I had taken care of the day’s tasks in the city and sat on a bench to think what should I do next. I still had a couple of hours before dark and I hadn't been to Heraklion since June. Since I was alone the options of hanging out in a café or grabbing a bite in one of the many charming taverns around didn't really appeal to me. Ιn the end I filled my pockets with some dry nuts from a nearby store and decided to wander through the historical center. I have walked these streets dozens of times yet each walk has something different to offer and this one was no exception.
After all it was (almost) raining!
As we are slowly entering winter here in southern Greece, the tourists are becoming scarce, most of the seasonal shops are closed and the rest are just starting their Christmas decorations. I moved along well-known roads with nothing new to discover. The change of the season was enough to give a whole new context to a familiar scenery.
The Morosini Fountain, the Venetian Loggia, the Cathedral of Saint Titus. I know them all like the back of my hand and it is always a pleasure to see and photograph them again. In every season and in all weather conditions they have never failed me. The photos come so easily when I am there, as if they almost take themselves.
I stood for a while at the corner of 25th of August and Koroneou Street looking at the two wonderful neoclassical buildings that now belong to banks. It always annoys me to see buildings with character that were built to be full of life ending up under the ownership of impersonal corporations that use them as polished trophies stripped of their original purpose.
They do look good though.
And behind the well-kept streets lies the real Heraklion, the one with the narrow alleys, the chaotic layout, the worn-down buildings. I love this side of the city too. In fact, I love both sides, perhaps even more because each one defines the other.
As the last light of the sun faded, the shops began to glow a little brighter and the street decorations were struggling to add a festive note to the wet city.
But I just wanted to go home and make myself a hot meal :)
And since it is Wednesday, this is my contribution to the #wednesdaywalk challenge, hosted by 
The first picture though, is my entry for 
Thank you for reading and if you want to know more about me you can check out my introduction post.
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