Garden

We actually bestirred ourselves to go somewhere today and met up with our friends at the Botanical Park and Gardens of Crete. Well, that was the intention. What really happened is that we thought we'd arrived at the time arranged, hung around, drank some delicious fresh squeezed orange, waited another 20 mins and then went off as we thought some misinterpretation must've happened. Which it had. A lesson in not relying on instant electronic messaging as we were up in beautiful mountain scenery which was device unfriendly. Ah well!

The gardens are laid out on a mountainside and are a demonstration of the wide variety of species that flourish here, not necessarily native - in fact, not much native flora at all which was a bit disappointing for me. However, seeing mangoes hanging off their tree, Dutchman's Pipe flowers (fascinating for me personally as the remedy made from it worked brilliantly and I could absolutely see the remedy picture personified), many aromatic herbs (my favourite touchy feely scenty bit and even a tiny 'zoo' with the native Cretan goat. Peacocks (now looking a bit the worse for wear and including one baby) were scattered in posses of males and females throughout and, thank goodness, were largely silent; the garden must be a noisy place earlier in the year! The garden trail zigzagged mostly down and then up the steep mountainside so a short distance did take the 2+ hours as advised, but there was no hurry.

We'd been told by our friends that the restaurant at the end of the trail was very good - and guess who was just finishing their tasty meal as we arrived hot and dusty; they'd arrived slightly earlier than us and for some reason chose to do the trail immediately. So we joined them for a quick cold beer and stuffed vine leaves (our 'snack' of choice) and antihistamine tablets (LD has a mozzie bite that isn't responding to topical lotions and is incredibly aggravating).

The blip is a Papyrus that was an explosion of flower heads waving in the warm breeze. There were much more exotic colours but I loved it's sculptural qualities.

Back by mid afternoon to more strenuous gentle swimming and poolside reading. If there wasn't a breeze I think I'd melt!