Crete, September 2018

11th September to the 19th September

It's been a long while since we flew anywhere but when our Mick sent a message asking if anyone fancied going to Crete, I immediately said yes. The price was very good as well, although it was short notice and we were away for the three weeks before. We were not the only ones to say yes, going with us was our Mick and Bren, Gillin, Phil, Hazel, Glen and Dirk.

With my memory the way it is after the stroke, I think this is what happened but I could be wrong.

Tuesday 11th September

We all agreed to meet at Micks to get a minie bus up to Newcastle airport and all went well, except that Hazel had suddenly decided that she didn't want to fly. She eventually got on the minibus and we set off for the airport.

In the airport we had already checked in and we only had hand luggage, so we just found somewhere to sit around and wait. Eventually though we made our way through check in to the bar and had a couple of beers, before our flight was ready.

On the plain we were split up, although me and Dot were together, I drank too much on the flight though, I think I had four small bottles of wine. Anyway I do not remember too much after that.

 

Apparently I fell over getting off the bus from the plan but I remember nothing at all. In Crete we wandered out of the airport and went to find a bus to Stalid, we found the place to get the bus easily but it took some time for the bus to show up. The bus fair was only four euros, a bargen and it dropped us off outside our hotel.

The room in the hotel was very basic but we only had to sleep in there. Latter that night we went out for drinks again. I remember next to nothing about it but we did go into the pub that sold the cheapest beer 1.50€ but the owners of the place were dreadful and we never went in there again. Then it was to the Yemas Bar, close to the apartment.

Wednesday 12th September

It was late before we ventured out and we wandered along to the far end of the prom to meet up with the others. I think it was getting on for about two when we got to the Romantic Corner but I was very hungry and asked if they could do a full English breakfast for me. After a brief thought and a call across to the main room, he said yes. It was really good and I was really starving, I was also very thankful to them for doing a breakfast for me.

We called into other bars on the way back along the front, I was a very relaxing day all in all. Later after getting changed for the night we were back out to the bars again. I think we went for an Indian meal that night, we went one night anyway, to the Curry Park an Indian Chinese Thai restaurant. I also think we did a quiz in the Robin Hood a rather English place, were we came second and third. We finished again in the Cafe Yemas Bar, just about the closest place to our apartment, it was after three when we got to bed though.

 

Thursday 13th September

Today we went for a walk to Malia, with us was was Mick and Bren and also Dirk came along. We walked along Grammatikki and stopped for a drink at the Pyrgos Taverna but I may be wrong. Then it was up towards the old town were we passed a bar with the biggest satellite dish outside Jodrell Bank Observatory.

After wander around the quiet old town we want for a drink in an old bar, the Taverna Odas for a beer. Were we had a Mythos, did you know the Mythos is 5.0% here in Greece but 4.7% everywhere else.

Then it was the long walk back to our end of the beach and back up to the apartment to get ready for the night.

The plan for tonight was to go see a band in the Rovers Return Inn but first we needed something to eat and headed to a snack bar near the pub with the band.

That night it started raining when we were in the pub but it only caused problems when you needed to go to the toilets, which were upstairs but the stairs were outside.

As for the band, they were a duo and they were very good, in fact they were fantastic. They played stuff from the seventies and eighties, the more heavy stuff, things we really like. They sang and played for about three hours, it was well into tomorrow when they finished.

We even popped into the Yemas Bar on the walk home and again it was around three when we went to bed.

Friday 14th September

I felt a bit off this morning but we had arranged to go into Sarakinós on the bus, were as soon as we got down to the sea front we went for a drink. I only had a lemonade and a nice sit in the shade.

 

Mick, Bren and Dirk went off for another bus ride up to where they were last year, I didn't fancy moving about too far and Me and Dot just stayed. As did the others, so the rest of us all went for a slow walk along the pier and then the beach.

After a couple of hours we made our way back to the bus stop and back to Stalid, Mick, Bren and Dirk made their own way back.

Tonight we had arranged to go to a Greek night in a restaurant, the Taverna Hellas and we did go although I was still feeling unwell. We ordered our food, had good German wheatbeer with it but I could not eat the food and gave Dot half of my beer. The other were enjoying the night though and drank plenty of ouzo but I was feeling ill. So after the plate smashing and the Greek dancing in the street at about nine, Dot took me back to the hotel and we went to bed.

 

Although I did not sleep, went to bed early but it was about five before I got to sleep and my heart went into AF again, great fun.

Saturday 15th September

It was ferly late before we ventured out, Mick, Bren, Gillin and Phil, had gone to a football match to see OFI Crete, in the Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium, Heraklion. I was going with them but as I was not well, I had to give it a miss.

At about two we set off for a walk, my heart had gone back to normal (if that's what you call it), so I was back to normal. I took a coupla of photos of the apartments before we went, it looks better than it really was.

 

The beach was were we chose to have our walk, we headed towards the the sea and headed towards the Romantic Corner bar end of the resort. We plodged in the warm sea as we walked along and just had a nice quiet time.

 

When we got to the Romantic Corner, Dirk was already there, he was sitting having a quiet read but we soon ruined that. Pretty soon after that Hazel and Glen showed up, so that was all of us together again without any planning. I think it was about then we discovered that the football match was a night kick off, that meant the others would be late getting back.

That night we had a meal at the Katerina Taverna but then went for a drink along the main street, Agiou Loanni and had a few drinks. By the time the others got back we were making for the Yemas were we stayed until bedtime (about three again).

Sunday 16th September

Today Me and Dot, Hazel and Glen were off to visit the ancient Minoan Palace site of Knossos. That meant getting two busses, one into Heraklion then another one to the site. This was fairly easy with the help of the bus conductors. It was about 22 miles and took about an hour to get there. The cost to get in was half price for me but the others had to pay full. Then it was just wandering around looking at everything.

 

There were lots of thing to see but some of it had been rebuilt, it looked ok but I do not know if I like it.

 

It was the same with paintings around the place.

 

But I really did enjoy the whole thing and I would not put anyone off going, the whole place was fantastic.

 

After a couple of hours walking around in the very hot sun, we gave up on our visit and went for a drink. I even got a new beer right outside the site, we only had the one though then got the bus back to Knossos then straight home to Stalid. Although we had to buy the tickets for the bus to Stalid in the office at the bus station before we were allowed on.

That night we went for Sunday Lunch in the restaurant we used last night the Katerina Taverna we were joined by all but Gillin and Phil. Although just as we were getting ready to go Gillin and Phil turned up and Me and Dot just stayed with them while the others wandered off drinking. By the time Gillin and Phil had finished their food the others were just going passed on the way to the Yemas Bar and we all joined them.

 

So it was yet another late night.

Monday 17th September

After breakfast in the Yemas bar, we went for a walk again and we were joined by Hazel and Glen. Before we left though I took some photos of a strange little bug I found on the wall. On our walk Me and Glen went for a plodge, the water was nice and warm.

 

We carried on with the walk along the front, passed the Romantic Corner and along until the path ended. It wasn't far at all but it was a good walk, back at the Romantic Corner, the others were all already in there.

 

So we had to pop in for a drink, of course we had to have more than the one though.

 

From the Romantic Corner we walked back towards home and had a drink along the way, then in the end we stopped for food. Then it was back to the apartment to get changed for another night with the rock band, well duo.

So it was back to Rovers Return Inn, bad name for a pub in Greece but they had wheat beer though and the band were fantastic.

We had a very good night and it wasn't raining this time.

 

Then of course it was back to the Yamas bar for a final night drink of the holiday.

Tuesday 18th September

Well it's the last day, with the flight later on, we finished packing and went to the Yamas bar for breakfast. We said we would be back later to say goodby.

We then had a walk along to the Romantic Corner for a last drink. But it was soon time to go back for our bags and get the bus to the airport. As we went passed the Yamas bar we called in but the owner was out, so we just left.

The Airport was very full, the bars were small, the staff was as ignorant as you could find, good job we were going home. Then our plan was the only one delayed and for about two hours. Eventually we got going and I only had the one drink on the flight home.

Luckily our taxi home was on time waiting for us and he dropped of once we got back. All in all we had a great time.