Sunrise: Chania 7:14am
Sunset: Heraklion 7:10pm
Steps: 10,180
I had a really good nights sleep and was awake just before the alarm went off. I went down to breakfast at 10 past 7 and I was the first person there for the day.
The breakfast room
After another delicious breakfast, I then went back to my room and made sure the bag was out before 8:15, so the porter could take it downstairs. There are 2 lifts in this hotel and they are fairly slow. I'm on the 3rd floor and just walk up and down the stairs, as I can't be bothered waiting for the lift. I'm so glad that our bags were delivered to our rooms while we were out exploring, on Monday. It would have taken forever to get them up to our rooms.
We were on our way by 5 past 9. Irene is our local guide. She is From Heraklion and is an archaeologist. She doesn't work in the field but does work in museums.
There were 3 HUGE cruise ships docked in the port, so a good day to depart.
It is extremely overcast and WINDY today.
It was raining lightly as we departed Chania and stayed cloudy until we started heading south towards Preveli Monastery.
I had a really good nights sleep and was awake just before the alarm went off. I went down to breakfast at 10 past 7 and I was the first person there for the day.
The breakfast room
We were on our way by 5 past 9. Irene is our local guide. She is From Heraklion and is an archaeologist. She doesn't work in the field but does work in museums.
There were 3 HUGE cruise ships docked in the port, so a good day to depart.
It is extremely overcast and WINDY today.
The monastery of Preveli (or Prevelis) is located 37km south of Rethymnon, in a beautiful natural setting on the western slopes of Megalos Potamos (the exit of Kourtaliotiko Gorge) and the palm grove of the area. It includes two separate monasteries which are located 1.7km from each other, the Kato (Lower) Monastery of Prodromos and the Piso (Back) Monastery of Theologos.
Piso Monastery of Theologos operates as a male monastery and is actually the monastery of Preveli. It is built on the rocky cliffs of Mesokorfi mount, at an altitude of 170m, and has incredible sea views. The complex is built in shape Π, with the two-aisled church of the monastery in its center. The temple has a magnificent icon screen and its two aisles are dedicated to St. John the Theologian (celebr. May 8) and the Annunciation. Around the church there are the buildings of the abbot, the dining room, the baking room, the library, creamery, wax workshop, the monks' cells, the cemetery, etc. Many of the valuable objects (sacred vessels, vestments, gospels) and icons are exhibited in a small museum, inside the monastery. A large number of icons (16th-20th century) have been collected from Kato Monastery, Piso Monastery and various chapels owned by Preveli.
During the German occupation (1940s), the monastery hosted more than 5000 allies who fought in the Battle of Crete. Indeed, near Perth of Australia, there is a tourist village and a monastery named Prevelly, founded by -the survivor and forever grateful to Preveli monks- veteran soldier, Geoffrey Edwards.
Moreover, Preveli is famous for the Holy Cross (Timios Stavros) stored in the temple, that was donated by the Abbot Effraim Prevelis and is considered miraculous. The cross bears part of the True Cross at its base and comes from Constantinople. According to tradition, during the battle in Amouryeles in Heraklion (1823), the Cross fell to the Turks who sold it to some Genoese pirates. When in November of the same year they sailed near Preveli Lake, the ship stopped although the weather was windy. For three days, the ship could not move, until the pirates delivered the Cross to the monks. Moreover, when the Nazis captured the monks of Preveli in 1941, they took the cross. However, the plane that was about to carry the cross to germany, could not take off with no explanation. Once the Germans delivered the Holy Cross to the police station of Chania, the plane took off!
We were not allowed to take any photos in either the museum or the church, so only outside pics.
PREVELI INTERNATIONAL MEMORIAL FOR RESISTANCE & PEACE
The Memorial was erected on the monastery's own land, on a site with a stunning panoramic view, overlooking the Libyan sea. The site is alongside the main bitumen road to the Monastery, and just 1.8 kms before the Monastery itself.
The project to build the Memorial, which is of major historical and humanitarian interest, touched many simple people from Crete and around the world who volunteered to assist its implementation in various ways.
The wish to erect a shrine in the land of the Holy Monastery of Preveli has been expressed in the past by the soldiers Tom Dunbabin and Geoff Edwards who fought in the Battle of Crete. The latter, who passed away on April 11 2000 was the main motivator of the action for the erection of this memorial.
The design of the memorial was done by the Dipl. Architect Mrs Chryssoula Stavrianoudaki, who is licensed for such projects. Mrs Stavrianoudaki, who comes from Crete, offered her services free of charge to the Holy Monastery of Preveli. The Holy Monastery has appointed volunteer Mr Manolis R. Alifierakis, Dipl. Mechanical Engineer, also from Crete, as Project Co-ordinator.
The civil local authorities supported the Monastery's initiative for the erection of the Memorial.
Metropolitis EIRINAIOS, of the Holy Diocese of Lambis and Sfakion, in whose spiritual jurisdiction the Monastery belongs, gave his blessing to this sacred project, honouring the memory of the allied forces from Greece, Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain, as well as civilian men and women of the island.
Archbishop STYLIANOS, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia, strongly supported the initiative of the construction of this memorial in Preveli and considered that it will further reinforce the strong bonds between Australia and Greece. The foundation ceremony took place on May 18, 2001, during the events of the 60th commemoration of the Battle of Crete.The inauguration ceremony took place a year latter, on May 25, 2002.
We almost got blown away when visiting both the monastery and the memorial. I think they were gale force winds. All the beaches along the coast were closed and sail boats were not allowed to set sail, as the conditions were too treacherous.
A very harsh land in that area, with many caves throughout, especially in and around the Kourtaliotiko Gorge.
We had lunch in Rethymnon, where the locals and others, instead of going to the beach, spent time watching the waves break over the harbour walls.
We arrived at our hotel shortly after 5. I'm in room 335. Thinking it was only 3 floors up, I decided to walk up to my room with my carry-on. It's actually 5 floors up.
Breakfast is on level A, the mezzanine level. Then there is level B, I presume Business, as there are a couple of conference rooms on that level. Then there are level's 1, 2, 3 & 4 and then up a few more stairs from 4 is the rooftop pool. The forecast for tomorrow is 23 & cloudy, so I don't think I'll be dipping into that pool.
Orientation walk at 5:30pm. I'll explore a bit more tomorrow when we have free time. After the walk ended, I went back to the hotel, to do some hand washing, take some clothes out of the suitcase for the next couple of days and then went downstairs to the Cafe Capsis, which is just off reception, to have something to eat for dinner. Jenny & David were already there and just finishing off a coffee and cake. I ordered a baguette with ham, cheese & tomato and a glass of wine. €6.60 and the bread was fresh. A very filling meal.
Some more photos from lunch time today and hotel this evening.
That's it from me for tonight. Night all, or should I be saying, Good Morning??
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