Chania

We also explored the old town of Chania. Chania is gorgeous—it’s a port city with winding cobblestone streets, narrow alleys festooned with blooming flowery vines, and picturesque little shops and restaurants. I’m pretty sure that I want to own an apartment here someday.





Ancient Kydonia, the Minoan settlement that's still mostly buried under modern Chania:



Even the abandoned buildings are picturesque here.



We also went snorkeling. While I loved the chance to swim—and we got to snorkel inside a cave, which was neat—there were bats all over the ceiling—there were almost no fish to be seen. One of the employees of the expedition company that led our snorkeling trip told me that it was due to overfishing—that early in the season, fishermen come out with enormous trawls and catch everything living in the shallow water. Most of it gets thrown back, but by then it’s too late. (This guy, by the way, had an amazing talent for free-diving. I watched him dive really deep in just a snorkel mask. As someone whose ears hurt unbearably after going more than about six feet down, I found this incredible—he told me he’s never had his eardrums hurt. Some people are just born with natural talents).