Round the shops in Heraklion, Zara, Mango, H&M, M&S et al!

The January sales are here and in the spirit of investigation ( what else?) we had a trip to Heraklion and spent some ( most) of the time looking at the well known high street stores which we now have here on Crete. We also compared the stores to their counterparts in Chania where appropriate.

Some of them were not easy to find - Mango was down a side street - in a fabulous building-  but you could not see the signs until you were pretty much opposite it!

We do not have a mango at our end of the island so interesting to take a look.

More than one Benetton in Heraklion

The Body Shop. Long and narrow - well laid out, pleased to see they are now allowed to sell hemp hand cream and they had a section for their Vegan skincare and make up. Slightly easier to find things in Chania, but that is purely due to the shape of the store.

Marks and Sparks - on 4 floors, but the stairwell in the centre takes up a lot of room and it was not easy to find anything. Small lingerie department and minuscule department for men. Verdict - much better and more stock in Chania.

Lots of jewellery shops including "names"

Gap and Baby Gap. None in Chania.

Zara looked promising but a disappointment inside - items crowded together, difficult to find what you wanted. Chania store wins again! 

I have to say though, the assistants were working their socks off and though there were queues, due to the sheer number of customers, they worked quickly and efficiently and served everyone as fast as possible.

Zara home, None in Chania. Small soft furnishings and items such as baskets etc only.

Now in Chania too, Stradivarius is Zara's cheaper sister store. Well worth a look. Layout of Chania and Heraklion much the same - equal contenders!

Laterna in the street (barrel organ)

H&M look promising - when we eventually found it as it is not near the other main stores.

Well laid out, similar to Chania - perhaps a little roomier

Accessorise, we do not have in Chania - was busy and had a lovely range of items

The winter fair in Eleutharios square was beginning to close as it was the last day

Must have been magical for the children over the holidays. The "Ice rink" and the climbing walls were still busy!

Over all, if you live nearer to Chania than Heraklion, I would say that the shopping is better in Chania and not worth going to Heraklion simply for a clothes shopping day in the main "High Street" stores. As a day out of course there is plenty to do and see and many boutique and up market shops. We left the car and went on the Ktel bus so no hassle driving and no parking worries - well worth it. 

A visit to Bali. Diving with the seahorses

Have you visited Bali? No, not the Bali in Indonesia, there is another Bali right here in Crete!

This Bali, on the North coat of Crete, between Rethymnon and Heraklion has five small sandy coves, Livadi, Kouskouras, Limani (main harbour ), Varkotopos and Karavostasis. It is sheltered and idea for families.

Bali is believed to have been the port for the town of Axos during Minoan times 

Clear waters and sandy coves

Inflatable water park for all the family!

We enjoyed sitting back with a drink and watching the fun.

Cosy nooks for a rest

The beaches were very busy - it was the height of the season, but there was still space for those who wanted their own umbrella 

Here is a video from the diving centre of Bali showing sea horses just off shore

El Greco

Domenikos Theotokopoulous ( El Greco) was said to have been born in Crete, approximately 25 kilometers from Heraklion ( then known as Chandax) near an old church of the Virgin Mary (Theotokos). This is believed to be the village of Fodele and the reputed house of his birth is indeed next to a very ancient church of "The Panagia"(Theotokos) from where the family is said to take their name

The island was under Venetian rule at the time

This 1000 year old plane tree would have been an old tree when El Greco was born in 1541- amazing

The church of the Panagia next to the reputed home of El Greco

The Byzantine church is built on the even earlier foundations of a 7c church

The older church was a basilica with three aisles

You can clearly see the older structure

Next to the church is a museum dedicated to El Greco housed in his reputed birthplace

The old oven

The oven from the outside

Inside are many illuminated copies of his paintings

I particularly liked this painting of his family  - which includes the cat!

A room set out as an artists studio illustrating the type of paints he would have been working with

Truly amazing how a boy from a tiny village in Crete could travel to Spain in the 1500's and become one of the world's greatest artists. 

Last night I watched the film El Greco - here is a trailer - a great film!