2025 Volendam, Heraklion, Crete, Greece...

I was out on the front deck to take in our sail into Heraklion…Ann, Cathy and I took the port shuttle from the cruise terminal to meet our driver Manos for a tour of the area. Heraklion is the largest city of Crete and one of Greece’s major urban centers. The city flourished under a multicultural influence throughout the centuries; that’s why there is a plethora of Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman structures. In Greek mythology, Crete is best known as the birthplace of the Greek god Zeus. Our first stop was city’s landmark the 16th century Koules fortress on guard on the old Venetian port. We left the waterfront and headed up to old town passing the Venetian Loggia or Town Hall stopping just steps away at St. Titus Church…blend of Venetian, Ottoman, and Greek Orthodox architecture with revered relics and icons from 961. We continued along to walked to the Μorozini Lions fountain, a Venetian style from 1628. The old town is a charming area with pedestrianized streets, cafes and Neoclassical mansions. We made our way to the Metropolis of Agios Minas the Greek Orthodox Cathedral…what a beautiful church. Our driver picked us up and we went to the Venetian wall and the Kazantzakis tomb. Leaving the city we headed to the Monastery of Saint George. Nestled in the beautiful Selinari Gorge, it was founded in the 10th century and reflects Venetian and Ottoman influences. After leaving the Monastery we arrived at Agios Nikolaosis. Here, the salt lake Voulismeni dominates the area. A narrow channel of water connects the lake with the sea, while an imposing backdrop of red rock and trees adds to the natural beauty of the scenery. Our driver Manos dropped us at the water and I hiked back up to get an aerial shot of the town and lake. We stopped for a quick Greek lunch…delicious gyros…love Greek food!!!! Our next stop was Elounda a coastal village with a small fishing port, surrounded by several public and private beaches. The area is known for the nearby submerged Ancient Olous village from 1000 BC with some parts still visible from the surface. Leaving Elounda we stopped for photos of Spinalonga Island as time did not allow us to take the ferry there and back. Spinalonga is a small, arid island famous for its history as a Venetian fortress and its more recent history as a former leper colony. From here we returned to Heraklion via the mountain road. We had a very nice day in Crete with stellar weather.