Four Centuries of the Chania Lighthouse

#400Years_ChaniaLighthouse

Today i am on the Island of Crete (Greece) and walking along the Old Venetian Harbor towards one of the oldest surviving lighthouses in the world

History
It was originally constructed by the Venetians (1595-1601)
 Then the Ottoman Turkish forces seized the area (1645) with the lighthouse ceasing to operate and fell into ruins for almost two hundred years.
 In 1830 Crete was assigned to the Viceroy of Egypt, which then their troops completely rebuilt the tower on top of the old base giving it an Islamic influence to mimic a minaret of a mosque, hence why its known as The Egyptian Lighthouse
Finally it was officially linked to the Greek National Network in 1915 and after sustaining severe damage from earthquakes plus the Second World War German bombardments, it had a huge restoration project in 2006 in what we see today

Interesting Facts
A) Harbor Gate; in the 16th century soldiers would hook a massive iron chain from the base of the  lighthouse across the water span to the Firas Fortress.
 This physically could lock the port against the Ottoman enemy
ships and attacking pirates
B) Hidden Underpass; during the Ottoman and Egyptian eras, underground pipelines were built through the base to ease the water pressure from the sea and to allow the water to safely flow
 under its structure
C) No Guardhouse Needed; unlike other remote island beacons, it did not require a permanent keeper residence because the town was so close

Old Venetian Harbor
Was built between 1320 -1356 as a naval base to protect its merchant ships from pirate attacks
As the steamships became larger by the late 19th century, the bay became too shallow to
accommodate these vessels
Thus its usefulness waned and the maritime operations shifted to the nearby Souda port

Freebooter Protection
The long curved sea walls were to protect against aggressive raids from Pirates plus the violent storms of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea
The architectural harbor homes are of a pastel colored mash-up of Venetian and Ottoman styles with its wooden balconies plus enclosed overhang upper floors

Kucuk Hasan Mosque 

Built in the 1600s it is known as the Mosque of the Sea
In the beginnings it was surrounded by palm trees and a courtyard which was a gravesite for several Ottoman rulers plus Pashas (Governors / Military Commanders)
It has transitioned from a place of worship, into an archaeological museum, folklore center
 plus exhibition space

White Mountains
Named for its gleaming limestone (June-October) and the snowscape that happens for the
rest of the year
 It has fifty peaks over 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) which features a very unique "high desert" moonscape  of sinkholes plus funnel shaped depressions
Why it happens is all the rain and snow during the winter months is absorbed by the fissured limestone, which leads to a bone dry and vegetation-free area
  So its technically classified as an Alpine Desert

The Greek God Mythology
A) Zeus; grew tired of the arguing on Mount Olympus, so he returned to his throne here and would race his chariot across the mountain plains
B) Titan; the 16km (10 mile) long Samaria Gorge was created when he slashed the area
with his giant knife 

Old Town
With all the different empires who occupied this area (Roman, Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman) you get this overlapping of architectural style which just adds to the 5,600 year old history
Chania did not become part of the modern Greek State until 1913

Topanas and Splantzia
With some of the historic houses from these areas and highlighting their courtyard floors, 
which are made entirely from sea pebbles

KeyTip
While you might think it would be a good idea to gather up the pebbles and shells from the Greek beaches for your own version of this type of floor, its illegal
Why; to protect from beach erosion and to save the local marine habitats
It comes with a heavy fine of between 400 to 1,000 Euros ($450-$1140 USD)
So you have been warned

Restaurant Stop

Started off with a
 Dakos; barley rusks, grated tomatoes, feta cheese, local olive oil and herbs
Tzatziki; Greek yogurt cucumber dip with lemon juice, garlic and olive oil for my pita bread 
 Boureki; thinly sliced zucchini and potato with a layers of cheese, all baked until tender

Now Things Get Interesting 😀
Raki; a local brandy with some honey and cinnamon
Its customary to have just one after the meal, but after a few ( hahaha) i ask our knowledgeable waiter about any old rumors of the area with this much history
I said there must be some "dark secrets" 

This led me to the next few paragraphs 

Clandestine Fraternities
Chania has always had a connection to secret hidden religious societies for many centuries, from mystery cults to revolutionary networks with some that were hidden in plain sight
 These buildings were used as meeting grounds for the various undercover groups and due to the many years of frustration from all of the foreign occupation
during the history of this area

Personally i am looking for the Dionysian location, as this sect was dedicated to Dionysus
who was the God of Wine and Theater
They used intoxicants, music and dancing to remove any of your inhibitions, sounds about right 😄

Submerged Entry
Something nefarious going on here underwater, maybe the entrance to one of those famous caves of Crete from folklore 
 Dikteon; is probably the most famous grotto, as in Greek mythology it was the
 birthplace of Zeus
Or
Thessalonike; she was the half sister of Alexander the Great, who transformed into an immortal mermaid out of grief following his death and has protected these waters for centuries.
 So maybe her front door

I will let you decide 😉

My point of reference marker for the return journey
Thank You Chania, for revealing some of your hidden truths to me 

The Cayman Islands by Air, Sea & Land

#CaymansAirSeaLand

Once i got airborne i noticed instantly the crystal clear waters, that is when my pilot told me its because there are zero rivers on any of the three islands, (Grand and Little Cayman plus Cayman Brac) 
which means there is no sediment runoff into the ocean to "cloud" up the water
But as we head out away from the shore you can see the color change and this would be the area they call the Cayman Trench, which plunges to a depth of 7.6 kms (4.7 miles) making it the deepest point
in the Caribbean Sea

British Colony
You know what this means when / if your thinking of renting, a steering wheel on the right side of the car, with most of the vehicles imported directly from Japan or the UK and also with you driving on the left side of the road
Add in roundabouts that are tricky no matter where your from, as i seen mistakes everyday within ours and we know what we are doing in my city
So if your comfortable with all these "distractions" have at it 😀 

So if you decide to venture ahead here are some
 KeyTips;

A) Iguanas; before jumping into your rental and hitting the gas, it is the local habit to look underneath the chassis as they love to lay on the warm pavement underneath parked automobiles
B) Oversized Items; for example if renting a jeep and tying a long kayak to the roof, the law states any overhang by 1.5 meters (3 feet) requires you to hire a police escort to your destination
Anything under those dimensions just requires a red flag
C) No Fees; some positive news, free parking and no toll roads anywhere
 on the islands
D) Local Courtesy; your hired vehicle will have distinctive license plates starting with a "Q" or the word "rental," so the locals know to be ready for some errors in your driving jajajja

Happy Motoring

No Cruise Ship Pier
Every vessel (no more than five allowed in the harbor) must anchor offshore and "tender" to the island
This is done as a preservation tactic to protect the coral reefs and beaches from erosion

Cayman Islands

It has no Income, Property or Corporate Taxes
This is why it is a major global financial hub with more businesses than people registered
Earns its Revenue
All offshore companies pay an annual licensing fee based on the Incorporations share capital, which in simple terms is all the shares they legally issue to the founders, employees and investors
Also receive funds from work permits, financial transactions and import duties
Finally from you the tourist

Food
Maybe this explains why there are estimated 200 to 300 restaurants
with all price points
The island is widely hailed as the culinary capital of the Caribbean,
 but remember as i said there is no fresh water source here as its all done by desalination, so best stick
to any bottled product 

Some of my meal favorites because of the African, British and Caribbean tasty blends
A) Conch; clam like flavor in a stew with spicy fritters
B) Jerk Chicken; slowly cooked with spices, tomatoes and pepper
C) Cassava Cake; grated cassava root, coconut milk, brown sugar and spices then baked until crusty

Seven Mile Beach
Its actually 6 miles long now through natural storm erosion, but a bonus the entire length is 
 open to the public
Also the sand never gets too hot as its made up of pulverized coral, which it reflects the suns heat

Expensive Accommodations
The rental prices vary for nightly beachfront homes and villas, from $600 to $2,000 USD

Stingray Beach

The Beginnings
When the local fishermen began cleaning their catch on the shallow sandbar it attracted the stingrays,  now they associate the sound of the boat motors as food 

Interesting Facts
A) Sharks Cousin; the skeletons are made entirely of a lightweight, flexible cartilage
 and not bone
B) Sixth Sense; they have a gel-filled pits called "ampullae of lorenzini" that detects electronic signals from their hidden prey
C) Breathing; through small holes behind their eyes called spiracles, so they
 can respire while encased in sand
D) Camouflage; they flap their fins to bury themselves to hide from predators
E) Gentle Giants; for you visitors the stingrays are naturally shy and docile, but will use their venomous tail barbs in self defense

Town of Hell
Rumor says the area got its name from the landscape (fossilized remains of limestone and dolomite) as its thought the jagged, scorched land looked like the underworld
There are some rules as indeed we are dealing with humans as common sense
 is not so common jajaja 
The viewing area is small (think half a football field) and so there are platforms to have your scenic overlook as the rocks are incredibly sharp, fragile and of course dangerous

KeyTip
There is a themed post office that (what else) is painted a bright red in which the official postmark on the letter or postcard you send will say from "Hell"  

Rum Point
The areas name came from the barrels of rum that washed up from a shipwreck, with the Cayman Islands claiming 240 vessels because of its shallow waters

The History
The islands did not produce commercial sugarcane in the beginning so the liquor got started in trade, maritime smuggling and of course the Pirates and Privateers who brought it ashore for
barter plus consumption

Legal Beginnings
Then in 1987 Cayman Airways captain Robert Hamaty and wife Carlene founded the Tortuga Rum Company to service the booming cruise ship market.
It then used a family recipe to produce a Rum Cake which ended up being the islands
 number one export
Moving forward it now (instead of importing the rum) has built its own distillery on Grand Cayman (2018) for a full circle moment

Cayman Spirits Company
Their Seven Fathoms Rum is placed in bourbon aging barrels and sunk 42 feet ( seven fathoms) into the ocean. The constant movement of the sea tides accelerates maturation and altars molecular distribution throughout the wood, generating a very distinct flavor

Mudslide
Legendary Drink invented at the Wreck Bar at Rum Point
While not rum based, as they say you follow what the locals do 😉
1.5 oz Vodka
!.5oz Kahlua 
!.5oz Baileys Irish Cream
Topped with chocolate syrup, grated cinnamon and a cherry

Well since i have some knowledge of this behavior from writing about some of the rogue crews of seafaring bandits😅 that were in my City of Halifax in yesteryear     #Pirate_History_Bahamas_NSCanada 
 I NEED to join in the celebrations with a glass of grog

British Halifax Canada & White House Burning

#BritishHalifaxCanada_WhiteHouseBurning

The Old Burying Ground in Halifax opened during the founding of my city in 1749 with over 12,000  interred here, but with only around 1200 headstones ( because only the wealthy could afford stone markers, as many were imported from New England)

Before we get to the two main subjects of this writing, paying respects to other notables here on this historic sacred site
A) Erasmus James Philipps; was one of the earliest settlers and the founder of
Freemasonry in Canada
B) Jonathan Belcher; the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia and later Lieutenant Governor (the ceremonial representative for the King or Queen of England)
C) Susan Cunard; the wife of Nova Scotian Samuel Cunard, who of many entrepreneurial businesses founded the Cunard Line for ocean traveling passengers
D) Moses Delesdernier; a Swiss immigrant who was the main mediator between the British and French, who for many years fought over this area

 

Welsford -Parker Monument
This is the only memorial in North America paying homage to those lost during
the Crimean War (1853-1856)
 It was started with the decline of the Ottoman Empire which created a power vacuum that Russia sought to expand its holdings and influence. Then Britain, France and India allied together to preserve their vital trade routes
For Canada several individuals volunteered to enlist with the above armies to fight on the front lines
Major A.F. Welsford and Captain William Parker were the two Haligonians
who died in this conflict

Headstones
All etched by hand from local artisans, with their early work that was mostly of grim motifs featuring skulls and crossbones.
Later the stones transitioned toward more gentler humanistic imagery like winged soul effigies,
weeping willows and urns

Main Subject #1
 British Major-General Robert Ross

With the American attacks on Fort York (Toronto today) and also the destruction of Port Dover,  the British military knew they needed to retaliate
Their reasoning was that they hoped by capturing the capital this would be used as a leverage for peace, so the plan moved forward
After their victory over a disorganized US force at the Battle of Bladensburg in August 1814, the troops marched unopposed into Washington
Ross then ordered the systematic burning of all the government and military infrastructure which included the White House, US Capitol, Treasury Building, and the Navy Yard
But strict instructions were enforced to spare all civilian lives and private residences

After a brief occupation in DC, he retreated then launched an attack on Baltimore where he was fatally shot by an American sniper

Transport the Body
To preserve the remains for the journey to his native Ireland, the body was put in a large barrel of Jamaican rum
But due to shifting British military movements plus preparations for the Battle of New Orleans, HMS Tonnant was diverted 
Thus the Major General was laid to rest in Halifax, with full military honors at
The Old Burying Ground 

Major Subject #2
USS Chesapeake & Captain James Lawrence

The Beginnings
In 1807 the British warship HMS Leopard intercepted the Chesapeake off the coast of Virginia
They wanted to board and search the ship for Royal Navy deserters which the Americans refused
Eventually after a few deaths and many wounded US sailors, the British got onto the ship and seized four crew members
President Thomas Jefferson enacted the Embargo Act of 1807 which ultimately became a major catalyst for the War of 1812

Captured
The Chesapeake sailed out of Boston Harbor to engage the blockading British frigate HMS Shannon
After 15 minutes there were heavy casualties on both sides but the English sailors took over the ship
which then they sailed the two vessels to Halifax, while enroute Captain James Lawrence succumbed
to his injuries 
At his funeral service, he was given full military honors with six British Naval Officers serving as pallbearers at The Old Burying Grounds (despite being enemies)

Bodies Returned
The American Government requested his remains, then a group of wealthy US merchants funded a crew to sail into Halifax harbor under a flag of truce
So with the cover of darkness during the night,
 the bodies of the Captain plus his lieutenant Augustus Ludlow were exhumed and he was finally given his burial at Trinity Church, in Manhattan New York

The Crew
The 320 captured crew members were detained at Melville Island Military Prison in Halifax where many died from their wounds or disease and were buried at nearby Deadmans Island
 (which today serves as a protected US military site)
Because of the upheaval at this prison the British decided to transport the crew members plus other American POWs across the Atlantic to Dartmoor Prison which was known to be very
 bleak and overcrowded

The Irony
The journey over the ocean was in the captured, repaired and then commissioned frigate now called HMS Chesapeake for those prisoners

Aftermath
Upon being freed or paroled back to the United States, a formal Court of Inquiry took place to investigate the humiliating 15 minute loss
So with Captain James Lawrence mortally wounded and also became a national martyr with his last words spoken "do not give up the ship"
The US Navy wanted scapegoats

A) Lieutenant William Sitgreaves Cox; Dismissed from Service
B) William Brown; 100 Lashes
C) James W. Forest; Dismissed from Service
D) Henry P. Fleichman; Reprimanded
E) John Russell; Loss of Wages

In 1991 The Old Burying Ground became the first graveyard in Canada to receive the
 National Historic Site designation
 Plus as you see, it is also registered as a Provincial Heritage Property