But it's still only 7.30 am, travel agent opens at 9, so I sit there for an hour, just feeling who I am and what might be important, browsing a bit in my borrowed 'Tramp's guide to the Greek Islands' and the tourist map of Greece I've picked up in Piraeus - the last one they had. I made a little sketch map of where there are Minoan palaces and other things people find interesting or important ...

After a while I find I've written as clear as day

• my bag is too heavy to carry much

• I'm feeling lost and I need a base

• I'm not interested in seeing how the ruling classes lived their luxury lives, nor defended their right to do it

• I don't feel good in towns

• I'm not here to rush all over the place seeing everything

SO:

• leave Heraklion!

• go to Rethimnon (why?! because it sounds nice ...)

• get an overview of Crete

• decide whether to spend this trip in the west or the east part of Crete

• maybe get a car for a couple of days to see what's what and where I want to be, and then go there by bus and stay there