We take the rural route up the mountains. Its starting to look greener. As we approach we see Spinalonga gradually emerging.
And there it is. A magical island floating in a sea of sparkling blue. Incredible to think that it was chosen as the place to send the lepers of Crete.
Of course, before we go exploring, we have to stop for lunch... Oh my goodness I hardly ever have lunch in Oz - definitely gym time when I get back!
We drag ourselves away to join the throngs of tourists visiting the island. We abandon the Guided tours and Roger with trusty guidebook in hand leads on. 
It is an incredible place with history reaching back to the venetians. We walk along the walls imagining all the people who have spent their lives here - especially the lepers who were banished here from all parts of Crete.
We celebrate Roger's birthday one of the amazing restaurants by the ocean. Its speciality is roasted meats but of course I can't resist the fresh fish.
Walking back over the causeway we pass by two young women who have hired a quad bike. We are amazed that they are driving at night, the roads in crete being what they are. As we walk on we hear them struggling to get the bike going. After our experience of breaking down we go back to see if we can help. Eventually they are able to kick start the bike and they are ready to set off to... Heraklion! "Really?" we ask. "Yes" they said "It took us 5 hours to get here" We are flabbergasted. During the day we are constantly avoiding, motorbikes, scooters, trucks, buses, pedestrians, goats, sheep, dogs cats and of course the dreaded quad bikes!. They are setting off in the dark at 10.00pm on a dodgy quad bike with faint lights over the mountains. Good Luck we breath. My first thought in the morning is. "I wonder if they are still driving."
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