Crete

After all of our travels through Southeast Asia and Egypt, it certainly was nice to be welcomed back to Western Civilization in Aghios Nikolaos, Crete.  We enjoyed a wonderful spring day traveling into the mountains and visiting the Lassithi Plateau.

But first on our journey high in the mountains of Crete, we visited the tiny 14th century Monastery of Panayia Kera which had been the home of the icon of Our Lady of Prompt Succor or Our Lady of Perpetual Help many centuries ago. Unfortunately, the legend goes that when Crete was occupied by the Venetians the icon was brought to Italy via a prosperous merchant who died while trying to have it displayed so all could venerate it.  The icon was placed in the care of the Augustinians in Rome and was rediscovered by Pope Pius IX  who took an interest in it, for he had remembered praying before it as a young boy.

We visited the villages of the plateau and enjoyed a wonderful peasant lunch complete with traditional Greek dancing and Raki or Tsipouro, a home-brewed, clear drink similar to ouzo.