Crete

No, I haven't let the blog go idle. For much of the last two weeks we were on Crete the annual European computer graphics conference (http://www.ics.forth.gr/eg2008/home.php). As always, we loved seeing friends (I started to say "old friends" but most of them are younger than we) and we enjoyed seeing a new part of the world. The photo shows a small dinner group at the harbor at Hersonissos, where the conference was held.
We had been to Chania, on the western end of the island, before, but this time we saw the middle and eastern parts. There are many interesting things on Crete from different eras in the island's history. Perhaps the best known is the Minoan palace at Knossos, just south of Heraklion, partially (and controversially) rebuilt by Sir Arthur Evans. Here is a photo from that palace showing some of the reconstruction.
Another wonderful Minoan site is at Malia, about 30 km east of Heraklion. There is much less reconstruction here, but the palace was smaller than Knossos and the layout is clearer.
Besides the Minoan sites, there are many things left from the Ottoman and Venetian eras. The fortresses at the harbors in Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion, and Ierapetra are examples of these, and the photo is from Heraklion.
We had a great time and look forward to the next chance to travel to an interesting place and see good friends. Keep watching this space...