Oosterdam European Adventure, Souda, Crete, Greece...

I was out early this morning for a lovely view as we sailed in Souda Bay on our way to our dock in Souda...  Just beautiful!!!  Our guide Vangelis met us at the ship in Souda and we drove to Chania. Chania went through three major periods of rule, namely the Byzantine (Christians) and Arab Era, Venetia Era (Italians), and Ottoman Era (Turkish Muslims). Crete itself did not become part of Greece until 1913. There are parts of Old Town that, through excavations, revealed inhabitants as far back as the Neolithic era, which is approximately 10,000–4,500 BC. So, when they say “Old Town,” they mean really OLD Town. We parked the car and started our walking tour first visiting the Metropolitan Church of the Entry of the Virgin Mary. We then continue to the area of Splantzia, visiting the church of Saint Nikolaos and the historical square. This church was built in 1320 as part of the Dominican monastery. In 1645 the minaret was added as it was converted to a mosque when the Turks invaded the city. In 1918 it was converted back to an Orthodox Church and the bell tower was added…the interior of the church is stunning. Along the way, we passed the Turkish minaret, the houses of the Arab and Venetian quarters and the walls of the old city. Next, we arrived at Chania’s Saturday outdoor market…the market runs for blocks and the vendors sell all kinds of items from Crete. There is fresh fish, herbs, spices, cheese, fresh fruit, vegetables and much more. Stopping at the Mocenigo Bastion we then headed to the Venetian Arsenals, the former shipyard. The Arsenal Buildings were built between 1467 and 1599. At one point in time there were a total of 11 of these buildings once used for ship building and repair. You cannot miss the iconic Venetian Lighthouse at the end of the seawall. The story of the lighthouse started many years ago, although its present form dates back to the early 19th century Egyptian Occupation of Crete. The Venetians, under the threat of the Turks, in the late 16th century, started fortifying all towns throughout Crete. We walked the entire stretch of the Old Venetian Harbor, passing the Ottoman Mosque where lively tavernas, cafes and shops line the waterfront. Cutting up a narrow alleyway, we passed the fortress and climbed up to the Castle, stopping at the archaeological excavation of the Minoan city dating back to 3000 BC. From the castle we had an excellent view of the Old Port, lighthouse and fortress. We walked along the top of the old city wall and made our way to the Jewish Quarter, passing the Etz Hayyim Synagogue. Wandering along the narrow streets of Chania, we found the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary one of the main churches in Chania located on the main square on Chalidon Street, the main shopping street…No photos were allowed so we did not enter the church. Making our way back to where we started our tour, we stopped and had a Greek lunch…Gyros, Tzatziki, Pitas and salad…absolutely delicious! I developed a love of Greek food when I was stationed in Greece in the 1970’s. Vangelis drove us back to the ship a different route taking us to a view point overlooking the Chania Harbor. On our descent, we drove us along the Souda Bay with some great views of the ship. A walk through the streets of Old Town Chania is an adventure on its own and quite a treat. Despite the hardships, Crete has experienced over the decades, the old city managed to preserve its historical and its unique architectural character to a great extent. We covered many different areas of Old Town in our 7-kilometer trek today…this was our first visit to Chania and the town is lovely...  Next stop, Rhodes!