Aptera. How many crumbly rocks can you look at before you can say you're bored?

Wow. Lots of old broken bricks.
Parts of this place were used as early as 400BC for worship of the empty calf kind and for a cemetary.
Big earthquakes shook people away a few times.

This is St Johns place.
Those windows have new shutters and doors. There's also power hooked up but it's all locked.
Is there treasure? More broken rocks?

Here's the square of St. John.

It was small but cool. I was surprised the doors were normal height. No reason, just surprised.

This is one third of an underground cistern. There's a larger cistern but its missing the roof.

Slimy dark water, dank stench and ancient brick made for creepy awed Bella Lugosi feelings. Very cool. Creature of the Black Cistern cool.

Oh bummer. I can't remember the name or age of the castle peeking through the arch.

This was one wall of the large public bath. The Roman solider's was twice the size.

Oh. By the way. We're up high.

Really high.

And now I broke the law.

This castle is across the island highway.

In 1959 it was turned into a prison and now seems to be a crappy, single manned Greek military station.

We drove up to it and there are signs posted that we're not to photograph anything.

We're cheating. I don't see any signs from here. And just wait until I get my killer lens. I'll get photos of the guy sleeping in the booth at the gate.

Wool is itchy.

Pastoral.

Almost expect to see some voluptuous, topless woman in a powdered wig being fed fruit while reclined on swirling blankets. You know- those pale puffy people boobie paintings of the Renaissance kind. Instead it's just sheep on a pretty day while a Vespa flies by.

This is my neighborhood. The tolling of tiny bells is acutally endearing. Even early in the morning. But the roosters that start crowing at 3am may meet their death. Cock-a-doodle-dead.


On occasion I have to wait while the herd crosses the street. Stragglers seem to pop out of no where and it's not like playing Frogger. If you hit a sheep you owe the shepherd the sum of five generations of sheep. If you hit six or more sheep it is considered the shepherd's fault. Do you think it immoral if I back up and hit a couple more to meet the quota of no guilt?

At least lamb is delicious.

Lamb Traffic Jam.







While waiting, this Mom had twins. They bounced around within a minute. All skippy and happy. I was so enchanted with the gore and beauty I forgot to grab my camera until they started to walk away. So much cuter than a cow giving birth. Or my sisters.

Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time. -Steven Wright

Where to begin? A simple photo of Chania (Hahn-yah) waterfront.
A city of new and old and gorgeous in both aspects.

Only twenty five minutes away (growing up on Whidbey- everything's a bit of a jaunt and you just deal with it), Chania has everything one needs.
Brian's already been to the oral surgeon for a cracked false tooth he had looked at a few months before we left. Yay-hoo.
Banks, theaters, restaurants, shopping, clubs...I've got to find art and historical museums. That's on my list.


It's winter here and a number of the buildings are undergoing extensive and historically restrictive renovations. (Those last three words are probably as big of a tangle for your tongue as the laws are for repairs)

Narrow streets of brick, rock and smooth stone.

Dogs and cats are abundant. A German Shepherd strolled with us for nearly an hour.

Old, older and today. Wars and occupations have taken their tolls. 20 years,  200 years and 2000 years all in a spot. Greek techno music bounced from an apartment behind me while I clicked this.

Stone, stucco, wood and iron.

Serpentine streets lined with shops- shoes and clothing are the main theme.

No Starbucks on every corner but numerous bakeries and Mom and Pop mini markets.

For now the streets are busy but bare compared to tourist season. Come May the crowds will begin to surge for summer, fading out in October. Winter here is mild, it does snow on occasion, but the sun shines on these cold days of 40-50 degrees. The SUN. Vitamin D for me.