We have seen griffon vultures wheeling high above us. They look quite small at such an altitude but in fact have a wingspan of more than eight feet. It would be exciting to see one close-up but that seems unlikely.
At least twenty pairs nest in the Deliana Gorge where we walked on Friday. As it was a holiday we met five other walkers along the four km gorge. There were many more goats.
Cretan gorges remind me of Georgia O’Keeffe’s landscapes of New Mexico in which a harsh and arid terrain is depicted with triangles of piercing blue sky. We repaired to lunch in a good taverna that was pitching for tourist trade in Deliana village. It is boring to mention money but so far our lunches, for two, have cost pre-tip: 3, 56 and 17 euros. The 17 euro splurge in Deliana was the best: tzatziki, stuffed vine leaves, stuffed courgette flowers and good bread.
The food at our hotel is especially good. For breakfast there are four different sorts of bread , baked locally, yogurt, hard boiled eggs, ham, cheese and lots of honey, jams, fresh fruit and sprinkles for the yogurt. In the evening a three course dinner that always kicks off with two different salads or similar and concludes with a cold jug of what in France is called marc or in Italy grappa. I usually have a jug of house white or red with dinner and ouzo as an aperitif. It is just the sort of well prepared food made with fresh ingredients that I like.