We took the wine tasting tour where we sampled three local wines of which the island is justifiably proud, particularly the one which is used in the churches at mass!
The iconic blue and white village on the hilltop with its narrow streets and many steps did not disappoint, and there were plenty of souvenir shops and art galleries to browse.
We wandered around Chania independently and it was a pleasant resort and harbour with cafes and restaurants mainly filled with Greek holidaymakers. Unfortunately we were told that we would not have time to visit the main historical site of Knossos on Crete and there was no organised excursion to it. Two of our fellow travellers went by local taxi and did get back in time.
Easy to wander around the bustling narrow streets with plenty to see- even a cricket ground. Unfortunately there was no game on as I would have taken great delight in explaining it's mysteries to American fellow passengers. We visited the excellent maritime museum, which gave a good insight into the history of the 'green island'.
We had pre-booked the ship excursion as the only thing to do here is to visit Olympia. This was the one wet day of our trip and it was pouring when we left the ship. Fortunately they reversed the order of things and we visited the museum first where the guide gave a knowledgeable account of many of the statues and remains of buildings from the site. By the time we got the the site, the weather had cleared up and we were able to wander through the ruins to the site of the original "200m". Interesting.
We went ashore independently and the shuttle bus dropped us at the Pile gate. We tried to be clever and go the other end of the main avenue where I had read there was another way up on to the walls. Unfortunately this was blocked because there was a film being made, although it was interesting to see all the cast and extras made up as medieval villagers and soldiers. Dubrovnik lends itself to this as a backdrop and is fascinating with its narrow streets and steps (and steps)in which locals are still living. We eventually had to return to the main gate to ascend the walls. We thought that once up there we could stroll around at the same level, but be warned; there was still a lot of climbing up and down as we toured the walls and it would not be suitable for the unfit! It was well worth the effort. Some effects of the war are still showing, although it has been greatly improved since some of our friends visited some years back.
We went ashore independently as it was an easy walk to the Diocletian Palace. This was an unusual 'ruin' since it was still lived in with a lively market in its cellar area. The church is well worth a visit for the ancient craftmanship on show. Outside the palace is a pleasant park and promenade.
More 
