Walk to Panormos

We decide to take the morning walk recommended by Rosa and Francis to the local village.  We know we can walk down the road but Colin has explained a way to walk down through the olive trees to the local village Panormo.

We set off early to avoid the sun and as we walk we meet our Belgium neighbours, who walk each day to the village to catch the bus.  Today they are going to the market at ενοδοχεία σε (Rethymno), the local town about 20 minutes away.

We share the road with them until we take a turn off down through the olive trees.  They shake their heads and continue confidently down the road.  I must admit we are a bit unsure. 

It is a very different walk to our usual one to Shelly Beach or Manly lagoon.  Dry and crunchy.  Snails adorn every single space, even the plants and flowers themselves.  I can see why snails are a popular item on the menu!

Butterflies of different colours, bees, wasps, beetles everywhere.  Huge sunflowers and the occasional flower dramatic against the dry soil.

We have been warned about wild dogs and so are on the lookout taking our walking poles but all we see are the feral cats that are everywhere in Crete.

We are looking for a concrete bridge that will take us to Panormos, but we see nothing like it.  Finally we reach a small village.  "Kalimera" we call out to a gaunt and dishevelled man.  "Kalimera."  He comes over to us smiling.  Hey! He speaks English... He is English, sort of.  I mean with all the recent political debate what is nationality anyway.

So he left UK in the 60's to go to Africa and he has never been back ... my he would see some changes!  He now lives in Crete.  After walking for 30 minutes, we thought we were on the  outskirts of Panormos.  He asks us where we are staying.  "Ruemeli"  we answer. "But this is Ruemeli"  he answers, puzzled.  We do a double take.  We have been walking through Olive trees for 30 minutes and we are back almost where we started!

He directs us to the upper road.  Having been here for 3 weeks, it all makes sense but back then?

We walked for twenty minutes, passing typical scenes throughout Crete... beautiful old buildings gradually (or not so gradually) decaying, modern concrete carcasses of huge houses that will never be finished and of course the posters for musicians performing everywhere!

At last, we hit a major road which is horrendous, cars screaming past us.  Phew!   We finally we reach Panormos...  and what a delight it is!