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CHANIA  2016

BELOW : We have arrived in the town of Chania for another 3 night stay. The hotel we are in is set high on a hill overlooking the town. There is a much more substantial pool here than the one we left behind in Rethymno.

BELOW : Looking down from the hotel again, a zoom shot shows that once again the main harbour has a fortress area.

BELOW : Downtown, the window shutters are all closed, even though the sky is guaranteeing another beautiful spring day on the island.

BELOW : The streets have many tourists out and about, making their contribution towards the Cretan economy.

BELOW : There are many options on how you will distribute your discretionary dollar (or Euro in this case).  Just beyond this area is the harbour area.

BELOW : The Turkish Mosque Yiali Tzami (or Giali Tzami) is hard to miss, as it dominates the Venetian harbour of Chania. The name “Yiali Tzami” comes from the Turkish “Yali Tzamissi”, meaning “seaside mosque”. The mosque was a Muslim place of worship until 1923, when the last Muslims left Crete at the exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey.

BELOW : This is a bit more than an upmarket horse and cart, to take a leisurely roam through the streets.  It is indeed a form of transportation, from a time gone by, kept alive by tourists !

BELOW : This one is for you Steve . . There is no one touting for your business at this restaurant. If you choose to dine here, it is a decision you make without any pressure being exerted by the staff or owners. It is right on the harbour front, on the opposite side of the harbour to the mosque building.

BELOW : Looking back towards the “No pressing, No stressing” restaurant, from further around in the harbour area.

BELOW : An old building adjacent to the harbour area.

BELOW : This photo shows a plaque, which is situated just a little to the right of this building.

BELOW : The remains referred to in the plaque above.

BELOW : Just a couple of the yachts which are in the safety of the harbour at Chania port.

BELOW : Old and newer buildings around the southern side of the harbour.

BELOW : During the Venetian occupation period,(16th & 17th centuries) “Neoria” (Dockyards) were constructed where ships could be maintained. 17 were built in all, but only this group of 7 remain in one continuous section, and 1 stands alone in another area of the port, the remaining 9 were demolished.   

BELOW : We have stepped inside one of the old buildings that is used as a maritime museum, with a number of different vessels and varying artefacts from early times on display.

BELOW : It is quite a tall building, and quite lengthy, so there are plenty of exhibits to view.

BELOW : Around 1595-1601 a lighthouse was constructed by the Venetians. It is about 21 metres high, and has a focal height of around 26 metres from the sea level, and it can be seen from about 7 miles out to sea.

BELOW : A bit of the scenery in one of the back streets around the port area.

BELOW : Not all back streets have the same charm, but are none the less, still interesting.

BELOW : One of the bargains to be found, in one of the many market areas around the main town in Chania, was this “Take 4, Pay 3” offer, on soap.

BELOW : Back at our hotel, the outside dining area on the top floor, has the sun blinds lowered for the beginning of the end of day “guest grazing session”, as people enjoy the fine food, and great views.

BELOW : Is there on official line between carafe, decanter or jug ? Whatever this is, it transferred the wine into glasses in a most efficient manner !

BELOW : Ah yes, that sunset view from the restaurant deck, over the town of Chania, was a soothing end to another industrious day.

BELOW : The M/S Irini will take us for a short cruise today, from the port at Chania, to one of the nearby islands. It is a vessel which was built in England around 1936.

BELOW : We pass by the lighthouse as we motor out of the harbour.

BELOW : We pass a ‘lifeboat’ from a cruise ship, which is anchored just beyond the harbour and breakwater of Chania harbour.

BELOW : The cruise ship named The World. This vessel tours the world, and is the largest ‘resident owned’ vessel in the world. Some residents live year round on the ship, others join it periodically throughout the year.

BELOW : The island is only about 45 minutes away. Once there passengers are invited to make use of the ship’s supply of goggles, snorkels and flippers to explore the ocean bottom.

BELOW : It is a short journey, but the time can be used to contemplate whatever you decide needs contemplating, as you roll with the ocean.

BELOW : Passengers were not encouraged to actually set foot on the island. It did have some interesting looking little nooks and crannies.

BELOW : Another cruise boat was already anchored just off the island when we arrived.

BELOW : Another view of Chania as we motor back towards the port in the harbour. (That is The World cruise ship over in the left of this photo.)

BELOW : Back into port, and you can see the mosque and the horse drawn carriages again, which were in earlier photos.

 ON  TO   KISSAMOS

RETURN  TO  RETHYMNO

Some of the MS The World ship statistics :

Flag-state (port of registry): Bahamas             Cost to build: USD 266 million

Operator: ResidenSea . Original owner - Knut Kloster Jr (the former chairman of "Royal Viking Line" and NCL - "Norwegian Cruise Lines").

Ordered in 2000; Launched in March 2002  Builder: Fosen Mek. Verksteder A/S in Rissa, Norway

Total number of cabins: 198, with 165 apartments; types - from a studio to a 3-bedroom suite.

Capacity :  150 – 200 Passengers (Average)    Crew  :  280