There was a change in itinerary for today due to Greek National Independence Day and the Day of the Assumption. Because of the holiday, many places were closed, including the historic tourist sites. Even the main grocery stores were closed. Restaurants and little shops were largely open, however, since they cater to tourists and those from Greece visiting the city on holiday . . . and there were a lot of them!

The town was flooded with Greeks on holiday, and it was interesting to be part of the local celebration. We watched the band rehearsing for the afternoon parade and then walked along the waterfront and out on the spit that extends toward the fortification island in the harbor. Just before noon, we headed back to watch the local parade. It was fun to see the kids all dressed up and to see both the similarities and differences from American parades.

For our group dinner, we were entertained by local musicians. They were great. They played, sang, and told us stories and details about their songs. Abby even got pulled on to the dance floor! They had us clapping, smiling, and enjoying the evening.