Hi all,
CJ here. (Kathy's off shopping:-) It's a beautiful day and we're in a beautiful place... let me tell you how we got here. On Saturday morning (early) we flew from Istanbul to Athens...and then to Chania on Crete. Helen (wife of Kirk : friends of Laurie and Lionel) met us at the airport. She was just great...showed us about Chania and gave us lots of information and tips about traveling in Crete. Chania has a really pretty little port/harbour. K
irk was away sailing/racing for the weekend but returned home Sunday afternoon.
CJ here. (Kathy's off shopping:-) It's a beautiful day and we're in a beautiful place... let me tell you how we got here. On Saturday morning (early) we flew from Istanbul to Athens...and then to Chania on Crete. Helen (wife of Kirk : friends of Laurie and Lionel) met us at the airport. She was just great...showed us about Chania and gave us lots of information and tips about traveling in Crete. Chania has a really pretty little port/harbour. K
irk was away sailing/racing for the weekend but returned home Sunday afternoon. Here's the amazing view from Helen and Kirk's rooftop... CJ and Helen were watching Kirk come around an island off Chania in the sailing race.
We joined the sailing group for a marvelous lunch at a local taverna....
it was great fun and good food. Helen and Kirk were wonderful .. shared their home with us and drove us all over as we sorted out a car rental and other domestic things. We decided to hire a car and take off on Monday morning (which we did) in order to do what we do best - explore by following our nose. We set off Monday morning - brilliant blue sky and sunshine...and drove south from Chania through some beautiful interior territory (olive groves, sheep, goats(shepherds 'n all), mountains, valleys, narrow winding roads) to the south coast... guided (as usual) by our gastronomic needs... we had a super lunch in a beautiful little village called Sfakion (something like that)... the water colours are amazing and, being just before the main season, we had great service and a choice of tables... We then carried on along the coastal road (still narrow, still winding, but oh so beautiful)...and drove ourselves to Plakias... another town (somewhat larger but a lot like a cross between White Rock and Birch Bay) which had been out destination. We'd heard of a place called Anna's Apartments (look it up on the 'net).. located in a village (Mirthios) up the mountain and overlooking Plakias. We found them. Anna's was a good as their web-site photos...but they were fully booked...except (our luck holds) for one apt. available for only 2 nightes...just exactly what we needed... You can picture this: There we were at 1630 yesterday, sitting on our little stone patio with a cold beer in hand...gazing out over the most magnificant vista of blue, blue water...wind-whipped in some places but as aqua-marine as you can imagine.... lazing in the sun.... 
and then, when we were good and ready... it was shower time...and then, when the mood took us we were off to the local Taverna - right across the road - rumoured to have great food.... And we did... and it did. It's kind of neat here... when the waiter comes to welcome you.. he also invites you into the kitchen to view the daily specials.. it's a great way to help decide what to order.. no surprises... Oh yes.. one more thing before signing off... Kath and I are conducting our own personal survey of Raki vs. Ouzo vs. Grappa.... we've learned that Ouzo is best served throughout the meal...having diluted it with some water and using it to cleanse your palat between tapas...whereas Raki is ingested after the meal.... just to make sure it stays down I guess... anyway, grappa awaits our attendion in Italy.... Oh and one more thing..we've changed our plans a bit.. decided we've had enough museums and ancient sites for a little while and have decided to go from here to Santorini (by fast cat) for a few days (and to shorten our visit to Athens)... so, if you're looking for us we'll be at the Blue Dolphin Apts. (we'll let you know how the cruise ship recovery operation is going). On Santorini.... from Thursday to Sunday... and then we head to Athens to connect with our flight for Rome.... Guess that's it for now...ttfn..xoxo CJ and Kathy
it was great fun and good food. Helen and Kirk were wonderful .. shared their home with us and drove us all over as we sorted out a car rental and other domestic things. We decided to hire a car and take off on Monday morning (which we did) in order to do what we do best - explore by following our nose. We set off Monday morning - brilliant blue sky and sunshine...and drove south from Chania through some beautiful interior territory (olive groves, sheep, goats(shepherds 'n all), mountains, valleys, narrow winding roads) to the south coast... guided (as usual) by our gastronomic needs... we had a super lunch in a beautiful little village called Sfakion (something like that)... the water colours are amazing and, being just before the main season, we had great service and a choice of tables... We then carried on along the coastal road (still narrow, still winding, but oh so beautiful)...and drove ourselves to Plakias... another town (somewhat larger but a lot like a cross between White Rock and Birch Bay) which had been out destination. We'd heard of a place called Anna's Apartments (look it up on the 'net).. located in a village (Mirthios) up the mountain and overlooking Plakias. We found them. Anna's was a good as their web-site photos...but they were fully booked...except (our luck holds) for one apt. available for only 2 nightes...just exactly what we needed... You can picture this: There we were at 1630 yesterday, sitting on our little stone patio with a cold beer in hand...gazing out over the most magnificant vista of blue, blue water...wind-whipped in some places but as aqua-marine as you can imagine.... lazing in the sun.... 
and then, when we were good and ready... it was shower time...and then, when the mood took us we were off to the local Taverna - right across the road - rumoured to have great food.... And we did... and it did. It's kind of neat here... when the waiter comes to welcome you.. he also invites you into the kitchen to view the daily specials.. it's a great way to help decide what to order.. no surprises... Oh yes.. one more thing before signing off... Kath and I are conducting our own personal survey of Raki vs. Ouzo vs. Grappa.... we've learned that Ouzo is best served throughout the meal...having diluted it with some water and using it to cleanse your palat between tapas...whereas Raki is ingested after the meal.... just to make sure it stays down I guess... anyway, grappa awaits our attendion in Italy.... Oh and one more thing..we've changed our plans a bit.. decided we've had enough museums and ancient sites for a little while and have decided to go from here to Santorini (by fast cat) for a few days (and to shorten our visit to Athens)... so, if you're looking for us we'll be at the Blue Dolphin Apts. (we'll let you know how the cruise ship recovery operation is going). On Santorini.... from Thursday to Sunday... and then we head to Athens to connect with our flight for Rome.... Guess that's it for now...ttfn..xoxo CJ and Kathy Here's a picture of some of the beautiful flowers in bloom in Plakias.... so THAT's how geraniums are supposed to grow!
And here's a picture of CJ in the (required) skirt at our visit to the Moni Prevelli monostery. near Plakias. The monks in this monostery (at great risk to themselves) helped the allied forces evacuate from Crete after the German's invaded during the battle of Crete in WWII.
