Guest Blog - A meander around Chania old town

Our latest guest blog comes from our friend Dee who has just returned from a trip to Crete...

We arrived by public bus into the heart of Chania. A five-minute walk took us into the Old Town, and it didn’t disappoint.

A maze of little streets revealed beautiful Ottoman and Venetian buildings in faded colours, along with some rather attractive shops and delicious-looking restaurants and tavernas, which we happily fell victim to!

We stopped for a light lunch of seafood and Greek salad, always followed here by a complementary pudding. We enjoyed people-watching for some time.

When we reached the sea, the Venetian harbour lay before us, edged with elegant buildings and the first mosque built by the Ottomans in 1645. At the harbour mouth stood the 19th-century lighthouse. The harbour front was a bit too busy with tourists, but that didn’t stop a lone fisherman with his rod and line successfully landing a good-sized fish right in front of us!

The Jewish Quarter, full of little pastel-coloured houses, was lovely to walk through. We noted that the synagogue was undergoing some restoration, so unfortunately we couldn’t visit.

The atmosphere was charming, and even the crumbling buildings were beautiful, draped with cascading flowers. And, of course, the cats lazing in the sun are always a must in Greece.

We’re returning later this week for what I’m sure will be another excellent meal and further wanderings.