Dikti Cave

Located on the slopes of Mount Ida (Crete), the cave was the mythological birthplace of Zeus.  Legend holds that his mother Rhea hid him here as an infant so Chronos (his father) would not eat him...as he had done with many of his other offspring. 

                Painting by Reubens: Chronos Eating One of his Infant Sons

The Kouretes  (a mythological band of warriors) guarded the caves entrance and made overwhelming racket to hide the infant's cries.

https://youtu.be/Owp5gHSJZoE

In ancient times it was a place of worship.

Now...it is more of a (albeit beautiful) tourist trap.

The cave is at an altitude of 1025 meters and a rocky path beside which wild herbs grow (scenting the air) making it seem the ideal birthplace for a god.
Inside the antechamber is an array of  wildlife that seek refuge here and call it home.

In the antechamber there is also the remains of an altar, walls burnt black with sacrificial fires, and numerous offerings and sacrifices to Zeus through the centuries. Dikti has five distinct rooms and a small lake within.

This is a map of the cave,

It is here, in this birthplace of Zeus, that we depart Crete and head for Athens, Greece on the mainland.  Cretan Honey is on the way, and I will try it when it arrives, and also learn to make (and share) a few Greek dishes and dessert recipes.

More anon...

Crete from the air

The Venetian Castles of Crete

Crete is home to eight castles. Most are Venetian. Today we will explore some of the more popular.

Starting with Gramvousa.

Gramvousa was built in the 13th Century.  There is little left but ruins. It was raided many times by pirates including Barbarossa. It is worth the steep hike to explore.

(or you can check it out here...no hiking boots required)

https://youtu.be/BPygckMmm2Q



Another popular castle in Crete is Frangokastello.

This castle, located on the South coat of Crete has a bloody and violent history, and stories of hauntings. It was built in 1371 on a long streath of isolated beach. in the 1800's the Sfakian soldiers fought the Turks here, resulting in many deaths. To this day, locals report a ghostly parade of these black clad Sfakian men from the castle to the nearby church, on or about the anniversary of the battle. This has been witnessed many times and even the subject of paranormal investigation. 

Frangokastello is the most complete castle remaining on the island.

 Inside the castle walls.

https://youtu.be/WocorC1iETs

and a video related to the hauntings or "dew-men"

https://youtu.be/jrydIGzxk1Y


Castello Del Molo
            (aka)
Koules Venetian Fortress in Heraklion

The locals refer to it as "The Jumbled Box".

https://youtu.be/Xi8LqiwYNpA

The castle is used as an open air theater and for music and art exhibits these days. Its most distinguishing feature is that of the lion over its entryway.

The lion is The Lion of Mark and symbolic of Venice. The castle was last rebuilt in the mid-1500's after much earthquake damage.


Soon to try the Honey of Crete. Winging its way this way...and explore Dikti Cave. 

The birthplace of Zeus. 

More anon...

Dikti Cave

The 10 Best Beaches of Crete and the Arrival of My Ring

All spectacular in their own way...here is a glimpse of the 10 Best Beaches of Crete.

1. Balos Beach and Lagoon:

https://youtu.be/uJNbr12EfwA

This beach and lagoon located near Kissamos. Soft white sand. A nearby island with the ruins of a Venetian Castle to explore at its top.

https://youtu.be/yQYhMSOWcDY




2. Elefonissi in Chania:

https://youtu.be/3lKxinaK4GA

White and..yes...pink sand!

The pink is caused by the colour of the crushed shells that make up the sand. The effect with the turquoise blue water defies description.

3. Vai Beach and Palm Forest in Latsithi:

https://youtu.be/gcS7MWF8acY

Vail begin with a trek through the lovely Palm Forest of Vai...and ends with Vai Beach. The Palm Forest is one of the largest natural palm forests in Europe.

https://youtu.be/GYnYV0Xd0Q4

4. Falassarna Beach

https://youtu.be/_1AftKUbb-M

A family friendly beach with soft sand. Best known for  the wind-sailing offered here when the waters are rough.

https://youtu.be/JumWONyHWHA

5.  Preveli Beach:

A Palm lined lagoon that empties into the sea! Exploring the lagoon is even better than the beach.

Check it out!

https://youtu.be/rO7Y0Jcm6zw

6. Matala Beach in Herakion:

https://youtu.be/Xj3foex5cgE

Matala in the 1960's and 1970's was known as the Hippie's Beach. Need we know any more?  Sell the stuff, kids...I'm HOME!

7.  Rodakino Beach:

A calm, relaxing family friendly beach (nudity prohibited) beach. No soft sand. A pebble beach.

https://youtu.be/xWwatqa-jXo



8.  Plakias Beach:

 https://youtu.be/3lchcFxHb3E

Another touristy beach with many good Fish Taverns and Entertainment available.


9. Timbaki Beach:

A shot from the Red Castle Fish Tavern.

https://youtu.be/ESEZ1_Y0Gfs

Quaint Greek fishing type town catering to tourists.

10. Istro Beach:

https://youtu.be/AdCqogHEy9k

A family friendly rocky beach with some soft sand. Many wild areas to explore as well as a long stretch of touristy beach-front(not pictured here).

                                      ----------------------------------------------------------

As if by fate, a knock on the door in the midst of this beach-hopping and voila...my coveted bit of silver and lapis lazuli has arrived!

A tiny bit of Mediterranean Crete Blue 
for "always"...

                       Next: We will explore the Venetian Castles of Crete!

Grandparents Day!

Damn it feel good to be a gangsta....er....a Grandma!

A Perfect Sunday. Clear deep blue, cloudless skies and cooler autumn temps. Finished the Sunday Edition and took a stem glass of orange juice out to enjoying my flowers and sit with a lap full of Tucker-Kitty when suddenly I hear the rumble of James' Camaro and see four of my seven grands clamouring up the small hill in the back yelling

"Grandma...Grandma...Grandma!"

Nice visit with James, Kaylee, Emma, Hannah and Brenden!  They, enjoying a day out with Dad...doing some fishing, playing in the park and- of course- McDonalds.

Us...spying a praying mantis who has been hanging out on my arbor. Hoping for an egg case before winter! Collecting seed pods. Playing with The Big Orange Ball and tag (Dad and I, were BASE) and just generally hanging out. And a zillion hugs!

A VERY Happy Grandparent's Day Surprise!

Made chicken and noodles, dressing and sliced ripe tomato for dinner with sweet tea and egg custard for afters, then...

Worked a bit on my Mediterranean Painting.

It is still just in the rough beginning phase...but the limestone arch and grottos are starting to take form.

 I am going to use Impasto to build up the surface and the sea sponge to give texture before dry-brushing the limestone.  Then going to create the greenish lighter tinged wash to give shallowness to the grotto emerging in the foreground.

Stippled the surface of the water with a shade lighter lapis blue in the form of (of all things) nail polish...and it actually worked to give the illusion of sun on the water. Soon to add tiny riffs of white and foam as well.

Not going to be a Masterpiece...but it's great fun capturing a bit of The Greek Islands on canvas. 

Speaking of great fun...caught the very end of the Colts game last night. Online. With a friend. On IM. The best (or worst...depending on your POV) was the fact that we were watching from two entirely different feeds...and they were not synched.  The feeds were off by about 3 minutes. Since my buddy lives in Indy he was receiving the next play when I was still watching the (previous) time out. I started calling him Future Man.

"They got the touchdown!"

ME:  REALLY.

(3 minutes later)

"There it is!!!!"

and thus the score was tied...with maybe 25 left on the clock.

Which made the final field goal  (by the Lions...and winning the game) excruciating...

"Well...come on...tell me..I can take it...did they make it?????"

And how the hell did they miss the game's previous field goal at the 33 yard line but get this one at the 44?????????????????


Still the Colts brought the game back from a 21-3 hole, and Luck promises to be outstanding this season...and it is so early yet. It would be nice to see them get another Superbowl.

We'll see.

Go Colts!

More anon...

Heraklion Archaeological Museum

  

Reopened in 2014 after an 8 year Restoration

The Museum is considered the best in Greece

 and the best in the world as it pertains to Minoan artifacts.

The museum was created in 1883. After three major earthquakes, Nazi invasion, and various damages in WWII...and the addition of a new wing in the 1960's 

The Heraklion Museum was closed to the public in 2006 

not to be reopened until 2014.

The Museum now has 20 distinctive rooms.

Room I  (6000 BCE)

Neolithic Fertility Goddess

Stone Jars

Miniature Pottery Items

                               Minoan Fertility Goddess (Snake Goddess)

Room II  (1700 BCE)

Glazed Plaques of Minoan's Houses (aka The Town Mosaic)

Room III 

Phaistos Disk

Important because this disk is the first evidence of organized written record.

To date archaeologists have yet to decipher the Minoan written language 

but it is believed that this may be the first "book"

Room IV

Bull's head figurine from Knossos

The Bull figured predominately in Minoan Culture.  Mythology has it that King Minos was suppose to have been given a white bull 

by Poseidon, himself, to sacrifice.  

Instead of sacrificing the white bull, Minos kept it and chose a lesser bull.

 In his rage, Poseidon caused Minos' wife to become enamoured of the white bull and she sexually encountered it. The result of their union

The Minotaur.

Room V (1450 BCE)

Egyptian trade items

Clay Model of a House

and eight examples of the first known Linear Script

                                                           
                                                 Room VI
                                                        Gold Jewelry

Room VII

Bronze Double Axes 

The Vases

  Room VIII

Zakros

Rock Crystal Rhytons

Bull's Head Rhytons

Rhytons (pronounced Rye-Tun) 

were drinking vessels often shaped like animal heads/animals.

Pottery with Marine Motifs

Room IX

Seal Stones

Terra Cotta items from the Pisokephalo Sanctuary 

Some Useful like this Oven

Some merely Ornamental

Room X

Mycenaean  

Clay Figurines including

 some with Lutes

or dancers

Room XII

Dorian

Weapons and Tools Mostly of Iron

Room XIII

Larnakes

Minoan Clay Coffins

Replacing Wooden Coffins

Room XIV

Frescoes from Knossos and Hagia Triadia

Room XV and XVI

More Frescoes

The Most Famous

La Parisienne

Rooms XVII-XX

Dedicated to Classic Greek Sculpture

The museum is open April–September, Monday 12–7pm Tuesday–Sunday 8am–7pm, October–March daily 8am–5pm.

EU students can receive a discounted entry.

There is air conditioning within the building.

Some of the collection cannot be photographed due to publication or another reason. There are usually signs posted nearby the restricted items.

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5306965883850571984#editor/target=post;postID=1999546954730083191

if you want to learn more about the museum of explore in depth

Or check out this You Tube Presentation

https://youtu.be/seoe-X1Rr7I

Monday we will discover

some of the

beautiful beaches

of Crete.

Beach at Night

Heraklion Crete