We arrived early this morning in the port city of Heraklion, Crete, where we were greeted with an ominous black cloud, but with a beautiful double rainbow. Most of our group went on a special tour of the palace of Knossos which dates to the Minoan period of 1700 BC. Most remember the Minoan period by the famous Greek myth of Minotaur and Theseus. However, our tour guide informed us that such a myth was only loosely based on reality. You see, in the myth, Athens had to send twelve tributes to Crete to be killed by the Minotaur (a half man, half bull monster) in a mazelike Labyrinth. In reality the tributes were sent over to participate in ceremonial bull fights where the bull survived and the fighters were gored to death. The Labyrinth was the name for the house of the double headed axe, a ceremonial weapon used for sacrifices. It was not mazelike at all.
The archeologists believe that the palace was first ruined by a giant tsunami, caused by the earthquake of Santorini, another Greek island. It was rebuilt and then destroyed once more by a great fire. The alabaster stone structure, clay pots and frescos remain but the Cyprus wood beams and doors burned. The palace of Knossos is known for the oldest flushing toilet, oldest throne, and oldest paved road in the world. The palace has three water systems: drinking water piped in from the mountains, toilet water, and sewage. This civilized Minoan civilization is thought to be about the time of the great flood of Noah’s time.
Touring the ruins this morning, all the students and adults were chilled to the bone, what with the rainy weather and freezing wind. It’ll only be 66 degrees, they said. It’ll be warm, they said. Well, we can most definitely say that the weather was most unpleasant, and the best part of the day to most was after the tour in a nice warm coffee shop. We got back in the boat, noticing for the first time that the sea was churning madly back and forth—quite a change from the nice warm weather we have been enjoying. A rocky boat ride through the afternoon sent everyone aboard the ship reeling, so most took a nice nap as the ship rolled roughly through the waves. The sea was so turbulent that we almost didn’t go to our next destination—Santorini. However, as the sun went down, the storm calmed enough for us to go to shore. Unfortunately, Santorini does not have a port, so we disembarked from the ship in small boats, which thankfully had a roof to shield us from the wind and waves. If we thought the rocking cruise ship was bad, this little boat was even worse. Sea water dripped in from windows, and the entire boat almost went perpendicular to the sea. Many had their heads down, or their eyes closed, praying for the ride to end. It was dark by the time we reached the island, and in order to get to the city, one has three options: climb up 400 steps (in the dark), ride a mule, or take the cable car. Everyone used the cable car, a pleasant ride up the mountain, though we couldn’t see a thing in the dark. Our group toured through the city, picking up souvenirs and delicious chocolate covered baklava. When we returned to the ship, the return journey almost pleasant, we had one last dinner aboard the cruise ship. Our Greek tour guide and friend, Christian, presented us with a wooden elephant to join our family of Elephants in the Room. Tomorrow, we will say goodbye to our cruise ship and say hello to Athens, Greece once more.
By Lexi, Dakota, and Jenny
The archeologists believe that the palace was first ruined by a giant tsunami, caused by the earthquake of Santorini, another Greek island. It was rebuilt and then destroyed once more by a great fire. The alabaster stone structure, clay pots and frescos remain but the Cyprus wood beams and doors burned. The palace of Knossos is known for the oldest flushing toilet, oldest throne, and oldest paved road in the world. The palace has three water systems: drinking water piped in from the mountains, toilet water, and sewage. This civilized Minoan civilization is thought to be about the time of the great flood of Noah’s time.
Touring the ruins this morning, all the students and adults were chilled to the bone, what with the rainy weather and freezing wind. It’ll only be 66 degrees, they said. It’ll be warm, they said. Well, we can most definitely say that the weather was most unpleasant, and the best part of the day to most was after the tour in a nice warm coffee shop. We got back in the boat, noticing for the first time that the sea was churning madly back and forth—quite a change from the nice warm weather we have been enjoying. A rocky boat ride through the afternoon sent everyone aboard the ship reeling, so most took a nice nap as the ship rolled roughly through the waves. The sea was so turbulent that we almost didn’t go to our next destination—Santorini. However, as the sun went down, the storm calmed enough for us to go to shore. Unfortunately, Santorini does not have a port, so we disembarked from the ship in small boats, which thankfully had a roof to shield us from the wind and waves. If we thought the rocking cruise ship was bad, this little boat was even worse. Sea water dripped in from windows, and the entire boat almost went perpendicular to the sea. Many had their heads down, or their eyes closed, praying for the ride to end. It was dark by the time we reached the island, and in order to get to the city, one has three options: climb up 400 steps (in the dark), ride a mule, or take the cable car. Everyone used the cable car, a pleasant ride up the mountain, though we couldn’t see a thing in the dark. Our group toured through the city, picking up souvenirs and delicious chocolate covered baklava. When we returned to the ship, the return journey almost pleasant, we had one last dinner aboard the cruise ship. Our Greek tour guide and friend, Christian, presented us with a wooden elephant to join our family of Elephants in the Room. Tomorrow, we will say goodbye to our cruise ship and say hello to Athens, Greece once more.
By Lexi, Dakota, and Jenny