May Day, Xirosterni, Kalamitsi, Vrysses, Georgioupolis

May Day in Crete means wreaths of flowers on your door ( The crosses are the smoke from the holy candle brought home the last two years after the midnight service at Easter)

Or on the gate

..and on the car

Going down to Kalamitsi

Kalamitsi Alexandrou

A lovely lunch

In peaceful surroundings

Meanwhile... down in Vrysses they were determined to have the biggest and best wreath!

Everyone helping

Well done everyone! (Photos from the syllogos)

Then down to Georgioupolis for coffee

Lots of people walking out to St Nicholas' church on the causeway

"Come on.. I am waiting to play!"

Askyfou war museum

A fine day led to a trip out. We decided to visit the plateau of Askyfou and to visit the war museum 

The museum was founded by Mr George Hatzidakis after the second world war. As a ten year old he had been a witness to the fighting of the Battle of Crete in 1941. He was wounded and some of his family members killed

After the war he began to collect artefacts found in the surrounding area of his home and so the museum was gradually built up.

The museum now has articles from both wars and the war of independence, though most is from the second world war.

Some items have been given as gifts

An old Norton motorbike

German sidecar

Helmets and bayonets of all nationalities

Bike with a dynamo

German artefacts

British flying jacket

canon from 1770

Lead bullets made by melting lead into hollowed out stones - 1770

Sea mine

British parachutists overall

Looking out over the plateau

Mines and depth charges

The museum is a private museum and is not funded by the Greek authorities so is run on gifts and contributions - well worth a visit.

Take the road to Sfakia about 15 minutes drive out of Vrysses and you can't miss it!