We’re leaving Sitia and heading to Chania. It’s a little less than a five-hour drive with a detour to an archeological site. First, of course, is breakfast. We desperately wanted to stay away from the hard sell from yesterday, so we elected to go to 📍Krema Kanela. We came by the place as a possible breakfast spot before we’ve arrived in Sitia. During our first evening however, we walked by the restaurant and found that the bakery section had its ceiling collapse. Not sure what would happen, we chose to no go there for breakfast yesterday. But as we passed by we saw it in full swing and, after the hard sell of Kalimera, it seemed like a better bet. We were right.
After breakfast we boarded our car and headed out. Our first stop was about half way at Knossos Palace. The palace ruins are the key archeological site of the island. Sadly the British happened to it. The first formal excavations began in 1900 led by Sir Arthur Evans, whose reconstructions are steeped in what he imagined the site was or was used for and not based on much evidence. The result is still highly subjective and scarred by his modern interpretation of the history of a people who were the heart of the island for thousands of years. Even the signage on the site highlights the impact of Evan’s’ with a little disdain. A hundred years later, Evan’s reconstruction are being restored with better materials. It still feels like the site was robbed by the arrogance of a single man.
The visit took about an hour and was a good occasion to stretch our legs. Visiting the Archeological Museum in Heraklion did help add some better context and understand how much of what was found on the side was recreated with a lot of imagination.
The road to Chania was nothing exceptional. Great views for some of it however. We parked the car as we came into the city, checked in to our apartment for the next three nights and headed out for a glass of wine and walk a little of the city in preparation for tomorrow’s visit. Before trying and failing to get service at our first destination we kept going and stopped at 📍Sinagogi Coctail Bar. Tucked away in a small alley on the edge of the old town doesn’t help them. The place was open but had only one other table occupied. We sat down and our wine in front of us in minutes.
Between drinks and dinner we stopped at the grocery to grab sparkling water and drop it home. We then had to cross old town to 📍Chrisostomos. The way to the restaurant was full of short narrow alleys that connect to other short narrow alleys or connect to small squares. Add bridges and canals and you would be in Venice.
Dinner itself was a simple affair. We had a cheese pie, essentially two crepes with cheese in the middle, and stuffed vegetables as starters. The main courses were lamb and rabbit. It was a very good meal and we left with full, happy bellies.
Tomorrow is a relax day. We’re visiting the city, maybe a museum. Maybe some day drinking, the city isn’t that big. Also: there’s a spa on our balcony which has Karine very enthusiastic!
Places
Krema Kanela · Sitia
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Knossos Palace · Knossos
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Sinagogi coctail bar · Chania
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Chrisostomos · Chania
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