Sixty-third Post From Türkiye: A Memorial Day on Crete

Our last trip from Turkey was a combination: visit to Greece/celebration of my birthday/Rowe-Knapp adventure.
And it all happened on the island of Crete!
We decided to stay in Chania and although every town on Crete is charming, this may be the most charming of the lot.

Josette found us a great hotel on the water with it's own beach and some great pools. Sadly, it was a bit stormy and chilly the whole time we were there. So only Jack and Trum were brave enough to swim. 

Every morning we met up for a fabulous breakfast in the hotel restaurant. Trum had as many donuts as he could get! Good donuts are hard to find in Turkey.

We spent our first morning wandering and exploring Chania's old town. And our first street was Leather Lane. Jack investigated the leather carry-on bags. Since it was our first day we just browsed but we came back and stocked up on fun stuff before we returned home to Ankara.

The square of the Cathedral "Mitropolis" with the church of the "Isodion", the Catholic church of Chania.

The Municipal Market or the Agora, built in 1913. It has a wonderful ceiling and is filled with fabulous shops, selling tempting treats and delights!

The Minaret of Achmet Aga. All of the Islands in this part of the world have been ruled by many different people, the Ottomans left mosques and minarets as a reminder of their stay. This is one of two that are still standing in Chania.

Every narrow little lane is charming in this town!! Hello, kitty!!

This little lady tried to engage us in conversation, but we don't speak Greek. However she knew a small amount of German, enough to tell Jack that she didn't like the Germans because they had invaded the island and "were very bad". And she is "old enough to remember"! I wish we could have understood more of what she wanted to share with us!

Scott tried to make friends with a kitty lazing on this wall. But that cat was not interested in meeting new people.

Sabbionara rampart and gate with it's Venetian Lion still intact. The Venetians also left their mark on all of the islands in the area.

Old Venetian Harbour

Built 1320–1356

Sea Sponge Boat!

Love it!

On our second day we headed east to Visit Knossos and Heraklion the administrative capital of the island.

Knossos is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and has been called Europe's oldest city. The name Knossos survives from ancient Greek references to the major city of Crete.

Knossos is where the legend of the Minotaur takes place. So of course there needs to be a weird stuffed Minotaur nearby.

After getting lost in the hills around Knossos we headed into Heraklion. We had some surprisingly good Tex-Mex food and then visited the Archaeological Museum. 

After we got our fill of Archaeological artifacts we headed out to see some sites around town.

Morosini Fountain

Church of Saint Titus  

Former 19th-century mosque, now a Greek Orthodox church, it has beautiful and intricate wood carvings as decoration.

Street leading down to the harbor.

Venetian Harbor and fortress of Koules. 

Too cool for school!

Looking back toward the town from the fortress.

The next day we headed out to visit Rethymno but first we stopped in Suda Bay to see a few sites related to the World War II battles that were fought here. 

Above is the site of  the Battle of 42nd Street.

We visited these sites the day after the anniversary of the battle and you could see that there had been a ceremony and visitors there to remember it. Humbling to know that there are still family members traveling to Crete to remember loved ones.

Souda Bay Allied War Cemetery 

Then we headed up into the hills to visit the Arkadi Monastery.

The boys made sure to check out the reliquary first thing.

The Arkadi Monastery is considered one of the most important and historic monasteries in Crete. In November 1866, 700 women, 287 men and 45 monks took refuge in the monastery during a battle with the Ottomans. The besieged, were inadequately armed and could not hold back the army.

So a leader of the Greeks in the monastery (some say the abbot and some say a guerrilla fighter) set fire to the powder magazine as the Turks entered the western gate, blowing up not only the besieged, but thousands of the Ottoman attackers as well.

The room where the powder magazine was set off.

Though it has a sobering history, it is a beautiful and peaceful place now.

After the monastery we once again got lost in the hills of Crete, but enjoyed some wonderful scenery as we navigated our way into town.

Old town Rethymno.

If you can't get enough of narrow, little streets than Rethymno is the place for you!

Every town needs a Venetian light house!

Rimondi Fountain

A lovely lunch, served by a waiter with a fabulous mustache, who enjoyed several shots of Raki while he worked.

And, of course, Rethymno has a Venetian Fortress! I must say this one was probably the most impressive. Almost entirely intact, it is the least changed as the town isn't situated inside it. We had fun scrambling around, exploring!

Our own pilgrim.

Jack had to wrestle that stick out of his hands, it was such a "good one". But honestly, we did NOT need that along for the car ride back to Chania!

One last Ramble through Chania on our last day on Crete.

Typical, none of the boys want to look at me for a picture, but Josette flashes her beautiful smile!

Since it was a little rainy we decided to check out the Nautical Museum of Crete. Situated at the entrance of the fortress Revellino del Porto on the northwest side of the port.

Two pictures proving the man is a goof-ball!

So beautiful! Love this town, this Island, this country! I could go back over and over again!

Once again, Greece proves to be an excellent place to see interesting graffiti.

Suh-weet!

As always the food in Greece was AMAZING!! But on Crete you have to eat Dakos! We couldn't get enough, we had some at every meal except breakfast!

Oh and of course, gelato, we had some of that everyday as well. Trum was disturbed that this giant ice-cream man seemed to be a cannibal. I'm a little disturbed by the giant googly eyes.

Greece! Seriously! We have loved each trip! So glad we went there for our last adventure while we live in Turkey. And so glad we got to go with the Knapps! They are just the best! Hopefully more adventures with them will happen in the future.