Platanias, Crete (Greece)

I've been hoping to come here for the night for awhile... Many times when I have landed in Souda Bay, the handler (Nick) has told me I need to stay and enjoy the food and culture. So I finally took him up on the offer! After we landed, Nick told us where we should go for a great time. We stayed in the Royal Sun hotel - overlooking Chania. Had a few drinks with John and Charlie at the bar and then got a cab to the town of Platanias. I had never thought of coming down this way before - it was worth the trip. It is a resort for Scandanavian and English tourists and they were still out on the beaches (most everyone else would think it was too cold...). We spent most of the day there and then walked back to Agia Marina for dinner at a restaurant that Nick had recommended. It was called "Italiana" (Italian Restaurant). When we walked in, I asked for Mr. Costas and he came out - the manager! It turns out, he is Nick's (at the airport) cousin - there are four Nick's in their family because they are all named for their paternal grandfather (a tradition here). We sat down at a table within 20 feet of the ocean (great view overlooking the Bay of Chania). "Restaurant Nick" told us that all the wine we wanted was on the house (a good start) and then asked us what kind of food we would like. We said we wanted something authentically Greek and he brought out little sample plates. All the while, he brought some delicious local wine, bread and olive oil (all, as it turns out, made at his father's vinyard). "Restaurant Nick" kept coming back to our table and sat with us a few times. We had one of the best meals I have eaten - certainly one of the most memorable! When dinner was done, Nick sat with us at the table (most of the tourists had left) and drank ouzo (also from his father's vinyard). After many toasts (with the call "Yamas"), we got ready to leave. Our bill was too small for such an experience (four hours!), but we made sure we let Nick know how much we appreciated his hosting us. "Airport Nick" never made it to see us - his grandmother died tonight... Later, we took a cab back to Platanias and enjoyed an evening of drinks and fun at some of the good pubs there. Home very late...