August 17, Wednesday - Souda, Crete
This is also a repeat port. We are happy to be back. When we left here the last cruise, we had some unfinished business. At the Venetian port that is so prominent, we had not walked around the breakwater to the lighthouse. We would do that today.
When we left the shuttle in the city center we decided to look for a fish market that Ricky, the assistant dining room manager, had told us about at breakfast. His directions were vague, but we did know that it was away from the old city in a building that looked like a church. We set off in what we thought was the right direction without results.
At a park, we followed the street to the main thoroughfare. There we talked to a young man at a tourist information table. No one else was there and he took his time to tell us about 2 fish markets and how to get to them. While he finished, his colleague, a young lady, came off of her break. We asked her where she would go shopping for casual clothes. She told us about a few shops and then explained that there was also an open-air market. It was several blocks away near another park.
Armed with our new map, with fish markets and the open-air market noted, we started walking. Along the way, we found irresistable bakeries and shops.
Then we came to the first fish market right where it was marked on the map. It was small and had fresh fish with a vocal clientele. It was fun to watch the activity.
We had chosen to start with this market because it was on the way to the open-air market. That would be quite a walk but it took us through some interesting neighborhoods.
We had some difficulty finding the market, but eventually, we came across a street crowded with traffic. We looked ahead and could see that several blocks away was more traffic and the park. Eureka!
Soon we were walking the market which extended for several blocks. There we found clothing, toys, shoes, t-shirts and produce. Vendor after vendor had set up tables and racks on both sides of the street. As we shopped we came across a no parking sign on a tree. It explained that every Wednesday the market took place here. Wow! What a lot of effort these people go through. It must be worth it because there were a lot of people shopping. None of them were tourists.
Mission accomplished we started back to the old city. This was the kind of market we looked for the last time when all we found were the ruins of the old Venetian market. On the way we passed the second fish market. It was smaller than the first. We did not cross the street to visit it.
We walked the streets of the old city for a while without buying any of the touristic stuff. As our walk neared 5 hours we headed to the shuttle stop. The walk to the lighthouse will have to wait until October when our cruise on Azamara Journey will stop here.
Back on Oosterdam we noted that we had been out over 5 hours and had walked 5.7 miles. It was a great time.
After a late lunch I worked on emails until 4;30PM when we got ready for Mass. This has been a daily routine for us. Mass is at 5:00 on port days and 8:00AM on sea days. I have been doing the readings for this 24 days. Father John is a Jesuit priest from Dublin. I am grateful to him for the opportunity to read.
Today is Indonesia Independence Day. Kusnada, our breakfast waiter, had told us that there would be a celebration in the open seating dining room tonight. Before going to our fixed seating table we visited the dining room on deck 2. We were able to get some pictures of staff in traditional dress.
Downstairs
Zin
Another fine day.
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