Exploring

The rain stopped so I decided to do laundry. I didn’t not know how long even the evo cycle could take! I worked in my coloring while I waited. Since I was not sure exactly how this washer worked, I didn’t want to leave it unattended. Then it was time to use what my friend Terry calls the Amish clothes dryer.

Coming up on noon time, I drove west to Hora Sfakia. It’s the “capital” of this district. It’s also the south evacuation point of the Allies during WWII. After four days of fierce fighting on the other side of the island, the Allies decided that they were beat and hiked across the mountains to be picked up here by the British navy. Of the 14,000 troops, 10,000 were evacuated before the Luftwaffe started bombing the ships. Those left behind became POW and some were executed, sent to concentration camps, or able to escape or hide in the mountains.

From there, I went east to Frankokastellonwhefe there is yet another Venetian fort. This one is just a baby compared to the others as the Venetians were not that interested in staging defense here. However, an historical event occurred here in 1828. 600 men in the Cretan resistance barricaded themselves in the fort to fight the Ottoman Turks despite advice to the contrary. Unsurprisingly, they were overrun by the army of 1800 Turks. 350 were killed and left unburied until a sand storm covered the bodies.

After a walk on the beach, I stopped at a cafe for a cheese pie and a spinach square with a Greek lager and enjoyed the sunny afternoon.