Trips-1978-Greece revisited

We spent most of our vacation time in the 60s and 70s with your Mothers taking
trips around the US. Many were to visit family in PA, FL, NJ, VA, and IL. So in 1978
we resumed our overseas travel and returned to Greece, again with the Goldmans.
This trip was somewhat different from the first since my Aunt Mary and Uncle Christ
had retired to Kardamlya Chios where my parents, your great grandparents, were
born and we spent time with them. They showed us around the Island and made
sure we met my many relatives. Uncle Christ had a Toyota so we drove to various
parts of Chios. We visited the sights and saw the mastica trees which only grow on
Chios. By boat we went to my grandfathers, your great great grandfather, orchard
and picked fresh fruit. Aunt Mary showed us the house where she and my Mother
had grown up and where they went to church, school, and the beach where the
spent summers.
Also, we spent time in Pireaus where many of my fathers family now lived. Its the
seaport for Athens, the capitol. This is a large metropolitan area where half of the 8
million Greek people live. We had met my Aunt Irene, my fathers sister, and others
and were well entertained by many of them. My Uncle Sotoris had died since our
first visit but we spent the most time with his wife, Aunt Rosa and her two daughters
Rena and Anna and their son Stephanos, yet another Stephanos Frangos. I think
there are 7 of us.
Before returning home, we flew to Crete, a large Greek Island near Africa, and
rented a car. This was a brand new German made car and we drove it all around
the island as we visited many of the ancient palaces which were very impressive.
The roads, which we were told were good, were terrible so when we returned to
Heraklion the main city of Crete, the car was no longer new. In fact, it was so beat
up because of the road conditions, they wanted to charge us extra for wear and
tear. I was adamant since they were the ones who told us the roads were good and
refused to pay extra.
It was a very exciting trip/adventure and we enjoyed learning all about Greece and I
value having experienced my culture first hand. Enjoy the many pictures.