Week 13 , Aghios Nikolaos, Crete

Dear Ethel, Family and Friends,

We are still here in Crete, in Aghios Nikolaos at the eastern end, although we thought we would be in Rhodes by now. On left Hania on Monday, it was a nice place but a bit too busy, tourist wise. It was a big day in the Buses, taking two busses to get here. One to Iraklio the main town on the Island and change buses and a second far more crowded bus to Aghios Nikolaos. Unfortunately the Bus station in Agh Nik is nowhere near town and with no taxi’s and no one seeming the slightest bit helpful we had to leg it to search for a taxi. Luckily we eventually found one and the driver took us to a reasonable hotel. We thought we would stay a few nights and move on to Sitia the next town along to catch the ferry.

However we found out that the ferry only leaves once a week on Tuesdays, so we decided to take some down time and stay here a week. It’s been a relaxing week with a few beach days and a tourist day visiting Spinalonga a former Venetian Fortress Island and Leper colony. I will have a video of it soon. Also it’s been Navy week here in Greece all week so there has been nautical stuff happening like ship abandonment demonstrations, jet ski and wind surfer displays. They also had an Armed forces Laser sailing Regatta, so I went down to the marina and volunteered to help out. They were happy to meet fellow race officers from Australia and I went out on the committee boat to help with flag duty. Louise was invited also but thought her back would not be up to it. There were 20 full rig laser battling 20 knot winds although not much of a chop on the water. They were covering the 4 NM course in 30 minutes.

As it turned out on the Friday, the same day as the Regatta a couple from Germany who are staying at the hotel were getting married. Everybody from the hotel was invited, so Louise went along as their photographer. We were invited to their wedding celebrations that evening to a local restaurant overlooking the bay and were treated to everything on the menu, literally, all Cretan specialities. My favourite was lamb baked in cheese and covered in vine leaf. Despite there being 6 or so languages and everybody being total strangers a good time was had by all until the early hours.

On the Saturday, the pride of the Greek Navy turned up to moor in town, a spectacular sight. Once they were fully moored and the official arrival with dignitaries and so forth, they opened the ship for inspection to the public, so we went along as well. We expect tonight is the end of Navy week and there will be marching bands and fire works to finish it off.

So all in all it’s been another fun filled week. We will be catching the Ferry to Karpathos on Tuesday which is on the way to Rhodes...unless something else happens.

All the best for now,

Ric & Louise