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Published: July 19th 2007
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16 hrs. on the ferry, but at least these seats reclined so it wasn't so bad; I slept a bunch as I finished my book! Part way through it turned too random & I wouldn't recommend it. I'm going to try & find an English version of Time magazine or something like that. Back to the ferry, boarded at 2 AM even though it didn't depart until 430 AM. About 3, not a nightmare, but reality when about 50, looked to be 9th graders, from France entered with teachers in tow shushing them all way. It took one of the ships crew in uniform to issue a commanding shush for quiet to be restored. So we all slept together, and then about 7 Am, they all left (yes, we were docked at an island when they left).
Arrived in Crete about 530 PM into Agio Nickololas (eastern Crete). Scrambled to figure out the bus situation, got there with moments to spare, only to have the driver pass me by gesturing as to no more room. Hmm, I thought. Ok, time for a snack. Got some goodies at the local super market & returned for the 730 bus. Chatted with
a girl from Austria. Made it to Iraklion (I think it's the island capital; still east Crete) about 9 PM but did not have accomodations prepared. Thank goodness for the Let's Go book. With a little navigating, I made it to Rooms from Hellas, 11 Euro-mixed dorm. Late night dinner & a walk.
Crete-a very large island in these parts, is about 3200 sq miles; compared to New Jersey which is about 8700 sq miles.
Day 2- 7/20/07-38 yr anniversary of the first manned landing on the moon!
Decent shower at Hellas. Then some hell trying to get a hold of Aer Lingus for some travel plans. Then outside of town to Knossos (no ses), a great Minoan ruin (The term Mycenean is also common but refers to other Greek speaking areas where as Minoan is specific to Crete). There was somehtng about King Minos, the Minotaur & the origin of the world labyrinth; sorry, that's the best I can do on that. Spent about an hour there, hot, interesting, but as you can see by the pictures, it is stones, & they do help you reconstruct the place with plaques & your imagination, but obviously, it
would be much more exciting to walk through the actual structure; now that would be impressive. Caught the bus to Rethymno (central Crete) to spend the night. Walked around the old town & did some souvenier shopping.
Crete's landscape is mountainous (some peaks rise to around 7000'?) & the vegetation diverse, so it looks to be the prettiest island; not so stark. And the landscape is peppered with goats.
Day 3
Started early by catching the 7 AM bus to Chania (in western Crete) changed busses to go on to Xyloskalo to hike the Samaria Gorge. We drove up through the mts. in a big bus going around hairpin turns (little honks to make sure no one was coming the other way) w/o gaurdrails. Hiked the 16 kilometers (about 10 miles) through the gorge in about 3.5 hrs; not bad for the 41 yr old man from Boulder as they say it takes 4-6 hrs. Got to the little town/port of Agia Roumeli, walked right past the few shops & on into the cool blue water; now that felt good. I had stopped only briefly on the hike for an orange & to dip my feet in
the creek so I was hot! Hung out on the beach for two hrs until the ferry came to take us to HOra Sfakion since there's no other way in or out of Agia Romeli other than walking the gorge or by boat. So got to Hora Sfakion to get the bus back to Chania where I changed to a local bus to get to the port to board the ferry back to Athens. Busses are expensive in Crete! About $9 @ to get from Agio Nikolaus to Iraklion & then to Rethymno. The hike, therefore was very expensive! As the first two buses were 12 Euro (about $16), the gorge entrance fee was another 5 Euro (about $7), the ferry was another 6.5 Euro (about $9), the next bus another 6.5 Euro (about $9) & the last bus to the port, 1.20 (about $2). $41 aside, the hike was very pretty, tall canyon walls at times not far apart, but it was not as spectacular as the Buckskin Gulch of the Paria River near Lake Powell. Still glad I did it. However, I did not encouter the Wild Cats of the gorge on the hike also known by their
genus-species, Felis Sylvestris.
Before boarding the ferry back to Pireaus/Athens, had just enough time for the ATM & the super market. Ferry was already waiting at the port; that was a nice change! Settled one last time into some uncomfortable seats for a haphazzardous nights sleep; dozing to some older Ed Norton, Ben Afleck movie, in English!, where Ben is a struggling young rabbi mixed up in a love triangle gone bad. 9 PM-6 AM for the ferry ride.
So as I leave Greece, I've decided my Greek name is Stephenopolus Margolinakis (as those are the suffixes attached to so many Greeks)
Side Notes:
1. Busses in Greece-some strange things. In some places, they had a teenager that walked through the bus while it was going to collect money. Did not seem more sufficient than just having a machine collect your money upon entrance as I assume the kid had to be paid. In other places, at random spots along the road, a guy would board the bus & do a ticket check; I guess to make sure the bus driver was not pocketing money by letting people on & not issueing a ticket. And then he
would just be let out again somewhere along the middle of the road. I assume to hop on the next bus that happened by.
2. Coolers--they do not keep their drinks cold! Why not! I am very tired of warm water.
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Barry
non-member comment
Leaving Greece
Steve, Good pics as always from Crete and Rhodes. When do you leave Athens and what happens after that?? Are you glad you wnet and would you do it again? See you soon and take care. Barry