Cretanvista Site News & Reviews - March 2009 Issue 73 | |||||
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MARCH
WEATHER
..... Still
cold, wet and windy! It should be better than this by now! We are
all longing for the sunshine and hoping so much rain means there will be
no water shortage this summer.
With Wilf and his lady wife meeting friends and doing a spot of window-shopping in Venice this month, Ann and Richard have been seconded into the driving seat.
'Driving seat' it really was for Richard, who was at the wheel for a tour of the island we did for our own visitors this month. Despite the weather, and the fact that accommodation is nearly impossible to find at this time of year, we set off for the other end of the island.
My usually reliable map-reading let us down badly on the way, as we failed to spot the turn-off to Arkadi Monastery. Nothing daunted, we resolved to visit on our return journey.
We got to Aghios Nikolaos and had lunch, then set off to see the wonderful frescoes in the church of Panagia Kera at nearby Kritsa. We arrived at 3 pm, only to find it closed at 3.
Not a good start to our tour! However, the next day was better - we went to Plaka to get a boat across to Spinalonga, and found we had timed things slightly better - it was the first day it was open this season! The sea was flat calm, and as always, the island was very atmospheric. We were thrilled to see the wonderful wild flowers everywhere, which make a lovely monument for all the un-named people who went there to die of their leprosy. We had the place to ourselves for an hour before the first disco-boat arrived from Aghios Nikolaos.
The Panagia Kera church was open on our second visit, and we spent ages poring over the Byzantine frescoes and identifying the different saints and painting styles in the three aisles of the church.
On then to the Lassithi plateau and the Dikti Cave - which also closed at 3pm! Fortunately we were there at 2.30, so after puffing our way up the hill - ignoring the offer of a donkey ride (for 20 euros!!!) - we still had half an hour to explore the cave.
It really is a wonderful place - the stalactites are amazing, and the steps wind down into Stygian gloom with the drip of water in your ears (and down your neck). It really is the stuff of legend, and it is obvious why it is reputed to be the birthplace of Zeus! The walk up would be arduous on a hot day, but the chill of the cave would be most welcome. The stalactites/mites are pleated and folded in places just like fabric, and it looks more like a set for Lord of the Rings than anything I have ever seen. I can really recommend a visit - especially if you have someone else to do the drive up to the plateau so you can enjoy the view. (Poor Richard!)
On the next day we visited Knossos, which I have always found to be a place that jars on my every nerve. I feel that Arthur Evans, who excavated and 'reconstructed' part of it, did more harm than good and was gratified to read the new signs at the excavations, which now seem to lean away from some of Evans's less believable ideas for the site. It is now thought to have been less of a palace and more of a temple. Makes sense to me! It is certainly a huge excavation and must have been very important in its period, but we may never know the true story because of the later 'reconstructions'.
Another stop, this time at the post-Minoan tombs on the road across the island behind Rethymnon. There is no charge for entrance at this site, and there are about 200 rock-cut tombs, very reminiscent of some of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. Could there have been a link between the civilisations?
And
Arkadi Monastery? No, we didn't get to see it on the return journey either
as it was raining cats and dogs and the journey up into the hills was a
little daunting. We took pity on our driver and headed back home for a hot
bath. |
In the News
Reviews... Family feud causes another death... Bank torched in Chania... Two held on child porn charge.. _________________
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Earthquake activity in March: Earthquakes are a common feature of life in
Greece and it is unusual for deaths, injuries and or damage to buildings
to occur. Apparently a local environmental group had taken Cosmote, Vodafone and Wind to court on the grounds that mobile phone aerials are supposed to be 300m or more from schools. All the telephone companies had aerials in town, all within 300m of two schools. The court hearing was last October, and the decision went against the phone companies, but for some reason they had not taken any action. Suddenly, at the end of March, the aerials ceased to work and all service stopped. General confusion ensued, as many small businessmen rely totally on their mobiles for business and many homes do not have landline phones. The latest information is that the mobile phone companies have said that the aerials in town are only repeater aerials and not the dangerous kind, which have to be located on remote hilltops. And the environmental group have had their ears bent/been seriously leaned on and have gone back to court to say they withdraw the complaint. However, the court says it is too late and the process would have to start again from the beginning, which would take some considerable time. If new aerials are required, the negotiations for and purchase of land for them and the other infrastructure required could take many months. Anyone know the Greek for "a standoff"? Watch this space - but don't phone home. ________________________________ E-Mail
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Best Books.. No
Change this month..
More reviews are in preparation, but perhaps
re-visiting another established favourite is in order..
The 'Bookshelf' links (yellow) above contain
all books. |