Chania, Crete
Greece • June 24, 2026 • Day 14 of 16
We met our guide Effie who gave us the history of Aptera and other surrounding parts of Chania.
Aptera, Crete
The city of Chania has approximately 90k residents. Today, we heard and witnessed a lot of practice flights conducted by the US Air Force located within the bay.
In Greek mythology, the ancient city of Aptera (located on the island of Crete) gets its name from the Greek word for "wingless" or "featherless".
⦿ The Myth: The name of the city is tied to a legendary singing contest between the Muses and the Sirens.
⦿ The Contest: The Sirens challenged the Muses to a musical duel but lost.
⦿ The Loss: Overwhelmed by their defeat, the Sirens tore the feathers/wings from their shoulders and cast themselves into the sea.
⦿ The Name: Because the Sirens cast off their feathers, the nearby city was named Aptera ("featherless").
⦿ The Aftermath: The Sirens turned white and transformed into the nearby rocky islets known as the Leucae ("white islands"), which you can see in Souda Bay.
Chania
We returned to the city to do some shopping and had a tasty lunch at Pita Mania. We relaxed at the hotel pool and then met up with our fellow tour members for a celebratory final glass of wine. Dinner and dancing were at the Koumos estate.
What's Next
Tomorrow we head back to Athens for our final day in Greece.
— David