This cache wants to bring you right in the middle of ancient Phalasarna. Its intention is to show you that this region was already inhabited by hundreds of people in an urbanisation with an advanced infrastructure.
Phalasarna seems to be build in the 6th century B.C. - this is proved by archaeological evidences. The name of this hellenistic town and harbour refers to a nymph called 'Phalasarna'.
On your way to the cache you should be aware of the fact that the path you are walking on may have been beneath the sea level in former times.
The reason for this and the reason for the loss of importance for the harbour of Phalasarna was a massiv tectonic movement of the western part of this island.
At about 365 A.D. an earthquake with a strength of more than 8 destroyed the town and the harbour. But the fate of Phalasarna with its strategic position was not sealed by the destruction of large sections of this urbanisation but by the fact that the western part of crete was lifted up at about 10 meters during this tectonic event. The result is what you see now – a harbour without any water in it! This was the main reason why the surviving inhabitants left this region in former times.
The cache is placed near the excavation site (location has changed due to some new fences around the site which made it a little difficult to get to the cache area). We have chosen this place carefully because we think (due to the geological surrounding) it will not be part of a future archaeological excavation.
You can find a parking area near the excavation site. To get there please follow the road which leads down to the Falassarna village. At the end of the street you find a large parking area at Sunset Taverne (nice place to have a break under a fig tree). Follow the dirt road straight ahead (it is really no problem to drive here with a 'normal' car if you drive carefully!) until you reach the ancient site at a small white cabin on the left hand side. Here you can park your car visit the archaeologic excavation and start your search by foot or if you want to walk a little less park at additional waypoint (PK Parking).
Please behave with respect to this archaeological site.
USE THE GATES WHICH YOU CAN FIND IN THE FENCES!!! DO NOT DAMAGE THE FENCES BY CLIMBING!!! THERE ARE GATES, EVEN IF THEY MAY NOT BE FOUND EASILY!
Nevertheless the cache is hidden and you have to remove 'something' to get it – please do this carefully! We recommend to be very carefully grabing in holes or other unclear aeras – especially if you are searching togerther with your kids for caches on crete. You should know that there are some kinds of animals which could harm you more or less. It is not very likely to encounter these animals while you are on your cache tour. But it is better to know about any possible risks!
Wear shoes which fit the environment - this is NO(!) flipflop cache!
Many thanks to WIND&WATER for supporting our cache in case maintenance is needed!
We wish you happy hunting!
wisamobi
Please be so kind and ...
try to log this cache in English so that as many as possible fellow cachers are able to understand the log entries.
Many thanks!
Small note by reviewer on cache maintenance: "wind&water" has graciously offered to assist. Thanks!