Rethymnon, Sunday

Rethymnon is amazing! The beach seems to run for miles, and is dotted with blue and green umbrellas. The room is the most modern we’ve seen yet, but there is only one outlet in the room for charging devices. The view from our boxed balcony is tremendous though... although several of the girls have much larger balconies. Such a treat after the dreadful ferry ride.

Traveling from Mykonos on the rough sea took a lot out of everyone, including those who didn’t spend a great deal of the voyage in a little baggie. The stressful voyage left everyone fairly shredded the following day. I suppose my sea legs were better than I expected, but I cannot say it was an easy voyage for anyone.

Saturday, we were left alone with plans to meet in the afternoon to depart for our feast, but it was a low activity day due to sea voyage recovery. Belynda wants to go parasailing and has approached me about joining her. It is something I’ve never considered doing, but I think it sounds fun. Emily and Betsy are interested in going as well. We’ve been running a pretty tight schedule, so we’ll have to ask to miss an activity to do it. As much as I am enjoying the sites, I wish we had more free time to experience Greece as it is today. I, for one, would be interested in seeing how Greece of the past has influenced modern day Greece. Of course, there is the double-edged sword called tourism, which gives Greece its much needed revenue to do what they are doing, but at the same time all of the people and shops and street vendors and wandering gypsies really pollute how tranquil it must have been.

Tourism aside, I’d like to go into the everyday stores where the Greeks shop, and maybe visit with a contractor or home builder (perhaps their version of Home Depot?). Since we landed, I’ve been fascinated by all of the marble used in their construction, their interior designs, their fashions (it is good to be a guy here... the women all look amazing, and I’m sure their sexy little dresses aren’t cheap!), and the nightlife. Naturally, I could live in a club.

The Saturday night feast was an interesting time. Lampros was our host, and showed us all around the area. We toured some old churches and his family met us at one of them with fresh fruit (the cherries were yummy!) and some Rakhi (sp?), which I can only describe as tasting like jet fuel. Sure, I had a couple of shots and ended up finishing Betsy’s. Later, Lampros led us down to the pens to milk the goats, and Shanna was lucky enough to play the role of milk maiden carrying the pails back. One of our Germans, Peter, experienced the joy of herding goats... at least insuring that the older goats eat feed and the youngers stay away.

I’m afraid I’m a terribly spoiled American. There are some elements of a simple life I would enjoy, but I’m not sure farming is one of them. Of course, I have no way of knowing unless I try, right? I must admit I feel an extreme admiration for Lampros and his family for their zest for life... it is enviable, I must rediscover my zest for life when I return home. Hmmm, I wonder what that will entail.

The feast consisted of several courses: Greek salad, some wonderful bread, goat meat, potatoes with an amazing herb seasoning (which I am told can only be found on this island), lamb meat, fresh fruit for dessert, and finally wine, pressed from his own grapes. We did not get to participate in any grape pressing, so no “I Love Lucy” anecdotes..

Personally, I did not care for the wine, although I was amused as Betsy was trying to convince me it got better, followed by a face that betrayed her words. I did, however, appreciate the meal and the experience. After the meal was the Greek dancing. I had so much fun photographing it I did not participate... a mistake? Perhaps, but regardless a fun time was had by all.

Today, we toured the Venetian fort at Heraklion, which was amazing. These Venetian forts never cease to amaze me: the amount of stone that had to be harvested, carried and stacked to create these massive structures which still stand hundreds of years later. Quite simply amazing!

Tonight, we finally enjoyed food at a wonderful Cantonese restaurant next to the hotel. Odd I would come to Greece and consume some of the finest Oriental food I’ve ever had. Now that I’ve had that fix, I’m beginning to crave Fig Newtons. So far, I haven’t found any at the stores here.

Tomorrow, we are going to opt out of the group activities in Phaestos, for it is our last chance to parasail on this trip. I am deeply conflicted about this decision, yet I believe that the experience of doing something I would never have done before is equally as valuable, perhaps even more.

Flickr: Crete | Greece