Snowy scene

No, I didn't go to the Alps for my Christmas holidays. It's winter, and this is typical scenery in the highlands of Hania.

A picturesque lake on the Omalos plateau, below the Lefka Ori, Hania.

Vendetta

On a recent trip up to the Omalos plateau in Hania, near the Lefka Ori mountain range, we passed by a small neighbourhood with a few houses clustered around it. In more recent years, these roughshod dwellings became larger to accommodate more people like tourists and hunters (hare, partridges, turtledoves, and other small birds can be found here).

The small housing settlement on the Omalos plateau.

As you pass by the houses, you come across one that looks as though it did not survive an earthquake well. The first floor looks buckled like the motorways after a sever case of seismic activity in Japan and California, while the rooms hang lopsided over the shelled-out cavity below. The neighbours' houses, however, haven't suffered any damage whatsoever.

The Crooked House on the Omalos Plateau

Here's the story I've heard about how this house got to this state. About 45-50 years ago, Mr A (the owner of the house, which was also a kind of bed and breakfast with a cafe operating on the ground floor) and Mr B were involved in shady dealings (they were growing other kinds of 'horta'), whose profits were shared among them. One of these deals didn't go as planned. Mr A questioned Mr B about his share of the profits. Mr B admitted that he had made a mistake in his calculations, and that he'd go to his car and get more money to give to Mr A. Mr A was watching Mr B as he went to his car. As Mr B walked back to Mr A, Mr A noticed that he was carrying a gun. At that moment, Mr A took out his gun (he was also carrying one), shot Mr B dead, took his wife and kids and left Crete forever, fearing revenge attacks, which is clearly how this matter developed, since his house, cafe and guest rooms were blown up. Rumour has it that he went to the USA...

VENDETTA!

Tree in spring blossom

On our way home after a little trip out to our orange and olive fields in Fournes village in Chania, we passed this tree dressed in purple blossom. It looked very beautiful amongst the seasonal spring green colours. The house behind it is the only one for about half a kilometre; on the left hand side of the road, there is a low (but fast running) river. All the snow that melts from Lefka Ori downwards flows here.

Snowy mountains

Hania may be on an island in the Mediterranean, but we've never had a winter when snow hasn't fallen. It's rare to get snow in the town or other low-lying areas, but Lefka Ori (the White Mountains) are covered in snow from mid-November to late March, or even early April. This shot of the mountain range was taken (from the car window) close to our house as I was going to school to pick up the children at about noon. The olives from the trees in the photo were only recently harvested.