Knossos Palace
Sunday, September 17, 2023
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oday we were given an option - to spend our morning at the ship exploring what it has to offer or to go on another tour in Crete, Greece. Half of our group decided to stay and just relax on the ship and the other half decided to go on a planned trip to see Knossos Palace and St. Titan’s church at Heraklion. Since it is Sunday, our group’s onboard priest Father Lito will celebrate mass in the afternoon in Santorini. Tere and I decided to go on the tour off the ship.
Knossos Palace showcases the advanced civilization of the Minoans (before Christ). Unearthing palace ruins showed the building must have 5 stories (stairs leading from one floor to the next) with 1500 apartments, basement like structures that housed complex bath and latrine like systems, outdoor theaters, and even a custom/reception site for receiving dignitaries.
Then we went to Heraklion to visit St. Titus Greek Orthodox church. It has the same wall to wall paintings that feature stories about the saint’s life, and other religious scenes and events. The church also houses the skull of the saint ornately decorated.
We were given free time to explore the city and we tried the gelato (similar to ice cream with half the calories and sugar). I ordered the passion fruit gelato. It was a creamy confection that was pleasing to the palate.
We went back to the ship by 11:30 am and had lunch afterwards. Father Lito special ordered kare-kare the previous night and the Filipino dish was close to home cooking. Instead of bagoong or fish sauce, we were given tiny salted anchovies. It was then that I terribly missed home.
Not to sound ungrateful, there comes a moment when you realize that everything you need you always had. The simple life begins to pull its heady attraction. Home is always the place where your heart belongs.
