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!

Crooked house

This house is found at the Omalos plateau, near the entrance of the Samaria Gorge. Would anyone like to hazard a guess as to how it got into this state?

The answer will be posted later in the week (along with more photos).

A view of the bridge

A pretty winter's view from Fournes village: the stone bridge (an accomplishment of the German during the Nazi occupation of the island of Crete) above the river Keritis.

Snow capped mountains

Hania may be hot in the summer, but it does get cold in the winter. We do have snow at this time of year in the Omalos valley, only a 40-minute drive from the town of Hania. The mountain range of Lefka Ori (White Mountains) is covered in snow at the moment; as it has been very cold lately, this snow will remain until spring, when it will start to melt, disappearing completely sometime in late May.

This photo was taken in Fournes village.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year, everyone!


These cookies (kourambiedes - κουραμπιέδες) are traditionally made in Greece during the Christmas and New year festive period

See you soon!
(but not on a daily basis from now on...)