olive groves near where Dad was wounded. The town has a small museum with lots of NZ memorabilia and NZ has a street named after it. We were given some local VIP treatment as the locals opened the closed museum for us to view.

We slowly made our way west to Kissamos, then Sfinari, and finally found another magic spot like Datca in Turkey and it was Paleohopa; on the south coast at the bottom of Crete We have taken a room, right on the sea overlooking the harbour of this small peninsular town. Lots happening around us, boats coming in and out, people walking by, eating at restaurants etc it’s rather nice as we can sit on our terrace and watch it all unfold.

We have been doing lots of little drives and have found some more magic spots, beaches all to ourselves, castles ruins etc. We have done snorkeling around the rocks in crystal clear water, lots of fish life but nothing too big …yet...Its very hot still so we have got into the Greek way … a siesta in the afternoon, Lawrie doesn’t find that too much of a chore ….and then in the evening its off for a walk to find somewhere to dine. Greek people love to eat out and at night the streets come alive with music and dinners eating at the restaurants which have all pulled their tables out onto the pavements and roads, a real festive atmosphere.

Crete has been wonderful, visiting villages high in the hills and the unspoilt secluded beaches, because as it was almost the end of the tourist season were deserted. The island must be almost weighted down with the1000s of olive trees that dot the countryside. We thought in the time that we had we would beable to cover most of the island only to find when it was time to leave we had barely covered 1/3rd. Ruefee was great for exploring some of the 4x4 tracks that wandered high up the hills, Lawrie had me white knuckled and hanging grimly onto the Jesus bar scared to look down at the huge drop offs.



We continued to drive around the island visiting Spili south east of Rethimno, a village with lots of stone houses, and cobbled lanes, in its shaded square were 25 water spouts sculpted in the shape of lion’s heads. At Rethimno we spent a few days and then caught the boat back to the mainland. Today is September 11th and we depart by boat from Patra to Venice in Italy.