Wed 25.Nov.2009
Haniá, Crete, Greece
On the Bus
![On the Bus Cretan coastline through bus window.](pix/2009/img_7155.jpg)
![Mondo Milkshake milkshake in a tall beer glass](pix/2009/img_7365.jpg)
Much of Crete's north coast between Iraklio and Hania (hahn-YAH) is
lightly developed if at all.
Yow! I just got served a banana milkshake in one the more
improbable presentations I've encountered. A tall beer glass, a pink
flex-straw and a 75-cm green straight straw. Aw foo - here's a photo of
it. I had to put it way at the far side of the table to get the green
straw in the field of view.
![Entry to Home passageway to courtyard. stairs going off to right](pix/2009/img_7164.jpg)
![Homeward Bound looking up open-air staircase](pix/2009/img_7357.jpg)
This cheerful Venetian alley leads to a Chinese restaurant called Suki
Yaki. Evidently the distinction between Japan and China doesn't get
a lot emphasis in the tourist quarter.
Notice those stairs with the Rooms for Rent sign? Yup - that's
me. My actual front door is out of sight to the left, but those
are my
windows hanging open up there past the bougainvilla.
![Reaching the Harbor several umbrella-covered outdoor cafes, glimpse of water](pix/2009/img_7166.jpg)
![Venetian Harbor curving waterfront seen between cafe chairs and umbrellas](pix/2009/img_7169.jpg)
As a tourist, you could pretty much ignore the fact that most of Hania
is a modern town. The old town around the small Venetian harbor is the
tourist quarter now. From the amount of English on the signs, the place
is probably swamped with Brits in the Summer.
![Blue Arch tumblle of buildings, one with a blue-painted archway](pix/2009/img_7171.jpg)
![Harborfront Cafe women in wicker chairs, and chihuahua](pix/2009/img_7173.jpg)
Back from the waterfront, inside the old walls, is a delightful warren
of Venetian streets, chock full of "Rooms for rent" signs (many closed
for the Winter) and tourist shops and eateries. Right now, only the
eateries along the waterfront are open, and not all of those. And some
Tabernas and Gyros fast food places on the main street.
![Venetian Shrine with Cat long-haired cat napping on a Venetian roadside shrine](pix/2009/img_7333.jpg)
![Mosque of the Janissaries small de-comissioned mosque, oud-player at corner](pix/2009/img_7179.jpg)
The de-commissioned Mosque of the Janissaries is now a
gallery of some sort. I haven't been inside yet. Old-time photos of the
mosque show a minaret that is not there now. Maybe de-commissioning
included removing it?
I gave a euro to the street musician who is playing the oud
over there at the corner of the mosque. The very first oud I have seen
in Greece, to say nothing of somebody actually playing it. Street music
here,
such as it is, is dominated by Greek bouzoukis and Gypsy accordians. We
Deadheads know the oud thanks to Mickey Hart and his friendship with
Hamza El Din, the great Nubian oud-master who used to sit in with The
Boyz when we were lucky.
![Boat small sailboat moored](pix/2009/img_7194.jpg)
![Boat in Water wobbly reflection of sailboat](pix/2009/img_7195.jpg)
![Fortezza small fort across harbor, framed by archway](pix/2009/img_7429.jpg)
![Lighthouse distant lighthouse, framed obliquely by arch](pix/2009/img_7430.jpg)
Cafe Society
![Late Afternoon silhouettes of cafe chairs against harbor](pix/2009/img_7219.jpg)
![Sunset Time pinkish clouds across harbor from upstairs cafe balcony](pix/2009/img_7270.jpg)
These silhouetted chairs belong to my regular hangout here: Gallini's
cafe, with an excellent wireless connection and a harbor view. At this
moment I'm facing away from the harbor to watch the Tom and Jerry
cartoons (good ones - classics) on the monitor. Kind of a surprise for
a place that looks so upscale.
At home, outdoor cafe terraces use electric space warmers on colder
nights. Here they go for these flamboyant (so to speak) gas-jet
versions.
On warm days, no warmers are needed.
That is it for the moment from the western end of Crete. The
weather has turned cloudy and colder. Probably thinking about rain. I'm
sure they can use it.
Hasta la proxima!
Contents Copyright 2012 Jeff Bulf