We are now back in Malta spending a lazy day and the girls are on their 10.5 hour flight back to Canada. With faster internet and some down time, it is time to catch-up the blog on our Greek adventure.
We arrived in Greece (Chania airport in Crete to be precise) at 2am on Tuesday morning after a delayed flight. We walked over to where a dozen little trailers were renting cars and found the one lonely trailer with its light still on…the worker waiting patiently (way past closing time) for us to arrive. With a good natured chuckle…he said “what happened to you guys?” We got everyone loaded into the van and headed to the old town part of Chania, where our Air BnB host was also waiting cheerily to welcome us (we had been in touch with her over text). She showed us around the lovely apartment which had been her childhood home and had even purchased food staples so we would have something to eat the next day. She finished her introduction with: “Don’t think about anything, just text me, I want you to be happy!”
We had planned to hike the Samaria Gorge sandwiched between two beach days which turned out to be a good plan because we were in no shape to hike 16km on our first day in Crete.
Our first beach was Balos. The way I would describe this beach is more of an eco adventure rather than a lazy and relaxing beach experience. The drive was spectacular but often on the cliff’s edge, which is disconcerting for the people on the passenger side of the vehicle (that was me and Sarah!). We felt close to death on several turns. This feeling was reinforced by the roadside shrines/tributes to loved ones who had passed on. We were not allowed to go off-road with our rental but the last 3km of the drive was decidedly borderline off-road. Then it was a difficult 1km+ walk from the parking to the beach over old cobblestone steps – a walk made more difficult due to our choice of footwear – flip-flops.
It was quite windy on the beach and the sand was not soft but rather pebbly, and the water wasn’t even that warm, but the geography and the beauty of the beach landscape are the draws and will most certainly be seared into our brains for life.
Back to the car, and the mountain goats were laying amongst the cars, looking for shade. There were actually goats everyone along this trek.
There are many road-side kiosks selling all kinds of Cretan goods, especially honey. Hives scatter the sides of the mountains. If there was more room in my luggage, I would have bought some.
Back in Chania, we walked around the old town, ventured into the shops, and had dinner at a lovely restaurant featuring authentic Cretan food recommended by our AirBnB host. It was empty when we arrived (we eat much earlier then Europeans) and it was packed by the time we left.
Early to bed for a big day tomorrow – hiking the Samaria Gorge!