Inside one of Crete's orthodox churches, we lasted only about 1 hour of the 3 hour service and not just because men sit on the right side, women on the left nor by the pungent fragrance of billowy incense and lullaby incantations! Colorful biblical stained-glass depictions presented inside spider-webbed leaded glass windows, gilded iconic scenes, worshippers lighting wedding-cake terraced candle holders upon entry, whose slender white tapers barely melt down before an designated church monitor plucks them from their holders only to be replaced by a candle from the next worshipper. Without knowing the Greek tongue nor the progression of the service, I occupied my time on photographic moments! Couldn't leave without seeing the head of St Titus inside what looked like a big Ferrero Rocher gold candy wrapper encased in glass.
Later, Steve & I wandered through the quiet Sunday streets, finding ourselves inside a scaled down (ie. in renovation) Archeological Museum. Few but quality items on display, included pieces as old as 6,000 b.c. - wow! - frescoes, intricate bee pendant & mighty Medusa!
Santorini is just like all the calendar photos we've all seen. A funicular ride to the top and we were perched like eagles, looking dizzingly down rooftops & strips of narrow pathways below, our cruise ship, a dot in the vast blue liquid water. Houses jammed into rock holes, picturesque; we opted to walk down, side stepping colorfully mounted donkeys & riders & their 'residual'!
