Day 35 5/10 /2018
Exploring the Fortress and the shops.

Wonderful news Shirley’s reaction has settled and she ready to explore. We are going to 15 century fortress about 10 minute walk from our hotel. The Venetian Fortezza (fortress) is built on the "Paleokastro" hill, located on the west side of the city. On the same hill the Acropolis of the ancient city of Rethymno was located, along with a sanctuary dedicated to Goddess Artemis. The Fortezza was built between 1573-1580 by the Venetians in order to protect the citizens from the Turkish threat. It is shaped like a star, it has three gates and six ramparts. The temple of Saint Nicola has been turned into the mosque of Sultan Ibrahim Han. There was the building of the Commander, the building of the Counsellor, army camps, stables, ammunition depots, a water supply reservoir and some houses that were later destroyed.
While we were there we found this modern day art gallery in one of the building which had some extraordinary art work that we couldn’t resist buying ,but the other thing about it was that it was literally a home for stray cats and part of the cost of art went to the up keep of these cats.
Having combed every foot of the fortress it was time to shopping, we had seen a few things we liked while walking yesterday and now with us moving on tomorrow it time to get them and figure how to store them in our bags.
Heading back to the hotel Shirley remembered seeing a bar with a Chardonnay for only 4 euros which is a bargain, so we search but to no avail, it had vanished off the streets. We rest a while an the weather heated up so of to beach , but as we walked there to clouds rolled in and the temperature dropped so swimming was off the table, so more wondering, in shops ,out of shops and then a shop that had what Shirley had been looking for ,light weight summer dresses. We bought 2, both looked great on her.
Back home to prepare to have dinner at the Avil restaurant , a flashy style, collared shirt type,Shirley had a Goat dish ,myself a rabbit cooked two way , both were again delicious . We finished with a strawberry cheese cake dessert and then we were both done. A small walk to settle our food , then home to bed.
Catch you again in the blog ,
Love you all ,
Shirley and John