Volendam 2026, Iraklion, Crete,Greece...

Set the alarm for 0545 so I would be out on the forward decks bright and early…  Got up, dressed and was out on the front deck to take photos of our sail in to Heraklion…  Loved every minute!  Ann, Cathy and I took the port shuttle to the cruise terminal to meet our driver Nasos for a tour of some highlights of the island. The history of Heraklion unfolds at every turn. From the Minoan civilization splendor of Knossos, located just a few kilometers from the center, to the Ottoman Fountains scattered throughout the city and Koules Fortress at the old harbor, the city vividly preserves traces of every era. Beyond the imposing Venetian Walls, which withstood Ottoman sieges for 21 years, the modern city is steeped in history and traditions. Our first stop today was the city’s landmark, the old Venetian port and the 16th-century Koules Fortress on guard over the old port. We left the waterfront and made our way to the Agios (Saint) Minas the Greek Orthodox Cathedral…disappointingly, the church is closed for renovation, so we made a quick stop at the adjoining chapel actually the original, smaller church of Agios Minas. Next, we headed out of the city passing the Venetian wall. En route to Spinalonga Island we stopped at the Monastery of Saint George. It was raining quite hard so we made a quick stop at the monastery. This monastery which overlooks the Selinari Gorge, was founded in the 10th century and reflects Venetian and Ottoman influences. After leaving the Monastery we arrived at Plaka, a small resort town adjacent to Spinalonga Island. We purchased our boat tickets for our trip to Spinalonga Island. The small islet in the Gulf of Elounda features a massive 16th-century Venetian fortress, later occupied by the Ottomans, and famously used as an organized leper colony from 1903 to 1957. The island is surrounded by clear turquoise waters and our walk around the fortress ruins offered scenic views of the northeastern Cretan coast. Back on the mainland we stopped in 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. We stopped at a taverna for a wonderful Greek lunch…delicious gyros…love Greek food!!!! On our way back to Heraklion, we made a stop in Agios Nikolaos. Here, the salt lake 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. Nasos dropped me at the water, and I made a mad dash to capture photos of the lake. We returned to Heraklion via the old main road. We had a very nice day in Crete and the weather turned out to be much better than predicted.  Another incredible day on the Volendam!