Home Among the Cretans!

Dear friends and family,

The shortest distance betweeb two points is a straight line. If it hadn't been for dear Mrs. Fellows in geometry, I wouldn't know that and surely our journey from Puy L'Eveque would not have confirmed that rule. We instead were reminded of three sides of a triangle.

About 11:30 am last Friday, we left Ann's and headed for Toulouse, about 2 hours south. We turned in our Twingo, caught a cab for our hotel. The Hotel du Taur is a very basic accommodation but in a great location. Immediately after getting our bags (and Polley) up the 25 winding, twisting stairs (basic = no lift) and into our cheap suit (one sides fits no one) of a room, we head for our traditional 1/2 litre of wine on the Place Capitol.

For those of you who have followed these ramblings of our ramblings, you may remember that we lived in Toulouse early in our Phased Retirement. Because of Polley's limitations, we did not stray very far, but after a brief siesta, we did get up rue du Taur for a couple of delicious crepes and a drop more wine.

After the long day, we dragged ouselves back up the stairs and into bed as we had an early trip and a very long day on Saturday. Another good cab ride (we have always had great cab rides with interesting drivers when in Toulouse), and we were back at the airport for the first leg of the day-long sojourn. We, first, took a 2 hour flight north, back to beloved Frankfurt (you must learn to love it as it seems that you continually pass through this major European hub) for our 6 hour (!) layover. We read, drank, read, ate, drank until our 6 pm flight, this time to Athens. We arrived at 10 pm, having started our first flight at nearly 10 am. We had arranged for a driver to take us to yet another hotel (we arrived, of course, after the last flight to Crete). Our driver, Ilias, was great, but we did discover that the hotel was nearly 30 minutes (the Booking.com ad said, "Just minutes from the airport" - True!) away, but Ilias entertained us with tips on adding soda water to retsina and keeping a continual glacier of ice in your ouzo to prevent hangovers. Needless to say, the 30 minutes flew by.

We arrived at the Hotel Myrto

It was an undistinguished '70s design, but the people were wonderful. It was nearly 11 at night, but they immediately saw that we had some wine, peanuts and chips and we luxuriated in the balmy warm air - Toto, we are not in France - and sat opposite the family/staff at this family-run establishment. It was the perfect ending to a very strenuous day.

Sunday, we were up early. It was warm and clear and we had some coffee on the patio near the pool

It was very nice and we made a note to return to this hotel in the future. Ilias was there at 8 and by 10 were enjoying the 30 minute flight to Crete. In the brief flight the attendants do give you a quick cup of coffee and, literally throw a croissant your way before touching down in Heraklion.

We hussled a wheelchair for Polley and arranged for the rental car and by noon were on the National Highway (called that because it is the only 4 lane road [in most places] on the island. 30 minutes later we were at the home/2 apartments of Angela and Stuart Sturgis. This is our 3rd stay with them and like Ann in France, they are delightful. We quickly settled in, had a bit ot lunch (angela lovingly stocks the fridge for your arrival), a nap and still manged to just catch the sunset down in the village of Sisi

This was taken from the Cafe Ormos, looking out at the silhouettes of those on the sea wall. Following a stop there, we went on to one of our two favorite restaurants (we most likely will alternate nights) in Sisi. Sunday evening it was Liofitio's. It is a romantic garden setting

Polley manged to attract a cat to her lap (Surprise!)

And we had a wonderful meal of Tzatziki, a huge Greek salad, and some sautéed mushrooms.

Nothing like the Mediterranean diet! Of course there was ouzo and wine and after that we passed on the free offering of Greek "white lightening." It had been too much of a good thing. The bed was calling. It had been a pretty intense weekend - 3 flights, 2 hotels and 2 rentals cars - but we are safe and settling in. However, it was definitely time to crash. More to come from Sisi soon.

 

 

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