Crete 2016 Blog 1 Chania, Agia Marina, Aptera

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Tuesday 7th June: an early start from the Crowne Plaza Hotel Birmingham NEC to catch our 8am flight to Chania Crete: fortunately the hotel was 5 minutes from the Airport so there was no problem arriving in good time to check-in and then have a quick breakfast before departure in a nice new, and reasonably comfortable, Boeing 737-800 for the 3 hour 30 minutes flight to Chania.

Chania is a new airport (under construction since 2007, and still not completed) serving Western Crete, and it also doubles as a NATO airbase: something we were reminded about when two Greek Air Force F15 fighter jets took off thunderously as we were entering the Terminal. Then we had a comfortable 45 minute bus journey to our hotel in Agia Marina west of Chania followed by a fast and easy check-in; then a short walk to the seaside and a sunset dinner by the sea at restaurant run by a nice Norwegian lady, and long term resident of Crete, called Tina.

Wednesday 8th June: late start on account of adjusting to the 2 hour time difference, breakfast by the sea followed by a bus ride into Chania. An interesting, if rather hot, walk around the old town and visits to three museums: Maritime (for the Minoan ship), Naval (because I like looking at early 20^th century warships) and Archaeological because we’re both interested in ancient history. Back to the chaotic main bus station and a bit of scrum to get back onto the bus back to Agria Marina; but we made it back only to have a disappointing dinner at Tina’s – tough and very salty cod. But the beers, G&Ts and wine helped to numb the disappointment.

Thursday 9^th June: another late start (but who cares). A lazy breakfast by the sea then got the car hire sorted followed by an exploratory drive eastwards along the main coast road past Chania to Aptera, an ancient (1400BC) site located above Souda Bay just east of Chania. The site was closed for the day by the time we arrived but there was the consolation prize of fabulous views from a nearby Ottoman era fort (we think it was Ottoman but no info could be found about it) over the entrance to Souda Bay and east over Kaviles Bay. This was followed by afternoon coffee looking out to the White Mountains to the south and an easy 20 minute drive back to our hotel; followed by a very indifferent dinner at a restaurant recommended to us by a fellow guest of the hotel and his wife who come from Cwmbran (where I’d being playing cricket only 5 days previously; so we were practically related). Two disappointing dinners in a row – something needs to be done: cook our own???

Note: there are lots more photos below and if you double click on any of them you will get an enlarged image

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Photos

Map of Western Crete and Agia Marina
Agia Marina is less than 10 miles west of Chania/Xania but the bus journey takes nearly half an hour on account of the narrow, winding coast road and quite heavy traffic

Chania Harbour Wall
The rough with the smooth

Religions side by side
Except that the minaret hasn't been used for nearly 200 years

Chania Old Town street scene
With modern graffiti

City walls dating back to Venetian times and before
The circular pieces of stones set into the wall are parts of collapsed Roman era columns that were used to repair the walls during Venetian times. The ruined section of wall just beyond was courtesy of the Luftwaffe in 1941

Chania Harbour viewing
The Ottoman era Mosque of the Janissaries (the Sultan's bodyguard) is on the opposite side of the Harbour at 2 o'clock.

Chania Archaeological Museum
Located inside a beautiful former Catholic (not Orthodox) church.
With Roman mosaics on the floor

Breakfast at Me Gusta
Agil Theodori (island) in the background

Souda Bay - entrance
Guarded by a fort of bygone times updated with some quite heavy naval guns and radar control

Souda Bay looking west toward the head of the Bay
Agil Theodori Island and Rodopos Peninsula in the background

Ottoman era fort above Souda Bay - general-in-command
"The most likely point of attack will come from the north"

Ottoman fort: general-in-command
"....or maybe from the south"

Kalives Bay from Ottoman Fort
East of Souda Bay