Continuing round the plateau, we next stop at a cafe in the village of Psychro (1,025-metres above sea level) that is situated at the bottom of a trail that leads to the Diktaean Cave. We are allowed to park near the cafe on the understanding that we will patronise the cafe. It's here that we get confirmation that the trail to the cave is not too long, and not too steep - both these statements prove to be untrue.

 

We tackle the steep path in the hot sunshine at a steady pace, reaching the cave in about 30-minutes. There are wonderful views all the way, particularly at the top. Our exertions do not end at the top of the trail - we now have to negotiate about 200 steps through the deep cave.

The cave (according to legend, the birthplace of Zeus) has plenty of stalagmites and stalactites, including many near a water pool.

 

Exiting the cave, we buy fresh orange juice and drink it as we admire the perfect view of the plateau below us, and regain our energy for the descent.

 

We make an early start to drive to Heraklion with the intention of visiting the Archeological Museum. However, the traffic and parking in the island's capital prove to be a nightmare. There are plenty of 'Parking' signs near the vicinity of the Museum, but none of these prove to be secure looking. Eventually, after exploring (but not intentionally) some narrow side streets we park near the harbour.

 

We start to walk towards the harbour, but soon find a restaurant where we stop and are able to get drinks. Reaching the harbour, we  then visit the Venetian Fortress, located at the entrance of the old port.

We then descend to the bottom of the trail where we fulfill our promise to use the Amalthea Cafe where we parked by buying ice creams

The fortress is made up of two parts: a high rectangular section, and a slightly lower semi-elliptical section. Its walls are up to 8.7m thick at some places, and it has three entrances. The fort has two stories, with a total of 26 rooms, which were originally used as barracks, a prison, storage rooms, a water reservoir, a church, a mill, and a bakery.

The fort's long history is told in a series of information boards - much of it telling the story of the 21-year long Siege of Candia (1648 to 1669) in which Ottoman forces besieged the Venetian-ruled capital city of the Kingdom of Candia,  the official name of Crete during the island's period as an overseas colony of the Republic of Venice.