Intrepid explorers...

…we are not!

Our aim for this holiday was to explore the island of Crete and all its ancient mystery and history. Each day we would take in one of island’s treasures and then suitably educated and cultured we would settle for an afternoon of sunbathing by the pool, preferably with a few cans and a glass of wine.

Today was the turn of Zeus! Apparently he was born in a cave a few miles away so we felt obliged to visit. We asked directions at reception and were given a map with useful notations, and lots of encouragement, and told it was about a 40 min drive.

After a leisurely breakfast we set off in our hire car keen to explore, and looking forward to a well-earned afternoon by the pool. About 20 minutes into the drive I asked about the state of our petrol and was reassured by the driver. Forty minutes in, after slalom turns, hairy hairpin bends and overly confident Cretan coach drivers, we realised we’d left the map in the apartment and had to rely on the Disneyesque cartoon map of Crete, which pointed out the Waterparks but little else. About an hour into the journey we realised that we had forgotten to top up our cash and only had about 30 Euros between us. Shortly after that the petrol gauge started flashing….!

Bear in mind that we are travelling through the Lassithi Plateau that was only properly connected with the rest of the world after the 2nd World War – and it was a Sunday... We had a few hairy miles searching for a petrol station that was a) open and that b) accepted Visa. We thankfully found one, but not the other. We bought 20 Euros worth of petrol and set off to see if Zeus was worth it.

He was!
We finally arrived at an efficient if small car park and a very helpful moustachioed restaurant owner (female) that showed us willingly to welcome toilets (without insisting on us paying for them or eating there), and then we made the gigantian climb to meet with the birth place of the Gods.
It’s a magnificent cavern with stalactites said to suckle the infant (my many photos taken inside the cave did not do it justice). Whether it was truly a reverent place or not, the lack of oxygen after the climb helped with the awe and wonderment and our stresses of the last couple of hours melted away.

Six hours later we managed a couple of hours by the pool with can and wine at hand…

BTW the photo is of the now defunct windmills that used to pump well needed water to the plain in Spring. The Cretan sea is in the background but merges with the bright blue sky.

Tomorrow we tackle Spinalonga - wish us luck!