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Day 6 – It’s all Greek to Me

October 20 -- Crete, Greece

Ahh, sleeping in. Have NOT done that like…at all on this trip. So this time, we did. We are on Greek time now! Woke up late and had a nice, leisurely breakfast.

Afterwards, we headed down to the main town. Just a bit of kerfuffle as we left – Carole was supposed to take a taxi to the town, but completely missed it and ended up on the city bus. Thankfully, it was the city bus right in front of us (I know because I’m tracking her) so we met up easily and hit the shops.

It was a perfect day. The temperature was great, the crowds were crazy and the walk was level. We wandered the tourist area by the waters edge, stopping when things interested us or whenever.

So, again, the Doyle’s know how to SHOP. So while they spent the better part of hours in the stores, Elijah and I got him a gyro that was literally the size of his head. (We were so busy trying to conceal it so we wouldn’t spend another decade all sitting down and ordering that I MAY have forgotten to take a picture of it)

And that soon became a problem

Once we got to the end of the street, it was time to make our way to the beach…which was a good 15 minute walk. We went to find the cab stand and Carole took off. Apparently, she wasn’t to purchase a large chess set and the boys weren’t having it since they’d be the ones carrying it. They spat, and she dipped, refusing to come with us. So I sent her my location and we left. 

It was a bit of a walk. It was also interesting how there was so much wealth coming in from the cruise ships and other tourists, and yet, the city still seemed run-down. Even the tourist areas seemed rough. Will have so research that later. Anyhoo, we made our way to the beach and I made Ryan (who, up to this point) had never even seen the ocean) take off his shoes. It was seriously like watching your kid for the first time. The joy, the confusion. He waddled through the sand and to the waters edge and just stood in awe for a bit before shouting triumphantly.

Nerd. We rented beach chairs and set up shop. Nate and Elijah got right to work building a sand castle while Ryan went to a nearby store to find a snorkel. I watched Carole’s progress on the map and the boys while trying to work on my tan (I promise, I do in fact get dark)

A boy from the Baltics (a great debate between Sweden and Denmark arose, so I won’t settle it here) kept watching Nate and Elijah intently, so they finally invited him to help them. So they built, Ryan explored and I tanned.

Eventually, Carole caught up with us and joined us in the chill-tivities. We hung out there the rest of the day until it was late afternoon. So my watch had a different time than the “ship time” had. But we had also changed time-zones, so I was unsure who was right. My clock said we only had two hours, so we went with that. Got Carole a taxi…but because it took longer to arrive than the taxis in Rome, she went into a nearby restaurant and made friends with a Greek cabbie who offered to take her. Ended up being a very slapstick situation when the first cabbie showed up. So, my two and I took the cab I ordered for her, and she and Ryan with her new friend.

We all arrived about the same time and went for an ice cream and pizza appetizer before dinner (well, Carole went for a nap). While there, Nate read off the activities and one caught our eye.

Super Mario Kart Tournament

Oh, how haughty we walked into that. We would literally destroy any small child who dared challenge us and then cackle as they wept. We even brought our own controllers. We went to the correct deck and…

There weren’t any small children. Just other adults my age. Fantastic. I didn’t really feel like consoling any 5th grader. Elijah jumped in first. Plugged in his controller, leaned forward, ready

and was promptly smoked.

I got in next and no one stepped up to play, so Elijah did it again. 2nd and 3rd. Who was this guy?

Some silent dude sitting quietly in the corner. Then some dad-lookin’ dude showed up and silently wiped the floor with us. Elijah had to give up his actual controller to this guy who muttered, “finally, a real controller” making us look at him in awe. 

There’s a verse that says God will humble the prideful. Indeed he will. After a few more rounds, we headed back to our room to get ready for dinner. Delish as usual, but the sun and the sand had us all wiped so we went back to sleep.

** so the internet is being stupid and I can't upload any pictures. Will update the blog to include those tomorrow

~Dannie

Going places. Making things. Tasting stuff.

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