Something like Normality resumes!

"Cosmo" - Hangout for a good many nights!

It was "All Change" ten days into Greyrocks' truncated summer stay, as we were due to move to the usual little apartment on the same day as Chloë and Jack would land at midnight in Heraklion.
Complicated texts were sent giving instructions for finding the studio we thought we would still be occupying and telling them not to disturb us at 4 am. (To Greyrocks' disapproval they had ordered a taxi for the entire journey!). However, on the morning in question we were told we could move there and then, so we did - and sent a new text to tell them to leave their luggage outside the usual apartment. By the time we had been for a meal and moved on to Cosmo the idea of staying up to meet them took over and when the sent a message to say they were close we replied that they should dump their bags and then meet us there! So it was a 3.30 rendezvous and for Greyrocks a 5.30 bedtime! The new arrivals went for strolls, purchase of goodies at the commercial bakery and an eventual check-in to their room.

An old Houmas specials board

If you use Facebook (which we do not!) you can see details of various "jollies" which Chloë and Jack enjoyed without us - such as walking the Anidri Triangle, and overnighting in Loutro - as well as some we shared. Search for Chloë using both parental surnames!  Early on they helped us retrieve our sunbeds and other stuff from storage, so we were able to get one of the sunbeds down to "our" tree for Bob to use. Ruth had not - at this point - managed to sit down on one, so that did not join its partner for a week or so! On two occasions we four eschewed the sandy beach and took a taxi through the chaotic roadworks to Houmas in Gramenon, where we could enter the sea easily in a sheltered bay and also choose from the wonderful menu. On the first occasion Ruth managed several "firsts":- getting down onto and up from a sunbed with the aid of a parasol pole, getting into and out from the sea with human support, and doing shoulder exercises resembling swimming!

There were some windy days, so we thought it was timely to have some time in Chania, and planned to join the kids as they left for Rethymnon after ten days. We booked a taxi to take us all to the Cretan Brewery inland from Platanias on the North coast. There we paid to taste five beers - including two seasonal brews. We followed this with a chosen full glass each and some very pleasant mezes.

We could not book a tour, but we could look from outside onto the various tanks, after a while the"wally-trolley" arrived from Platanias and disgorged fifty or so Skandis, who were given a reduced range to taste, but a fuller exposition. When they had gone we ordered a taxi to take us into Chania. Chloë and Jack went to leave their luggage at the bus station and visit the market, whilst we were dropped off fairly near Nea Chora and our hotel. We planned to meet at Portes for late lunch, which did happen, but not without confusion (see next post), and after a long and very pleasant meal they left for their onward journey. A good spell together. Next meeting is planned for Goa in December!