Toronto to Crete

Travel Whine – Toronto to Crete




We left Toronto on Saturday night on British Airways to London. We had seats booked in steerage but when the computer wouldn’t accept our boarding passes we somehow got bumped up to World Traveler Class (something more than Economy but less that Business Class). With large seats and free drinks we got through the night.



After the London to Athens flight we got to our ship late afternoon. Our arrival, despite having not slept, was very welcoming with a bottle of French champagne, fresh flowers and fresh fruit awaiting us in our cabin. Also, awaiting us was $ 150. onboard credit, compliments of our travel agent. Betty soon found a dress in an on board shop to balance the books.

As we were the last passengers to board we couldn’t get a dinner reservation until 8:30. We passed the time at a private cocktail party for members of some on-line club to which Betty belongs. At dinner we sat with 6 Danes and there was much conversation about Greece and the Euro. However, I lost the train of the arguments as I entered into a minor confrontation with our waiter. On this cruise wine is included with the meals (fortunately not Greek—last night’s choice was a very good Australian shiraz). Our waiter seemed to believe that the table was only set if the wine glasses were full. I felt that the table looked better if the glasses were empty or close to same. However, after four delicious courses and many top-ups of the Shiraz I had to concede that the waiter had won the contest. With some luck I made it back to our cabin without falling overboard.

This morning we were scheduled for a tour of Crete that was arranged by someone named Judy (another internet pal of Betty’s). Getting out of bed was very difficult but we did manage to join the group. After tendering to the city of Chania, we had a lovely tour of the island, visiting some mountain villages where we ate bread and cheese for lunch washed down with Greek coffee (at least that part that was liquid) and some local Crete liquor called Tsikoudia; that would have been put to better use cleaning the rust off my fenders. This afternoon we did a walking tour of Chania where Betty managed to spend a few more of my Euros.