6 May - Welcome to Crete

Arrived in Hania (or Chania or Xania… all spellings seem to be in common use) at about 0530!  

Hill 107

We were off the ferry and into a hotel for breakfast.  The weather was overcast with patchy rain.  First stop was Hill 107.  This hill overlooked the Maleme airfield, the site of a major battle in the fight for Crete.  Unfortunately, a few poor decisions allowed the hill to fall to the Germans.  This gave them control of the airstrip and allowed their forces to build up… ultimately giving them victory in Crete.  The Germans still hold the hill… this is the site of the German war graves.  A reading of the grave markers reminds us that young (and not so young) men suffer on both sides.  There was no shortage of 18 to 25 year olds occupying the hill.  They shall not grow old…

At the foot of the hill was a small private museum.  The chap has collected artefacts from the local area.  Everything from rusted weapons, helmets, ammunition to bits and pieces of German planes.

An Unknown Soldier

From Hill 107 we moved on to Galatas.  Galatas was where Greek soldiers and Greek (Cretan) civilians rose up and attacked the German invaders.  The Cretan civilians would eventually be punished… severely… by the invaders.  From Galatas, it was onto Suda Bay Commonwealth War cemetery. The cemetery overlooks Suda bay.  A peaceful view for such a sad location.  Our visit was made particularly memorable because one member of the tour has her Uncle Frank buried there.  We heard the story of Frank, and that he had left a wife without a husband and several children without a Dad. It was these stories that reminded us that war is not just about units and victories but it is about the 1000s of individuals. A small service was conducted and we had some Bundy Rum... I shared a bundy with some of those Unknown Australian Soldiers... Cheers! and thanks!

Seafood platter

Next stop Lunch! We stopped at a seaside (ie waves lapping at the restaurant) for lunch.  Karen and I sat at a table with some of our new found friends... we ordered a seafood platter (fish-the whole fish!, little fish, calamari, octopus-complete with sucker things!, mussels etc).  We asked for the bill a bit early (which is not the done thing because the locals give a gift of dessert and Raki).  Raki is a spirit made from grape skins... it is a bit smoother than Ouzo but no less potent.  We made amends with the restaurant owner by toasting him, his staff, the restaurant, hic, Crete, hic hic, Greece, and all the countries next to Greece (except Turkey, Bulgaria, FYROM, and Albania).


Off to the hotel at Rethymon!