CRETE
Crete is the largest Greek Island and has 2 amazing tourist attractions in the 2 largest cities on the island. In 4 days, we managed to see both cities, do both attractions and even spend some time in the water.
IRAKLION
We started in Iraklion, the port of Crete. The city is the largest on the island and shows it, with lots of cars (horrible traffic) and a general smoginess. We spent 1 day there and saw the Palace of Knossos, the palace where the Mynoan kings lived. Crete is the sight of the first European civilization, meaning this is Europe's first Palace.
THE PALACE OF KNOSSOS
Ruins of the West Entrance
Though not the original founder, Sir Arthur Evans recreated portions of the palace. While most of the palace would have been made of wood, Evans used concrete.
The bull horns, or 2 horns, often associated with the palace.
copies of original paintings
The Throne of King Minos (Minos actually means King, so all kings would have been called Minos)
The Throne Room
a few rooms belonging to the Queen
The pillars would have originally been trunks from Cyprus trees. These are concrete.
We also got a clue as to why we say love birds.
Mat also loved the large jugs
This is Europe's first paved road
and Europe's first theatre.
Mat in the Grand courtyard
me too.
It is thought that these pits were used to place the bodies of sacrificed creatures.Though not everyone is please by Evans' reconstruction of the palace, we throughly enjoyed being able to see what things would have looked like. It was great to walk through the oldest palace in Europe.
THE ARCHAEOLIGICAL MUSEUM
We also visited the Archaeological Museum that showcases the Mynoan artifacts from the palace.
THE ARCHAEOLIGICAL MUSEUM
We also visited the Archaeological Museum that showcases the Mynoan artifacts from the palace.
statues known as godess with snakes
a painting showing the sport of bull jumping (or flipping, can't remember)
AROUND IRAKLION
The Loggia (former meeting place). This day it was holding a charity sale. Sadly, the beautiful building is covered in graffiti.
The Venetian Fortress (Crete was not only occupied by Nazi forces at one time, but also by the Venetians---though much earlier) 
The crystal clear water around Hania
The Venetian lighthouse
The Loggia (former meeting place). This day it was holding a charity sale. Sadly, the beautiful building is covered in graffiti.
The Venetian Fortress (Crete was not only occupied by Nazi forces at one time, but also by the Venetians---though much earlier)
HANIA
Hania is Crete's 2nd largest city. It is known for its Venetian fort and is the launch point for those who wish to visit the geological wonder that is the Samaria Gorge.
The crystal clear water around Hania
The Venetian lighthouse
THE SAMARIA GORGE
The main reason for our journey to Crete was to hike the Samaria Gorge. The gorge is an 18km hike (13 in the gorge, and the rest getting to and from). The first 2 hours is downhill, very steep, very dusty and very rocky. The next 5 hours are a combination of up and down, with quite a lot of relatively flat rocky areas. The gorge is beautiful. It isn't exactly strenusous, but it is exhausting (it was 30 some odd degrees celcius). We awoke at 5 am to catch a 6am bus, and started our 7 hour hike at 7.30 in the morning. We did make it out by 2pm and we rewarded with a cold swim in the ocean. It was one of the best days of the entire trip, with the best scenery by far...the pictures should say it all!
This is St. Nicholas' Church (Santa Claus)
Check out how high those mountains go. Those tiny things on the ground are people.
The bottom of the gorge has a river. The rickety bridges keep your feet dry...and they're fun!!!
The Iron Gates: a point 11.5km from the Northern entrance . The walls of the gorge are about 10 feet apart.
Luckily we didn't hit direct sun until about 11am, unluckily we still had 3 hours hiking in the sun.
Mat was shocked that I'd never seen tadpoles...then he remembered, not everyone grew up in the bush.
We were greeted by goats at the end of the gorge
and the most beautiful pink flowers. They're very common here and line the highway all the way from Iraklion to Hania.
The beach was gorgeous. The sand was actually very large rocks which hurt bad, but the pressure pain was nothing in comparison to the heat...they felt like the sun. The only thing funnier than watching Mat sleep covered to avoided the sun, was watching all the girls try to get out of the water and still try to look sexy--impossible!!! The clear water was also great for checking out the fish with our new goggles. A much deserved rest after a much enjoyed adventure.
The ferry ride back was smooth, the unbelievably blue water, still. We had more than enough time to contemplate the day and then spent the next day with our muscles reminding us. Thank goodness for Tiger Balm.
The main reason for our journey to Crete was to hike the Samaria Gorge. The gorge is an 18km hike (13 in the gorge, and the rest getting to and from). The first 2 hours is downhill, very steep, very dusty and very rocky. The next 5 hours are a combination of up and down, with quite a lot of relatively flat rocky areas. The gorge is beautiful. It isn't exactly strenusous, but it is exhausting (it was 30 some odd degrees celcius). We awoke at 5 am to catch a 6am bus, and started our 7 hour hike at 7.30 in the morning. We did make it out by 2pm and we rewarded with a cold swim in the ocean. It was one of the best days of the entire trip, with the best scenery by far...the pictures should say it all!
This is St. Nicholas' Church (Santa Claus)
Check out how high those mountains go. Those tiny things on the ground are people.
The bottom of the gorge has a river. The rickety bridges keep your feet dry...and they're fun!!!
The Iron Gates: a point 11.5km from the Northern entrance . The walls of the gorge are about 10 feet apart.
Luckily we didn't hit direct sun until about 11am, unluckily we still had 3 hours hiking in the sun.
Mat was shocked that I'd never seen tadpoles...then he remembered, not everyone grew up in the bush.
We were greeted by goats at the end of the gorge
and the most beautiful pink flowers. They're very common here and line the highway all the way from Iraklion to Hania.
The beach was gorgeous. The sand was actually very large rocks which hurt bad, but the pressure pain was nothing in comparison to the heat...they felt like the sun. The only thing funnier than watching Mat sleep covered to avoided the sun, was watching all the girls try to get out of the water and still try to look sexy--impossible!!! The clear water was also great for checking out the fish with our new goggles. A much deserved rest after a much enjoyed adventure.
The ferry ride back was smooth, the unbelievably blue water, still. We had more than enough time to contemplate the day and then spent the next day with our muscles reminding us. Thank goodness for Tiger Balm.
Well I'm back in London now and Mat is on the ship. He will be on the ship until June 17th. Just 2 days later, Georgina (Mat's mom) will be coming to visit. We're both really looking forward to it and I know it'll make for some great blogs (I'm planning it all now).
