Rethymno - rain for Simon's memorial

 

The day that Simon's memorial was being held, at Lighthouse Theatre in Port Dover, started with a rainbow.

It came and went for most of the morning as the showers moved through. Sometimes it was a double. Most of the time it looked like the "pot of gold" was down at the swimming beach.

Finally it moved out to sea and disappeared.

I was planning on staying home all day and just feeling sad but

Rick suggested we pop out for lunch during a break in the weather. This is him eating a reasonable lunch of a sandwich and me participating in some "emotional eating" with a huge cinnamon roll.

This truck was delivering our newest indulgence ... chocolate croissant (that we buy at the butchers just down our street, yes the butchers)

The old town area was quiet, just a few people huddled under umbrellas

or moving from awning to awning.

Over a dance school entrance.

I have been doing most of the cooking, Rick is on dishes and cleanup, but he had seen a recipe for Cabbage Pizza he wanted to try. Prepped it first

Then needed a break.

This is how he made it

Half a head of cabbage - Sliced thinly then chopped

Mix in 2 eggs and a tbsp of flour. Oil a frying pan and pour the mixture in. Cook until brown on the bottom (just a few minutes) then flip it over.

Cover the top with pizza sauce, cheese and any other pizza toppings you want (Rick used fried mushrooms, tomatoes and green pepper). Put a lid on and cook until the bottom is brown. (again just a few minutes)

We actually couldn't finish it and the leftovers were still good the next day.

While at my place for the memorial, the girls (Elis, Heather and Fiona) got a tattoo commemorating their trip together to visit me in Mallorca (photo on the right, 2018). An orange, designed by Elis. I gather Christine lead them to believe that I would also get one.

The Cousins. Chris, Mike, Kevin, Elis, Fiona and Heather. At the memorial, they have seen more of each other this year as it is the third family memorial. Just missing Carla who is in Kelowna.

Rethymno - market and a swim

Saturday is market day and Rick had managed to hit it once just as they were packing up.

We made a point of getting over there at a decent time. It's between the bus station and the soccer field in a large parking area. First there's a clothes section

and then you are into the produce.

My Greek has improved enough to recognize that the top item is Graviara cheese, so that was our first purchase.

There were a couple of cheese stalls. We should have cruised the market first because the other one had it for a Euro cheaper.

All we were really looking for was cabbage

but everything looked so good

that we did get lured into some other things. These pears were so sweet and juicy that we ate them on the spot.

This stall sold Narcissus, herbs and teas.

A quick sketch that I added paint to later.

Lugged our purchases back home then

after lunch, we drove down to the beach in front of our place. This might be a Sandpiper, photo by Rick.

Rick had paddled in the Sea the day before but became the official photographer of this event. Yes, it was very cold getting in!!

But I acclimatized quite fast

and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

While Rick preferred "vicarious swimming".

Warmed up in the sun before heading back home to shower off the salt.

Crete - Mili Gorge

 As we were leaving the military museum the curator asked if we were going to the Mili Gorge next. We had noticed the sign for it but hadn't planned to go there.

We took some pictures around the museum,

closer to the mountains here,

and so peaceful.

The gorge was just a few minutes drive and while we sat there and ate our picnic, 2 of these birds called and hunted the gorge.

Google search indicated that they were most likely Bonelli's Eagles.

From the road, where we had parked the car, it was immediately down some steps. Luckily I have been keeping my hiking poles in the trunk of the car.

A small church at the bottom

and then the path followed the bottom of the gorge, sometimes a bit muddy.

I have no idea what this is but wonder if it is some kind of fungi. Turns out it is a weed called a "horse tail", thanks Steve.

We didn't get far before we were seeing ruined buildings

rapidly being reclaimed by the foliage.

Occasionally there was one that looked occupied, or perhaps used in the summer, to escape the heat.

A little further along

there was a man, with a very friendly, young, boxer, re-pointing a wall.

We just walked a little further to find the series of waterfalls

and then turned back.

We had been hearing goat bells ever since we entered the gorge and finally spotted a mixed flock (goats and sheep)

up, high above us.