That's Cretan - Not Cretin!

The next port on this cruise was Heraklion on the island of Crete.  Heraklion is Crete’s largest city and the administrative centre of the island.  It has been influenced by the Byzantines, Venetians and Ottomans, who have all left their cultural mark on the city.  I have some dim memory from high school about the Minoan legend and a labyrinth in a palace but that is about all I knew about Crete.

As I have mentioned, one of the reasons I booked this cruise was that it was going to visit places in Europe that I have never seen before.  So, like Athens and Santorini, Crete was new to me.  We started our day early again – I realize they want to get as much as possible into each day but I am looking forward to an “at sea” day when I will be able to sleep in!  Disembarking was easy this time as we had docked so there was no need for tenders.  By 8:10, we were heading off the boat in our groups.  I had joined Daphne's group so we could share stuff together.  The bus excursion first headed to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.  The museum is apparently one of the largest and best in Greece, featuring artifacts from over 5500 years of Cretan history including many from Knossos Palace which we were going to visit later.  We got to see some of the palace’s famous artifacts including the “Minoan Snake Goddess”, the “Phaistos Disc” and frescos. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following the museum tour (much of which went into way too much detail for me), we drove to the ruins of the Knossos Palace.  The restoration here was undertaken by Sir Arthur Evans and, though criticized by some for its modernity, it allows the visitor to visualize the palace as it was yet also contemplate its labyrinthine complexity.  I found it all very interesting.  This was where the legend about the Minoan monster and the labyrinth was set but, as I said earlier, unfortunately, I could recall none of it!  We also got to see the old theatre located at the palace.  The guide also told us because of the stone used to build palace, it used to sparkle in the sunshine.  In fact, as we walked around we could see some of that in places.  I am thinking it must be mica flakes or something like that. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We got back to the ship in just enough time to have a quick lunch and get back off the ship for our optional afternoon excursion to Arolithos, a recent reconstruction of an old-fashioned Cretan village.  On the drive there, we got to see another side of Heraklion – one that was much more charming than the parts we had seen in the morning.  We drove along the seafront by the Venetian fortress in the harbour dating from the 12^th century (those Venetians sure got around!), through the main part of the town) and into the countryside.  At Arolithos, basically an open air museum, we toured several houses which have been made to look like typical Cretan ones from the early 20^th century.  After we visited them, we had the opportunity to wander around the shops and, also, to sample some local foods including breads (rusks), olives, olive oil, cheese and the local “firewater” called raki at a taverna/hotel.  The views from the hotel terrace across the plain to the mountains in the distance were lovely.  Apparently, during the winter here it is possible to ski on some of the highest ones.  Hard to believe that on a day like today when it was about 26 degrees!

A Cretan Wedding Cake

 

Back on the ship, our group was starting to expand.  Daphne and I had met a couple from Derbyshire named Jane and Mick and, as well, we started chatting with a couple from near London (previously from the Midlands) named Pat and Martyn.  We are now a "gang of eight!"