Approaching Chania, on the north coast of Crete, near western end. Crete runs eats-west with a spine of mountains in the middle.
We moored bow-to because there was a noticeable crosswind. We had come in alongside the Italian schooner, and the skipper had helped us move away so that we didn't damage the Terza Santa Maria's topsides.
Pigeons perching in niches and holes in the Grand Arsenal
We were across the harbour from a fort turned restaurant.
Chania has an impressive covered market, built around 1913.
Inside the market
Herbs and spices in the market
The old harbour at Chania
The quay is packed with restaurants
Old mosque (now an art gallery) near the old harbour
Horse and carriage for tourists
Looking across old harbour at Chania to the inner quay where Q. was moored
Chania is a beautiful town to wander around
Restaurant under old monastery walls. Kiosk with information about turtles that lay eggs on a nearby beach.
Archaeological museum in old church in Chania
Toy from a Minoan child's grave
Old shipyard buildings
Ahmet Aga Minaret in old town
Archaeological site. Greco-Roman rather than Minoan
Rooms to let in the old monastery
And from the other side
Arsenals in the old shipyards
The quay where Quicksilver was moored, early morning. We had eaten a delicious dinner in the nearest restaurant the evening before
Chania with mountains behind
The Monastiri restaurant is built into the ruins
Leaving Chania, past fort and naval museum (red building at left)
Light at entrance to tiny inner harbour at Rethimnos, aka Rethymnon
Quicksilver was moored in marina across from old town and inner harbour
Ruins of mosque
Being turned into a museum
Church and belltower
Alley and antenna
Look at that roof garden.
Ornate doorway with Arabic inscription
The wooden extensions like this are Turkish
The bread from the bakery was delicious
Panormos is a small port
with fishing boats and bathers
And a few pretty streets
Quicksilver was the only visiting yacht
Carving on church door
Next morning they were dredging the harbour
Pink flowers growing in a gully
Hillside with terraces of olive trees
Anchored in Ormos Bali
Moored in Heraklion, a busy commercial port
An elegant courtyard in a municipal office building
Modern sculpture at elegant corner
Carved door
Church of St. Titus
Remains of dockyards at Heraklion, photographed in the morning before we left for Ayios Nikolaos
Ayios Nikolaos is known for its "lagoon", Lake Voulismeni, seen here from above, looking towards ferry port, with the sea behind.
The artificial harbour south of the town is home to a boatyard and working boats
And a marina. Q. has blue awning.
Working boats were sheltering here from forecast storm
BIll goes up to fix a bent bracket above the radar dome.
Drinks at Restaurant Neon above the inland lake, Voulismeni, in Ayios Nikolaos
Lake Voulismeni from Restaurant Neon
Door of church of Agia Triada
Skateboarders have retrieved a rail from under a pier and are setting it up.
Skateboarders and cafés round Lake Voulismeni
Mini-museum in tunnel in wall behind Lake Voulismeni
Walls and pillars from many periods exposed to view
Door in wall behind Lake Voulismeni, with Venetian lions of St, Mark
Modern mosaic
Market day
Lake Voulismeni. Restaurant Neon, where we ate, has a sign on the orange building on the hill.
Ducks finding shade under boat
Ayios Nikolaos has a marvellous archaelogical museum. This is a fine storage jar, re-assembled.
Minoan jars
Goddess
Pots
Jug
More storage jars, in excellent condition
Engraved shell sculpture
Sitia is the capital of Lassithi, the northeastern province of Crete. Q has blue sailcover on pier at center right.
We moored in the Coastguard berth, with permission.
Sculpture mixing old and new on the front at Sitia
Looking across Sitia harbour. Q, is the tallest mast on the pier opposie. Wind turbines are on the ridge behind.
Before we left Crete, we thought we should drink some local retsina
Sitia is in a wine-growing area - closeup of label. English and the Latin alphabet are much more prevalent than when we first travelled to Greece.
