Greece Day 6

On our last full day in Crete, we decided to head into the city of Heraklion to visit the museum and do other touristy things.  So we headed out early in the morning. This is the day that Gordon really learned to drive Crete-style. We headed in on the national road, but then we got into Heraklion, where we had to negotiate city driving and parking. I was not a good navigator finding it very hard to match up the street signs with the streets on the map!  But eventually we got parked and walked toward the museum, finding it with some help from very friendly local people.

The Heraklion Archaelogical Museum (http://www.heraklion.gr/en/ourplace/archeological-museum/archeological-museum.html) has a fabulous collection of Minoan antiquities, particularly from Knossos and other Minoan palaces on the island. The collection also includes pieces that represent Crete's Greek and even Venetian influence. My favorite, however, are the frescoes from the palace at Knossos including the famous Dolphins.

It is really a spectacular collection. The museum itself is not huge. We spent a couple of hours in there, although I am sure we could have spent more time. It's just a lot to take in all at once!

We headed out of the museum into the walking area in Heraklion, which is full of shopping and restaurants. There are also a couple of examples of the Venetian influence on Crete here. However, the signs of the crisis, graffiti in particular, are all over. Here's a picture of the Venetian Loggia in the center of town.  It is beautiful, but not in great shape and with much graffiti. We walked the town, did some touristy shopping and then also took time to have the fish pedicure. You put your feet in a tank of little fishes that eat the dead skin, leaving behind nice soft skin. Very weird. Very ticklish.  But my feet did feel softer!

We headed back to the Villa and the Gordon and I headed to the beach to swim and snorkel. The water felt great, although it was actually one of the cooler days. Gordon snorkeled, but unfortunately the Mediterranean and Aegean are pretty devoid of marine life, having been pretty much fished out. It is not like being in the Caribbean or even Hawaii. But the water is spectacularly clear and blue.  We finished the day with a meal cooked on the grill, using nice local ingredients picked up at the local market and butcher. Just a great spot here!