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Exploring Tromso

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I was reflecting on the bus from the airport that I was keen to get to the apartment so that we could find our bearings before it got dark. Needn’t have worried – here’s the midnight (actually 00.06) sun.

A couple of views from my morning walk

Jo didn’t have to be in work until lunchtime, so we could find a decent coffee shop for brunch

And note the sitting outside in shirtsleeves – crazy.

While she’s working, guess what – I’m walking!

Cheer up for goodness sake ….

Perhaps reflecting on the chaos at Oslo airport yesterday. Thought 1 hour 20 minutes would make changing planes easy. How wrong we were.

– long queue at passports which was moving painfully slowly. After a few minutes we plucked up the courage to barge in at the front (and quite a few followed)

– breathed a sigh of relief and looked forward to a coffee and a sandwich. But we had to go through security again, and there were only 2 people on duty. So whenever there was a query with anyone’s bag the process halted completely. Then the airport crews came through and got priority.

– things are now getting tight, and we can see our plane to Tromso is boarding. But we’re through – we can make it. But hold on – another queue for boarding passes. Four gates but two not working so slowed down again.

– then our gate is right at the other end so had to run the last 200m (and get our boarding passes scanned again)

– we weren’t the last on, but only just.

So well done Oslo – you make it my number 1 worst airport experience.

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An Evening Out

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Can’t believe we’re here. It’s a bit like a dream, especially as it’s nearly 11pm and broad daylight.

After a day’s travelling (including a very stressful change at Oslo) we headed out on a glorious evening – warmer than at home!

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Tromso

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Well here we are. Well inside the Arctic Circle.

Bus in from the airport

View from apartment

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The End

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Sunset

Moonset

We’re back home. Paleochora was a great place to chill – nothing to do but stroll around, eat, drink and read.

Thoroughly enjoyed the Greek hospitality – seems to be that every restaurant’s aim is to ensure you eat too much, from mighty Greek salads to complementary desserts and raki, and even the ice-cream shop gives you 3 scoops when you order 1.

Apart from the final place when we stopped in Chania on the way back to the airport.

Travel highlights

– touchdown to being in the car (both ways) of 35 minutes is great

– car hire office being closed at pick up and drop off is less great. (Only has one employee so if a car needs a wash or whatever, they’re not there)

– arriving home at 1.30 am is a bit tiring

But Crete is great.

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Paleochora

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Moving on. Very sorry to leave our fabulous villa – even in yet another downpour.

Onwards to the south of Crete for the last few days.

And the local signage just about sums it up.

House is “basic”, although ok from the terrace …

Otherwise it’s all about hanging out and enjoying

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Inclement Weather

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Thursday not great, but ok. Friday terrible!

Bit of sightseeing around Chania on Thursday.

And off to visit a monastery.

Now I think that this is where I visited in 1977, and somehow we got stuck there. I’m assuming the monks called for a taxi or something like that, they very kindly fed us while we waited. The bit I have never forgotten was that it was olives (which I can’t stand) and cold soft boiled eggs. And they very benignly stood over and watched while we ate. I’ve never touched olives or cold soft boiled eggs again. Memories!

Friday was even worse, with quite a lot of heavy rain. A good day to visit Chania Archaeological Museum which was terrific.

And visited Dimitris for the fifth night on the trot, which is unheard of for us, and on that measure makes it the best restaurant we’ve ever been to.

Here’s our friend Sakis

who spent the evening carrying food and drink over the road, protecting it with a big umbrella.

And how’s this for a sunset

On the move tomorrow.

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More Laziness

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It’s going to be hard to keep up with the blog at this rate, as one day seems to be only a slight variation on previous ones, as the pictures demonstrate.

I think, though, that we need a special shout out for our favourite restaurant, in Almyrida.

It does appear to be genuinely (extended) family run, including the fish of the day caught by one of the brothers. In many ways a throwback to what we both remember from Crete from 50 years ago, including a gorgeous view from dinner.

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Lazy Day

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Very little to say, apart from some lovely pictures.

Back to the villa for a relaxing afternoon

Evening in Almyrida

And home again – what’s not to like???

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Apokoronas Peninsula

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We’re staying somewhere near the bottom left hand corner, and so decided to have a lazy day exploring the peninsula.

It’s as nice as it looks, and soooooo relaxing.

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Chania

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Eileen has decided that this might be her favourite place ever! We both reckon we were here the best part of 50 years ago, so memories are a bit faded to put it mildly.

But we drifted from coffee to beer to ice-cream to dinner soaking it all up.

Hmmm

Lovely view from dinner

And back to our wonderful villa