Turkey & Greece

Crete is the southern most of the Greek Islands, and with the most colorful ancient Greece history.

We ported in Aghios Nikolas and drove an hour west to Heraklion where we visited Knossos....also known as the Palace of King Minos. The site of Knossos is one of the greatest archaeology discoveries in the last 100 years made by the explorer Sir Arther Evans. Knossos is the second most visited Archaeological site in Greece, after the Acropolis.

The massive palace of Knossos had over 1500 rooms and is believed to have sparked the tales of the Minotaur and the Labrynth. There are other hints to this legend, like ancient game where children would attempt to grab the horns of a bull and flip onto the back of the beast.

There are other things that make Crete interesting.....The mighty God Zeus was born here, hidden in a cave by his mother Rhea, so his father Cronus could not find and kill him. Crete is also known fine knives, which every young Cretan man is to own. We returned to Aghios Nikolas to shop and swim in the sea, just on the other side of the waterway connecting to a fresh water lake. We would like to have stayed longer!

Santorini is known for stunning sunsets, white/red/black sand beaches, houses built into cliffs, and views to a massive Volcano. It is rumored to contain the remains of the Lost City of Atlantis. The capital is Fira and Oia is the most northern village which looks west to a magnificent sunset.

Approaching by boat, you know this island unlike any other. It was formed from lava in a eruption from 1660 BC. Santorini remains the only inhabited Caldera (volcano cauldron) in the world. Unlike other Cyclades, villages sit densely atop massive cliffs. From a distance these villages look like snow capping the mountain tops.

From shore, we boarded a wood-hulled sailing ship to take us to hike the volcano of Santorini. We enjoyed the lunar-like climb to the summit amongst all the smoke and sulfur. We continued in the sailing ship to a hot spring in the sea, where the mud is red and rumored to take off 20 years from those who spread it on.

Back at the main island we discovered terraced slopes used for high end wines. The nature of the dry soil of Santorini produces wonderful grapes, fava beans and tomatoes as well. We enjoyed Mythos beer in the village of Oia, and received a ride back to Fira from the son of a local vegetable stand owner. The temperature was hot but we enjoyed every minute of it!

We managed to get ashore and settled in our rooms before heading out for a tour of the city. We visited the Athens Acropolis. Jim and Shirley stayed down below and away from the crowd, all while keeping great view of the ruins.

WED 20AUG14 Istanbul, Turkey
THU 21AUG14 Mytiln (Lesbos), Greece
FRI 2AUG14 Ephesu (Kusadsi), Turkey
SAT 23AUG14 Rhodes, Greece
SUN 24AUG14 Aghios Nikolas, Crete
MON 25AUG14 Santorin, Greece
TUE 26AUG14 Mykons, Greece
WED 27AUG14 Athens (Piraeus), Greece