This is our house in the Splanzia quarter of Xania. It was originally built in the 16th century. ‘To Spiti’ is a small, charming Venetian house located in the historic Ottoman quarter of Splanzia, right in the heart of the beautiful old city of Chania. It is a three storey structure, plus roof terrace and it covers 80 square meters. The house is 600 years old and is located in the narrow streets around the historic Square of Saint Nicholas of Splanzia and is a small part of the rich history of the town of Chania. It was built about 1400 by an affluent Venetian family of merchants. The current structure is only a part of the original estate which was divided into three separate dwellings, a common practice during the Turkish occupation. Traces of its noble past can still be seen in the archways of the interiors, in the living room’s modified fireplace and in the two entrances found on its narrow façade. The names of the many inhabitants of the residence have been lost through the passage of time, except for one, Mrs. Despina, who lived there from the early 1900’s to about 1980 when she passed away. She lived an impoverished existence and made her living as a laundress.At the Saturday Market in Xania, Crete. September 2012Yineka mou riding past the Neonkafe in Platea Splanzia ( Splanzia Square), or as it’s officially known, 1822 Square, in Xania, Crete. Sept 2012The Menu at Portes Restaurant, Xania.Coffee time, at the Saturday Market in Xania, Crete. Is that a lady on the left of the pic with the ‘ecstasy’ tee shirt? Maybe not?Xania, Crete. The waterfront at night.This small boat has seen better days! Cyclades, GreecePortovenere, La Spezia, Italy.Riomaggiore, Cinque Terra, ItalyVernazza, Cinque Terra, Italy.Vernazza, on a stormy day in late May, 2013
A dangerous place to stand and watch. Last year an American women was swept off the jetty and drowned.Running for cover!Vernazza, taken from the mountain trail to Monterosso
Travels with a TomTom 