Bright and early the Cook's crew showed a leg for a trip to the ancient sites of Phaistos and Gortys.
On to the coach and judging by the number of porn star moustaches most of our travel companions were Germans of a certain age. (The Germans first started flying to Crete in the early 1940s, but were a lot less welcome then).
On to Gortys the ancient Roman capital of the island, just enough time to see the remains of the Byzantine church and the wee theatre, then onto the Minoan palace at Phaistos. The thing about this place is that nowhere seems to agree on how to spell it, the two signs outside said Festos and Faistos, who's to know? Anyway nice big Bronze Age site not mucked around with as much as the palace at Knossos.
It was so boiling hot today that you could have made tea in my bottle of water
On to Matala for lunch where we tried out the guides suggestion: the King Minos, I had a Gyros plate (Donar kebab without pitta) Moff a big plate of giant beans, Mrs F the Mousaka, plus we shared some chips and a plate of okra, not bad but with drinks and coffee - a bit pricey at 41 Euro I thought.
On to the beach for an hour ohh nasty shingle, bad for Pathetic Sharks and bad for Cook's toes
Next stop a mountain village called Spilla for the essential sell the tourist some old rubbish stop. We were taken into a little cafe where some mad old lady gave us a free glass of raki, as I didn't have a small engine to power (left those roller blades behind!) I drank it, er an aquired taste I think. according to the guide its sold in plastic bottles so you can slip it in your suitcase, nothing at all to do with it being knocked out by Grandad in the shed round the back, so I understand.
Back to the hotel, its Greek night. Bloody hell decent food for a change: stiffado, Greek salad, Vineleaves, Gyros, lamb stuff. Pigged out and went down town for some grog. The old town is currently under siege from kids with bloody accordions, anyone of a certain age will remember the pain of children playing the devil's keyboard on Junior Showtime and Opportunity Knocks (In the early 80s I answered the phone and it was Hughie Green, I nearly said "Blimey I thought you were dead!", but that's another story) Believe me when I say it ain't got any better, still two of the bastards never got a cent out of me tonight!
Tomorrow another lazy day so off to me hammock
