Ayios Nikalaos

FRIDAY 16^th JANUARY

We made a decision last night to visit Ayios Nikalaos, 65 km from Heraklion on the east coast and a popular destination for holiday makers, especially the English.  As we left home at 9am the rain began and we hadn’t travelled far before we encountered flooded roads, especially Koxare where the whole village was awash.  We must be mad we said! Still we continued up to Rethymno and as we approached Armeni the rain stopped and the sun began to shine.  Joining the main highway that runs along the north coast and as far as Ag. Nik we saw that Rethymno was basking in brilliant sunshine.  We had one or two light showers on our journey which took us about two and a half hours.  Arriving we managed to follow the one way system and find a place to park by the marina as suggested in the ‘Rough Guide’.  We paid 3 euros after informing the cashier we would be staying around a couple of hours.  Getting out of the car my first stop was a loo which according to the site map was on the marina.  It took some finding as it turned out to be a portaloo!  Having used the men’s toilet as I failed to see the sign on the open door ( but it was very clean) we set off to explore The marina was full of boats both in the water and out and some very impressive ones at that.  Buildings included ‘Race Headquarters’ and ‘Press Office’ and on the wall information about race day procedures.  

We followed the tourist signs on the lamp posts and found the 'lake' which features on all the town's promotions. A picturesque place with lots of small fishing boats neatly lined up around the lake with several eating places on the quayside, and here a couple of fishermen were passing the time of day.  We walked over the road bridge and wondered if the small fishing boats actually went out to sea as the way out appeared to be very low under this bridge. 

By now we were getting hungry but trying to find somewhere to eat was a problem unless we wanted souvlaki or an Italian pizza or pasta, which we didn’t. Walking along narrow streets where many of the shops and eating places were closed we found the  coffee bars were only serving drinks, and so we arrived back at the lake before we found a restaurant open.  We could have sat by the lake and although the sun was shining and it felt quite warm we decided to eat in.  A lovely Chef’s salad, and then lamb chops, and on settling the bill we were each given a small glass of cointreau.  I was a little disappointed Keith drank his as I am quite partial to this liqueur!

We wanted to return home before it got dark so made our way back to the marina via a walkway along the seafront which soon brought us back into the work yard.  By now the sky was getting darker and we didn’t want to drive in unfamiliar territory in heavy rain or the dark, although most of the route is on dual carriageway.  The road from Heraklion is being improved and it looks as though there is going to be a bypass of the village of Malia where the street was lined with shops and stalls selling Cretan bananas and bags of oranges.  It must be hell on this road in the summer months.  

We arrived home around 5pm and noticed that it was still quite light at almost 6pm.