THE LIBYAN SEA

CRETE - SEPTEMBER 2008

This is my post number Two Hundred on this blog, and the last one dedicated to Crete 2007. It is mostly directed to the less known Southern side of the Island. Next time (there will be a next time, hopefully), I'll finally get to the beaches at the extreme West (Gramvousa Islet, Balos Lagoon and Elafonisi) and at the extreme East (Vai Palm and Kato Zakros). Meanwhile enjoy!


"LIBYAN SEA - This blue portion of the Mediterranean Sea, located north of Libya and south of Crete is the Libyan Sea"



"PLAKIAS is a small village spread alongside a single street, which runs by the beach. It is located on a beautiful bay, 40 km south from Rethymnon, with some lovely beaches around and nice restaurants"


"PREVELI MONASTERY - The Holy Stavropegiac and Patriarchal Preveli Monastery of Saint John the Theologian (Evangelist), known as the Monastery of Preveli, is located by the Libyan Sea at the Prefecture of Rethymno. It consists of two main building complexes, the Lower Monastery of Saint John the Baptist and the Rear Monastery of Saint John the Theologian"


"HISTORY - The Monastery has an important history of participation in the centuries long fight of the Cretan people for freedom. In May 1941, after the Battle of Crete, Monks of the Monastery provided shelter for a large number of English, New Zealand and Australian soldiers. One of them was the Australian Geoff Edwards, who was evacuated from Crete in an August night in 1941. In 1978, he started the construction of the St. John the Theologian chapel in Preveli, Western Australia. In 1984, he established a fund to help Cretans in the province of Rethymno. In 1989, Edwards published his book «The Road to Preveli», and in 1991 he gave this fountain to the Monastery"


"THE PAXIMADIA ISLANDS are two small uninhabited islands, south of Rethymno prefecture and visible from the Preveli Monastery"




"PREVELI BEACH - Finikas (Phoenix) as it is officially known - is located some 40km far from Rethymno, and is one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete. There are two ways to get there: the comfortable one (by boat from Plakias) and the hard one (driving from Preveli Monastery to the parking lot and then hiking down the path). Descending isn't that tough, and the views are awesome..."



"THE RIVER KOURTALIOTIS has its mouth on this exotic sandy beach, with a forest of palm trees. The river has water even in summer, and forms a small lagoon just before getting into the sea, which makes possible to bathe both in salted and fresh water! Up the river is fascinating; sometimes it makes you think that you are in an oasis"





"GETTING BACK - The only problem is that if you walked down, then you have to climb up... Better do it late in the afternoon to avoid the heat, but anyhow, it's an experience!"



"SPILI - Situated some 30km south of Rethymno, and approximately in the middle of the island, Spili is a top destination for those looking for natural Crete"


"VENETIAN FOUNTAIN - In the centre of the village there is a fountain with a row of more than twenty stone lions' heads splashing cool water"

DEEP IN CRETE

CRETE - SEPTEMBER 2007



"AGIA TRIADA - The 1632 monastery of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity), located 16 km from Chania, in the Akrotiri peninsula, was built on top of a pre-existing church. With three domes, the main church is dedicated to the Agia Triada and the two side chapels to Agios Ioannis Prodromos and to Zoodocho Pighi (Source of Life). The façade of the church has columns of Ionic style and a bell tower was added to the monastery in 1864"



"ICONOSTASIS AND ALTAR - The interior of the church is stunning. The Beautiful Gate (or Holy Door) occupies the centre of the «templon»"



"GOUVERNETOU MONASTERY, dating back to around 1537, looks like a fortress. During the Greek Revolution of 1821 the Turkish troops sacked the monastery, and during World War II the German forces established a guardhouse there. The main church is dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin"



"STAVROS BEACH - For those that were around already in 1964, Stavros beach was made famous by the movie «Zorba, the Greek», based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis and with the title character played by Anthony Quinn. There was a dance theme, «Sirtaki» that became popular as a song and as a dance. The famous scene, in which Quinn dances the Sirtaki, was shot on the beach at Stavros"


"IMBROS GORGE - Starting at an altitude of 1250m and getting down to the shores of the Libyan sea, Samaria Gorge is the most famous gorge in Crete. However, if you want to avoid the crowds, it would be better to try the smaller, easier, but also beautiful, Imbros Gorge"



"CHORA SFAKION - Located at the Libyan sea, in the southwest part of Crete, it has the fantastic «White Mountains», dominated by mount Pachnes (2453 metres high), in the background. With about 300 inhabitants, Chora Sfakion, where locals outnumber tourists, is named the place «where the mountains meet the sea»!"


"LIBYAN SEA - This designation was used by ancient geographers to name the portion of the Mediterranean Sea situated southerly of Crete and north of Libya"


"FRANGOKASTELLO BEACH - The road out of Chora Sfakion leading east along the coast gets through several typical villages (Comitades, Vouvas, Agios Nektarious, etc.). 12km far from Sfakion, turning to the right after Agios Nektarios, you get to Frangokastello. Located on a flat, windy plain that was not inhabited until very recently, it has nice beaches"



"FRANGOKASTELLO is famous for its castle, built by the Venetians in 1371-74 as a garrison to impose order on the rebellious Sfakia region, to deter pirates, and to protect Venetian nobles and their properties. The lion of St. Mark can still be seen above the portals"


"HEROES - In 1770, the Cretan rebel Ioannis Daskalogiannis was captured at Frangokastello by Turkish forces. He was later executed at Heraklion. On May 17th, 1828, a battle between Cretan soldiers and Turkish forces ended in the deaths of lots of locals. On each anniversary, it is said that ghostly apparitions of the dead men — nicknamed «Drosoulites», or dew shadows - take place. They have been explained as a meteorological phenomenon..."

CHANIA AGAIN

CRETE - SEPTEMBER 2007

Of the four main cities in Crete - Heraklion, Chania, Rethymno and Agios Nicolaus, Chania is probably the most interesting. No wonder that after the 2006 visit, we got back there in 2007. And actually, only a technicality made it difficult to return in 2008...


"PEDESTRIAN - The small streets near the port, mostly pedestrian only, are pretty charming"


"PENSION ROOM - In case you're interested, some pensions even display a standard room right at the street level for you to choose..."


"TERESA'S BALCONY"


"MOSQUE OF THE JANISSARIES - The Turkish mosque (Hassan Pasha) was built in 1645. It houses now an art gallery. Posted to be compared with this one"


"CALECHE - The poor horse seems in difficulty to stand the hot sun..."


"CHANIA'S PORT"


"THE VENETIAN FOUNTAIN - Version two to be compared with version one..."


"MONASTIRI - A nice place for a snack break"


"PLAKA"


"THOLOS"


"PANAGIA TRIMARTIRIS - The Orthodox Cathedral of Chania was built around the 13th century. During the Turkish era, it is said that the church was converted into a soap factory but was still regarded as a sacred place... Another one to be compared with the 2006 version... You'll probably notice the effects of ShiftN!"


"NOSTOS HOTEL - It has a nice view towards the port!"


"TAVERNA SULTANA - Prepared for the night clients; dinner table booked for 11:00 p.m. is not surprising..."



"CHANIA MUSEUM - An addition to the 2006 visit..."


"CASA DELFINO - Another view of the elegant 17th Century Venetian mansion that is the only luxury hotel near the Old Venetian Harbour"