and i'm exhausted! first of all i had to get out of bed at 7a.m. (rather than 9) to catch a bus at 8:30. we've learned to be there at least 15 min. early because it might come early.... or late... or not at all. we were in luck today..then missed the stop to get off by the big market, so ended up at the station, about 8 long blocks from the market. not that big a deal, i guess. so walked down toward the harbor as i was seeking out a special shop which had been recommended.. found it!! and found a really beautiful amber pendant set in hand-worked silver, which my very dear man purchased for me! then on to the harbor, mosied around, had gelatto for breakfast, finally to the market which covers a couple of blocks, all inside and selling everything from cheapo touristy crap, to fresh fish and other sea things like octopus, cuttlefish (the fishy stink is overwhelming), also some fresh veggies and fruit, olive oil, bakery goods... you get the idea. had gyros and mythos beer for lunch, more shopping/wandering/looking and back to the bus depot, which has had an upgrade, but still an uncomfortable place for me. picture probably 30+ BIG buses... like tour buses, pulling in and out and masses of people milling around trying to find the right bus. scary, really. we found the bus, asked if he was going to Vamos and handed over our tickets, got on and no more seats and aisles totally jammed with standers (us, too). after about 10 stinky sweltering minutes, the driver announced that all people going to Vamos should get on a different bus. we did... and there were seats! we wound out of Hania, almost to Souda, bus stopped, driver made an announcement and half the people hustled off... and onto another bus. we hadn't really heard what he said, so just assumed we were headed to Vamos. yep, you guessed it... a ways further down and thru Souda, making lots of stops along the way, which seemed unusual, the ticket-taker lady came by and i showed her our ticket stubs and asked "Vamos"? she got "a look" on her face and went back to the front and talked to the driver. she didn't say another thing to us for 15 min., then the bus pulled over and she said ok we should get off here. there was a bus waiting for us at an exit ramp and he was going to Vamos. so, we scooted off one and onto the other, and we got home about 45 min. later than usual. actually, not sure what usual is any more. still don't know where in the hell that bus was headed, but we didn't go there! always an adventure when you don't really understand most of the language. ouzo on ice at Bloumosifi helped a lot!
on Monday there was Greek music at Liakoto.. really really good. Giannis Nikalou (i prob. butchered his name), a well-known composer, song-writer, singer from Athens. lots of Greeks there loving every minute. we loved it, too and bought his 2 CDs. his photo is among today's assortment below.
also, 2 pics in front of the market. i was esp. fascinated with a young man, decidedly not Greek by his looks, who was playing his guitar and singing Beatles songs, in english, and looking for donations. just struck me funny...
and there's Jim with Koula, who teaches the Cretan cooking classes and whose cook book we use at home at least twice a week. Jim had seen her earlier in the day and she'd said we should come by her class and say hi and have a glass of wine. we'd gotten involved in something and didn't get there til class was over, so got no tastes of what they cooked. sad..
and pics of Berend and Daphne, Toine and Iris and Valeri and Lou, which i'm not sure if i've posted earlier. not on line now so can't check. they are cute enough to see twice. they were at the taverna when we went by, 3 baby strollers, 3 little kids running around and parents having an adult beverage and a little break.
i guess that's all, dear diary. i'm getting a bit home-sick. the masses of people in Hania, the heat and noise made me wish for the quiet and peace of my queendom.
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