Bus to the airport for our 12:40 flight to Crete. Plane not quite full and we're lucky enough to get two seats with nobody in the third, although it's only an hour and a half from Larnaca to Heraklion. Entirely over the Mediterranean of course, so one of the few flights on which the oft displayed life vests might actually be usable rather than leading to instant human ice cubes. Bus in from the airport. We ask the driver to let us off near our street and he does - and after a bit of map misreading on my part, as well as kind help from two separate motorcyclists who stop to offer directions, we're there. Nice room, ok wifi, a bit of exploration of the immediate area. We're within the old walled city, but it's much more modern and commercial than the old cities of Rhodes or Famagusta. Mostly locals on the street. Lots of restaurants and fast food, although all drink from coffee to spirits look overpriced. Not tourist prices either - most people around are locals and the atmosphere pretty relaxed.
Although two small children, a boy and girl - the girl is no more than six and the boy not noticeably older - are begging. Or they're selling something token - it's not clear. They don't look underfed or neglected and they're cheeky rather than pathetic but we're rather shocked when the girl puts her head on J's leg and says pleeeease. We withdraw and they bounce off, but it's hard not to see this as her first steps on the road to prostitution, or to suppose her parents don't know and encourage what she's doing.