By day and night Chania is both gorgeous and charming - considered by most the most beautiful city of Crete. Absolutely!
Top: Sunset viewed from a fish taverna favored by locals on the waterfront. Middle: Creative wall in a lunch spot we found within the heart of the old port.
Bottom: A typical villa in the old city, with the ubiquitous motorcycle parked out front.
Great view and wonderful ventilation from this fun circle window in our hotel on the beach. Georgioupolis is a resort town on the north coast of Crete a short drive east of Chania.
A few days without wi-fi and trying to conserve on international data usage and I'm now behind on blogging. Sorry folks. Time away from iPhone hasn't been that bad though either! We are now in Georgioupolis, Crete and enjoying the infinite shades of aqua, teal, and blue of the Mediterranean.
Here's an example of lighting I'm seeing in a number of the hotels we've visited. Combination of low voltage sconces and recessed using fluorescent lamps - shown here around cool wood paneled "alcove" headboard. When turned on the recessed fluorescents display the light source right at ceiling surface, kind of like under cabinet button lights, but they manage to keep room lit in a trendy fashion, while using very little energy.
Dinner at The Red Bicycle Restaurant in Oia was marvelous. By now we are used to and enjoying the late night dining starting sometime around 9pm. Unique menu, risotto with crab and asparagus (that Aidan said rivaled Jeff's seafood risotto), romantic setting and gorgeous view, finished with a decadent custard dessert made with mastic. Mastic is a resin from the lentis shrub found on the island of Chios, the only place the resin solidifies naturally. It is used today for chewing gum and liqueur but was once prized for paints and varnishes as well as cosmetics and medicine. At 11pm we strolled back to villa along the charming cliff walk. No parking, no driving, no cars.
We have arrived!
View of the caldera from our cave villa at Filotera Villas in Oia.
Sun is setting and we are enjoying the local wine of Santorini. The convergence of a felicitous climate and soil to produce an excellent local white wine of which our innkeeper Nikolas has generously provided us a bottle from his own organic vineyard. The vines grow in a low spiral pattern adapting to the winds on the island.
This is the life.
Pictured are bronze Anthemia from the upper ends of tripods. 6th - 1st half of 5th c. BC. These are pieces of votive offerings by the pilgrims found at the Sanctuary of Olympia and now on display in the museum at Ancient Olympia.
Beautiful design created thousands of years ago, remains inspirational today. This scalloped motif is repeated today in terra-cotta on traditional tile rooftops throughout Greece.
2nd photo of same bathroom
Many know that I have a thing about taking pictures of bathrooms all over the world. Why should Greece be any different? Isn't this beautiful?! Love the use of pebbles on the wall instead of floor. Much less work to maintain all that grout. Lovely combination of materials, contrasts and textures.
This is our view - dining by sunset at the Best Western hotel in Ancient Olympia. Yes, I said Best Western. For Americans, forget everything you know about this hotel chain if you plan to visit Ancient Olympia. This is an absolutely wonderful family run place to stay and eat. We had the apartment suite with two rooms.
Great view of valley and pool. Pool was delightful with bar service for refreshing drinks. The restaurant was amazing. Had reserved table for best view and everything we ordered was delicious.
Not to be forgotten and worth noting for other travelers in need of a good meal in Delphi, is the Taverna Iniochos. Highly
recommended by National Geographic
guide book, this is a rare find in a town with not-so-great tourist fare. We were there in the early afternoon and had a quiet table with beautiful view and lovely breezes. The service and food were excellent! Shown are Greek specialties of baked eggplant and shrimp cooked with tomatoes and cheese. Nothing was left over. Heavenly.
