Wandering in Heraklion

 Wednesday May 7 was a warm day with a high of 30C.  We slept in and then had breakfast on the deck.

Breakfast on the deck- fresh strawberries with our oatmeal

Courtyard below

We decided to head to the Central Market area, which, unfortunately, has a lot of tourist shops.   However, one alley has a fresh fish store and a few vegetable stores.  We definitely want to cook a few meals at the apartment.

We walked by the landmark Morosini Fountain.  It is ringed by four water-spouting lions.  It was built in 1628 to dispense fresh water brought in by an aqueduct from the nearby mountains.  We would return to this square after we did our food shopping.

Morosini Fountain at the Plateia Venizelou

Carefully filleting our dorade--- he used a giant tweezer to remove some bones

Very nice beans, lettuce and other vegetables- very reasonable prices

One of the workers at the fish store told us where there were two nearby bakeries.  We got some bread and treats at both bakeries.

Yum-bakery #1

The second bakery had many different types of bread sticks (left cabinet).  
We got some of the sesame sticks.

We headed to Phyllosophies (reference to Phyllo - the Greek dough: lit. Dough-Wisdoms).  The cafe has been around since 1922.  It uses fresh ingredients from selected small Cretan producers.  The specialties are many different kinds of bougastas (phyllo with many different types of fillings- semolina custard filling is the most popular).   They date back to the Byzantine Empire and more specifically Constantinople before it was conquered by the Turks.  The dough is very fluffy and crispy made by hand every day.  Four generations of Apostolos Salkitzis' family have made bougastas at Phyllosophies.

Phyllosphies: A century old in 2022

The cafe is located on Lion's Square

We had coffees and shared a spinach pie-- delicious

Inside- photos, souvenirs and pastries

Upstairs- very comfortable with another outdoor section

Outside looking back at Phyllosophies

We were going to visit the Historical Museum of Crete, but it was closing at 5:00 p.m. and it was already 4:15 p.m.  The ticket taker suggested we come back on Thursday as the museum opens at 9:00 a.m.   We will definitely come back for a visit.

Historical Museum of Crete-- just a five minute walk from our apartment

We sat on some benches across from the Museum overlooking the sea.  Very peaceful.

Peaceful view

We went to the apartment for a rest.  We headed out at around 7:00 p.m. to have a drink before dinner.  This time we went to Hacienda which was in Saint Minas Square across from the Saint Minas Cathedral.

I had a Garden Spritz and Allan had a flavoured ice tea.

View of the back of St Minas Cathedral from our table

Leaving Hacienda at sunset

We headed back to the apartment.  Allan made a wonderful fish dinner, with zucchini, potatoes and a salad.  We had a few loukoumades (small donuts) for dessert.