Aghios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece

Aghios Nikolaos Lagoon

Another beautiful day. We were up early to see our arrival. There was a tug boat standing by (sitting in the water is more like it) in case we needed help getting tucked into the dock. We watched a fisherman bringing in his nets. He had pulled up to a float and worked his way across the bay. We couldn’t quite see what he was bringing in.

We left on our bus tour called “Windmills and Lassithi Plateau” at 8:15. The road into the mountains is a continuity of switchbacks- Raindancer where are you! We first stopped at the Holy Monastery of Kardiotissa, which is now a nunnery. When we first got off the bus all you could hear was a cacophony of goat bells which echoed in the valley from the goats on the hills around us. Norma’s binoculars have been very handy for such sightings.  There are 5 rather elderly resident nuns there. It is a beautiful 1600’s structure. The old church has some amazing fresco paintings on the walls and ceiling. Some of which has started to peel off with time. The entrance fee to the site is supposed to go toward restoration.

The Monastery

Virgin Mary Candle Lighting Station

When we reached the plateau there were many non-functioning windmills. There are apparently only 100 left operational. They used them to pump underground water into cisterns which is then used to irrigate the fields. Olives seem to be the biggest product with over 40 million trees on the island of Crete, although on the plateau the winters are too cold for them so potatoes and apple trees are abundant.

Reconstructed Windmill

On our way back we stopped at a road side restaurant for a sampling of Cretan food. We had fresh tomatoes, cucumber, goat cheese, soft  cheese filled pastry, double baked bread with olive oil, small ripe olives (yum) and goat balls – oh, let me explain – ground goat meat and herbs in small meat balls, very tasty.

Goat Balls in the White Dish

As we started down we could see the vultures circling. Not a good sign. Apparently this species eats bone marrow. They find bones and from dizzying distances drop them on the rocks to split them open to get the marrow. They do feed meat to their babies, however.

Water Cisterns and a Defunct Windmill

When we got back to the town of Aghios Nikolaos we had a walk around and found some of the olives we had for lunch so have purchased a sample to take home. Now to hope they don’t pop their lid during the flight.