All things Greek and nearly home.....

Well here I am sitting exactly where I was sitting 6 and a half weeks ago when I worked out how to do my first travel blog. We have just hit the Business Club Lounge in KL after a 10 hour flight from Istanbul. Three hours to wait till our next and final flight - KL to Sydney. This will be our 9th flight - we are a bit over airports!
Had the most wonderful time in Greece.

Spent a week in a gorgeous little village, Koutouloufari, about 30kms east of Heraklion, the capital of Crete. We had been to Crete 8 years ago when we did our Greek Island Cruise, but by the time the cruise got to Crete we were totally buggered and decided to stay on the ship and lie by the pool. Our week there this time was glorious. It was all a little stressful when we first arrived as the 'streets' through these little villages are hardly wide enough for one car and they are supposedly 2 way. All was well though once we found the place and were told where to park. The main street of the village was just one Taverna after another so the choice of Restaurants each night was pretty difficult. We had a great time at Mezes the second day we were there and actually spent over 4 hours there over a Meze meal and got to know the owners, Chris and Alex nad their sons, Nicos and Pele as well. We ended up going back there agin twice during the week. The people in every place were so friendly - all treated us like family.
Apart from eating nad drinking we did do abit of sight seeing while on Crete as well - it is a very big island, much bigger thna we thought, so we weren't bale to see as much as we would have liked, but we did make the effort on 3 days. Ventured out to Dikteon Andro to see the cave where Zeus was born. Apparently his mother Rea was annoyed with the husband (that happens) so she took off and had baby Zeus in this remote cave. Well, I must say thta she must have been in a much better state physically than I am - and she was 9 months pregnant! It was about 1000 (seriously) rocky 'steps' up to the cave and then over 200 steps down into it - of course one had to do the 200 steps back up as well! We were offered a donkey for the walk up the 1000 steps but I decided against it - I think I would have alarmed the donkey with my screams! By the time we got back to the car I was totally stuffed!!! I think Rea probably used her godly powers and flew!

On the same day we went into Heraklion and visited the Knossos Palace, which dates back to 6000 and something BC!!! Just amazing to think about it! They have Grecian Urns there thta are 4000 years old. Crete was the centre of Minoan civilisation so there are reminders of this all over hte place. Of course the Knossos Palace is the best one.

Koutouloufari is quite close to the seaside town of Hersonissos, which is a very popular tourist destinatiion - lots of swanky hotels there. We spent a few hours lying on the beach - really weird as all the beaches are set up with lounges nad umbrellas and wooden walkways but you have to pay to lie there. I thought it was great - much more comfy than lying on the sand! Well worth the 3 euros! Col and I are thinking of introducing it in Australia - strtaing wiht Tugun when we move there - would be a good little money maker!

After our week on Crete we caught the fast ferry over to Santorini - incredible place. We stayed right on the caldera - the views are just breathtaking! The weather turned hte last day we were there. Apparently it only rains 2 or 3 times a year and we were there for one of them! We were luicky though to have a magnificent day the day before.

I'll try and put some last photos up too while I'm here!

Hope you've found my holiday tales interesting and just a little bit entertaining!

Till next holiday......