January 25

Wow, today was a great day. The sites we saw weren’t particularly amazing, but the food we ate today was exceptional. Well, breakfast wasn’t very good, actually. The hotel just basically offers bread and jam, but I was able to snag an orange and stick it in my backpack for a snack later on and it was delicious.
This morning we visited a less than inspiring museum in Sitia. The main attraction is this ivory and gold covered statue found at Palaikastro. The statue has been badly burned, most likely from the fire that also ruined the building in which it was found, and completely smashed, likely an intentional action. It may have been destroyed along with the house by an invading enemy that destroyed most of the palaces on Crete. The next place we visited was Kato Zakros, the last of the Minoan complexes on our trip. This coastal compound one was pretty much like all the others, just on a smaller scale. Interestingly, because of the higher level of the Aegean sea, much of the site was filled with water and mud. We walked around for a bit on the site, pointing out the palace-like features, while clearly distinguishing this smaller complex from the grand structure at Knossos.
Getting to Kato Zakros required a slow, winding drive and on the way back to the hotel later that afternoon, someone got so car sick that we had to pull the bus over so they could throw up. I think I have fortunately grown out of my tendency toward motion sickness, because I never got the least bit queasy and I was even in a backwards facing seat. But before I start on the rest of the day, I must mention the delicious lunch we had. On our way to the site at Kato Zakros, we pulled over in town to ask about the lunch possibilities. A restaurant owner overheard our inquiries and offered his place and we gladly accepted as nothing else was open. They served us family style and brought out delicious breads, dips, Greek salads, pork kabobs, cheese pastry puffs, and dolmades (grape leaves wrapped around a rice mixture –excellent). Everything was delicious, especially the feta cheese which was so creamy it was almost more like goat cheese.
When we got back to the hotel I decided to take a nice walk around the town to check things out. I walked by the fishing boats, about 8 or 9 puppies, some children playing soccer, bought a coke zero (though I soon realized it had a Santa Clause on it so I’m not sure about the expiration date, but it tasted just fine) and found a pretty little Greek Orthodox church. The woman behind the counter at the hotel says they have daily services at 5, so I’ll try and check that out tomorrow.
Our group has the first set of tests on Tuesday, so we met at 5 this afternoon for a review session. It was helpful for me, though I think it only stressed some people out even more. I’m not worried. If my grades are poorer than normal because I am spending more time getting to know the cities better, then that’s a trade I am willing to make. I’m sure that I’ll have plenty of time tomorrow to do all the studying I need.
Reed had his 21st birthday a few days ago, so his mother sent Krentz some money to take us all out to dinner. Spiros found us a wonderful restaurant just a few minutes from the hotel. Krentz called ahead and worked it out with the restaurant that he would pay a certain amount per person, and they would serve us different items from the menu in a continuous flow. Everything was amazing. There were lamb meatballs, sausage, two different chicken dishes, an eggplant dish, a Cretan specialty that involves very hard bread that is softened with a tomato salsa topping, cheese pastries, breads, and a chocolate and fruit plate for dessert. I think I will be full for the next month and a half.
And just as a side note, some of the more stressed out students took the opportunity to relax via refreshments and I don’t think they will be waking up tomorrow morning as early as they had planned. I’m glad. Crete is too wonderful a place to spend your time worrying.
Okay it is getting late and I do need to get up in the morning to study.