Crete Day Seven – History and Sightseeing

History and Sightseeing

We decided to do a little bit of the tourist route today and took ourselves off the beach and into the old town of Rethymno. However, we had to get breakfast out of the way first. I did catch-up with the news that Thomas Cook had gone into voluntary liquidation in the early hours, which is so sad. Our thoughts are with all the employees and their families who depend upon the wages they earn working in the travel industry. Incredibly sad indeed.

Off we trotted to Rethmno. We evaluated making the tourist bus that runs along the front but would have been out of time to buy the tickets and run for the bus, so we ordered a taxi from reception. 15 minutes and twelve euro later we were dropped off by the old port. The main strip in Rethymno is a couple of miles long and full of restaurants facing the Aegean Sea.

We skirted the port and decided to walk the base of the fortress and enter town from the back of the Venetian fortress. We zigzagged up and down the small tiny streets and wandered about without a care in the world. We stopped for a drink stop close to Rimonde Fountain and as this was a tourist square it was reflected in the cost! Off we went again through the narrow streets in and out of the shops. Only thing Michele bought was 2 fridge magnets.

Now off up into the Venetian castle called The Fortezza Fortress which was built in 16th century. 4-euro entrance fee each and we wandered through the ruins for over an hour, the best bit for me was the Sultan Ibrahim Khan Mosque with its ornate domed roof. I think the best bit for Michele was the exit! Just before we exited there was a near miss international incident when Michele stopped at the cafe in the fortress for some water and I think a very awkward and terse German lady thought Michele had jumped the queue. Really the English jumping queues over the Germans! All I heard was Hallo and saw a shaking of the head as Michele came away with two bottles of water. Michele grumbled back about not shaking her head at her and join the queue which the German lady hadn’t, and it was over as quickly as it started.

We sauntered over to the harbour and decided we’d have a pizza between us as we’d missed lunch in the hotel. But while the restaurant staff got their act in order Michele had remembered a recommendation from an ex-colleague about a family run pizzeria called La Piazza so off we trotted followed by the restaurant staff who wanted our custom, too late you missed out! We found the pizzeria not too far from where we had a drink break near the Rimonde Fountain. Wow great pizza a friendly staff, Michele advised the owner we knew their friends and had been recommended the visit. I broke my Mythos virginity here which is a local draft beer.

Now back to the hotel in a taxi and sat in the sun for the last 90 mins of the day.

Talking to our Polish friend who lives in Berlin he advised they had come with Thomas Cook and the hotel are making them pay again for their accommodation as clearly not paid in full by Thomas Cook. Incredibly sad for all affected.