Here's where it all began - Nürnberg airport, May 2, 2008
Heraklion, largest city on Crete
Baggage claim in Heraklion
Picking up our rental car at the airport
We had an apartment in Villa Elianthos
The terrace where we had our breakfast
View from the terrace
Exploring the region
Checking out the harbor city of Chania,Crete's second largest city
Street signs
Guten Appetit!
Evidences of the Orthodox religion abound
Serene wooded setting for a wonderful Greek meal
I even got to prepare my own Greek coffee
Visits to Georgios and Eleni Virirakis in the village of Armeni.Eleni is my (John) father's first cousin,
whose father was my grandmother's brother.
And their daughter, Argentini, at her job in the city hall in nearby Kalives
Exploring one of the many gorgescutting deep into the land . . .
. . . where trees and . . .
trashcans grow right out of the rocks!!
Crossing the high plateau amidst the mountains
Breathtaking views of the southern shore
Leaving "Elianthos" for our nextdestination - the city of Rethymno
Stopping in at a familiar storealong the way for supplies
One night in a "noble" hotel in Rethymno
Exploring the fortress overlooking the harbor
Our last 5 days were spent in this rustic
"traditional Greek house" near the city
of Elounda
The mosquito netting was a life saver!
Our "outhouse" bathroom across the courtyardto the left of the main entrance to the house
And the kitchen to the right
Roomy terrace with a fabulous view
Across the bay lies the island of Spinalonga
Settled by the Venetians from 13th to 17th century
Occupied by the Ottomans till 1900
Leper colony from 1904-1957
High above Elounda
Panagia, ancient Byzantine church
with frescoes from the 13th to 15th century
Lato, ruins of a city from the 7th to 4th centuries B.C.
Images from our last evening
Parting shots . . . Crete, a land of rugged beauty
Back home again!
