Greece day 13 Heraklion / Ayios Nicholas

Today we are heading off to an area of the island called Ayios Nicholas ( meaning St Nicholas ). Efthemi is not with us, he is at work today so Tellie slows the car down enough for us to jump in Dukes of Hazard style. All in, our first stop is an Island called Spinalonga, In Ancient times Island was  walled to protect the City of Olous  then the Venetians in the 16th Century turned into what was the most important defensive sea fortress in the Mediterranean then the turks took it in the 1700's and had it until 1896 when it was taken back by the Greeks in 1896. In 1903 the Greek Government turned it into a Leper Colony i know it sounds pretty terrible but there was no cure from it back then and people didn't really understand the disease so the sent them to spend the rest of their lives to be prisoners in paradise, isolated form the rest of the world they were still treated with dignity. I know it sounds , depressing but they still had purpose they earn t money by working the fields, manufacturing and producing salt. They fell in love and had families, so this Island sounding as bad as it does, it was home for these poor people, many died but in 1957 after finding a cure for the disease, the leper colony was left to the elements. There is a book called the Island a best seller apparently a great read, if you come to crete come to Spinalonga.

The Black flag warned off people approaching the Island 

The Bakery on the Island 

From there we head through and area called Eloundra full of sensational looking resorts on our way   through Ayios Nicholas for lunch we arrive in the beautiful town with a lagoon in the middle of it surrounded by bars and restaurants another great place another great feed.

From there we head back to  Heraklion  i walk around town for about an hour head back to the Hotel rest up for our last dinner all together as we fly out of Crete first thing in the morning. Tellie and Efthemi pick us up and take us to one of their favourite restaurants just outside town call The Wave, right on the water once again great food great drink and great company, usual banter between Dad and Tellie, Dad saying that he prefers Turkey to Greece and Australia this Australia that . I only just get about a 1/4 of what goes on but it is amusing to watch. After dinner, back to the hotel with some tears in our eyes and plenty of hugs kisses and thank you s, we say our good byes. Tellie Voula and Efthemi have opened their houses lives and experiences to us and in this trip i really found close family in Greece which were only ever just names of people in conversations, I've loved it .  

The View from the restaurant

Although I love travelling I think you come to a point in the holiday were you know your only a couple days away from home and a bit of home sickness comes and not to mention the ones you love  Liv Nic and my beautiful wife Lee Lee looking forward to seeing you all soon, so in fear of boring you all with any more of my blog from Greece I am going to sign out now i want to thank all of you that have read it and hopefully enjoyed it, and the people who have left comments a special  thanks to you.

If you have enjoyed this blog and would like me to write yours I am available to come on your holiday and live the experience with you as long as you pay.
Good Bye Thank You and i will speak to you soon.