Where: Crete, Greece
When: July 26, 2007
With: Rachel, Lucy, and the Contiki crew
Of all the things I've done in the book, I will be the first to admit that Crete is probably one of my weakest efforts. Usually, I am not one for regrets and I am mostly not to blame as the cruise ship only stopped there for a couple of hours; however, I could have made more of my time.
While the island has a lot to offer, its main attraction is the Palace of Knossos. This palace was the epicenter of the great civilization of the Minoans who used to inhabit this part of Greece and it features prominently in Greek mythology. The most famous story is of the half-man/half-bull Minotaur who ran rampant through the labyrinth of the Palace before being slain by the Athenian hero Theseus.
All I heard from others was that the palace is now just a bunch of rubble and stubby columns, and after my hot day in the ruins of Ephesus, I was happy to pass up. But looking back, I do wish I'd bit the bullet, gotten up early and jumped on that bus to explore them.
Anyway, that choice to take it easy made my Crete experience was pretty simple. We basically did like the cruise ship tourists do and shopped for souvenirs in the local port town. It was a relaxing and lazy morning.
And my only true fun fact that I learned on our stop in Crete was about the local dogs. Apparently, when the Olympics came to Greece in 2004, there was a national initiative to do something about the many stray dogs. So they were all rounded up, spayed, neutered, and vaccinated. Then interestingly, they were returned to the streets. So now, there's all these random dogs wandering around the shopping district in Crete, but they're all totally safe (from disease at least). They were even taking a swim in the fountain. So cute!
When: July 26, 2007
With: Rachel, Lucy, and the Contiki crew
Of all the things I've done in the book, I will be the first to admit that Crete is probably one of my weakest efforts. Usually, I am not one for regrets and I am mostly not to blame as the cruise ship only stopped there for a couple of hours; however, I could have made more of my time.
While the island has a lot to offer, its main attraction is the Palace of Knossos. This palace was the epicenter of the great civilization of the Minoans who used to inhabit this part of Greece and it features prominently in Greek mythology. The most famous story is of the half-man/half-bull Minotaur who ran rampant through the labyrinth of the Palace before being slain by the Athenian hero Theseus.
All I heard from others was that the palace is now just a bunch of rubble and stubby columns, and after my hot day in the ruins of Ephesus, I was happy to pass up. But looking back, I do wish I'd bit the bullet, gotten up early and jumped on that bus to explore them.
Anyway, that choice to take it easy made my Crete experience was pretty simple. We basically did like the cruise ship tourists do and shopped for souvenirs in the local port town. It was a relaxing and lazy morning.
And my only true fun fact that I learned on our stop in Crete was about the local dogs. Apparently, when the Olympics came to Greece in 2004, there was a national initiative to do something about the many stray dogs. So they were all rounded up, spayed, neutered, and vaccinated. Then interestingly, they were returned to the streets. So now, there's all these random dogs wandering around the shopping district in Crete, but they're all totally safe (from disease at least). They were even taking a swim in the fountain. So cute!
Anyway, while this was probably one of the least substantive posts I've ever written, I can say I have been to the island of Crete. Maybe one day I'll go back and see all the other things this island has to offer! Now, on to our last stop, Santorini!
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