Back to Heraklion

Thursday May 15 was a somewhat cloudy day with a high of 22C.  We caught the 11:30 a.m. bus from Chania back to Heraklion.  We had to return for one night as the ferry to the island of Paros only leaves from Heraklion and not Chania.  

Mountains, water and flowers

Miles of these flowers

Our bus from Heraklion to Chania last Saturday only made one stop.  This time, the bus was full and we made a number of very short stops.  We again made a short stop in Rethymno, the third largest city in Crete.

Going into Rethymno

Hilltop Fortezza is a star shaped 16th century fortress 

Another church as we drove to the bus station in town for a quick stop

Lots of beautiful flowers en route to Heraklion

We are spending the one night at Heraklion Old Port Apartments, a budget hotel not far from the part of the Port where we catch the SeaJet catamaran ferry to Paros.  Our ferry departs at 8:00 a.m.

We dropped our luggage off at the apartment and decided to go for a coffee at Tiny Rebels, a coffee shop we had walked by a number of times.

Outside of Tiny Rebels

Inside-- a lovely spot for a coffee

We wandered down to the market street to buy some Cretan Olive Oil and honey.  We had talked to someone at the store last week and later saw their products at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
They have a farm just outside of Heraklion and all their products come from their farm.  

There are more than 30 million olive trees in Crete, many of which are hundreds of years old.  Olive trees have been cultivated since at least 3500 BC during the Minoan period.  There was even a room at the Palace of Knossos with an olive press. Crete produces one-third of Greece's total olive oil.  We have had some spectacular Cretan olive oil which is served with bread at restaurants.

Grelia- where we purchased olive oil and honey

We had an olive oil tasting before we made our choice

Award winning olive oil.   

A bit further down 1866 street was Koudoumas Coffee Roasters, where they sold beans and coffee equipment.  They also serve traditional Greek coffee for two euros a cup.  We chatted with the owner.  It has been a family business since 1958.  There was a picture of the grandfather on the wall.  There was even an old grinder on the premises.  

The grandson of the first owner

Venetian arch in the shop-- very cool old-fashioned store 

We had some time before dinner, so we went and sat in Saint Catherine Square.

St Catherine Church on the left and St. Minas on the right

We went to dinner at Apiri Greek Eatery which serves contemporary Cretan cuisine.  It was highly recommended.

Outside of front of restaurant

We had a nice table on one side of the restaurant. Apiri is located in an ally just off St. Catherine Square.

Delicious bowl of wild greens served with an amazing goat cheese

Grilled octopus with an wonderful sauce- so flavourful 

Grilled chicken with romesco sauce and a salad of charred vegetables

The house dessert was a cream topped Cretan specialty pastry accompanied by a carafe of raki.  
Allan had all the cream as my lactose pills only go so far.

Leaving the restaurant-- very busy by 9:00 p.m.

We headed back to the apartment.  I am posting Friday's blog just before we head off to the ferry terminal. See you in Paros!