Crete

Returned from Crete yesterday, very sad to have left. We have so many friends in Ayios Nikalaus where we stay. They are the most generous of people, in spite of the circumstances that Greece finds itself into. If a Greek takes you out or offers you a gift you must not refuse their generosity for they will take offense and if they like you their generosity is legendary and boy can they drink! 
I have written about  the situation in Greece before and I am not going into to it now, except to say that the people are being squeezed from every angle and when you know them as well as we do their plight is tangible and painful. In spite of this economic hardship, they are humbling in their spirit and hospitality.
We had a fantastic 9 days, great weather, good food, uplifting raki! We laughed and put the country and the world to rights. 
We met some new friends and cemented even deeper friendships with the many people we already know. 
Our best friends Costos and Thalia and their son and daughter Emmanuel and Marina are like family and welcome us like we are theirs. I cannot thank them enough for the warmth they show us. 
I did not mean to sound so effusive and warm and fuzzy, especially as my title statement specifically states that it is not my style but I cannot help myself, they are wonderful.