Blogs from Chania, Crete, Greece, Europe - page 3

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Europe » Greece » Crete » Chania June 27th 2013

We flew into Hania on the Western side of Crete. On the plane we got some advice for where to go from some Greek Canadians visiting family. The advice they gave us was consistent with what Theo from Alexis Hotel told us as he planned our entire time on Crete in the first 20 minutes we met him. We did everything Theo told us to do and continued to refer to him throughout our time on Crete as if he was an old friend. The restaurant is “4 stars” delicious. We later learned that Theo is also the chef. In the open air restaurant we had our first encounter with Greek cats and the Cretian wind. That is the one thing that's been consistent everywhere we go in Crete, cats begging for food and some quite ... read more
Sunset in Hania
Alexis
Driving to Elifonisi

Europe » Greece » Crete » Chania May 10th 2013

This is the last port day of a marvelous cruise with lots of ports. We are tired on this day and in no hurry to get up, around and off the ship. We have no plans with no tour scheduled.Though we could sleep in we are up early. Breakfast in our room, which you get nice choices on the Junior Suite menu. We take our time as we are thinking it might rain, though it clears off for us! So we disembark and for 3 Euro per person we have round trip tickets on the city bus to town then back. Not a bad deal.The bus drops you off in the heart of shopping. There is a very busy market with anything an everything imaginable for sale. From meats, vegetables, fruits to gift soap. This market ... read more
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Europe » Greece » Crete » Chania April 15th 2013

No matter the season, you will (almost) always find the climate and landscape you want in Crete. Last month, we decided to celebrate the end of the carnival season, the beginning of spring and the birthday of a dear friend, up the majestic Lefka Ori (White Mountains) in the prefecture of Chania. Most people come to Crete for summer holidays, but I believe it is best to visit the island in spring or fall, when it is less crowded and warm enough to swim. But even for the winter, Cretan mountains and villages are ideal destinations (and cheaper than the Alps!). Plus, what many people don't know is that they can even url=http://cretazine.com/en/crete/travel-explore/crete-in-action/item/999-crossing-lefka-ori-with-skisski in Crete! Lefka Ori have 57 summits with an altitude of more than 2.000 meters and 54 summits reaching 2.000 meters. The ... read more
Climbing Lefka Ori (White Mountains)
The refuge of Kallergis

Europe » Greece » Crete » Chania October 20th 2012

Boat, plane, train, taxi, bus. On paper and in a straight line, Hydra to Hania on Crete isn't overly daunting. In practice it's a full day of backsliding from one form of transport to another. Neither did the three hour bus portion from Araklio airport to Hania inspire. The drive itself is simple enough but scenically it is a mix of sun baked drab land, urban sprawl and a dappling of unkempt coastal hamlets on the wrong side of appealing. Then there was the final 1 klm trudge from the bus station through the urban mediocrity of "New Hania", hangdog expressions ingrained on our faces. Following which: Pay-dirt as we slid into the Old Town of Hania. Kind of walled in parts, the whitewashed facades banished and replaced by glorious stone buildings in assorted varieties of ... read more
Playing with shadows in Hania lane way
Hania lighthouse on sunset
Loutro

Europe » Greece » Crete » Chania October 5th 2012

Chania,Crete - Greece Well neither one of us really wanted another full busy day starting at 6 a.m. so we made it happen at 6:30 a.m. instead..and yup half an hour helped. I have always been the coffee fetcher first thing in the morning…comb through my hair and head for the coffee station. Sian is really not so in need of coffee first thing. Nothing like me or my sisters. Usually it is so early I could probably show up in pjs and no one would notice… It has become a tradition. We are on a shorter tour today..only a 5 hour one and happy for that…we both admit we could easily just stop today…but hey we haven’t been here before …so we get moving…. We are in Chania,Crete, pronounced with a silent C…we head for ... read more
Sheep herding themselves
Village
Swan in the canal

Europe » Greece » Crete » Chania September 25th 2012

Another hot day, but unlike the other days, this was a day of rest. I use the word rest advisedly as there is always something to do - but today, at least, there was an opportunity to take things a little more slowly. Today therefore, there are just photos ...... read more
Chania: The New Harbour
Chania: Waiting for Passengers
Chania: Harbour Wall

Europe » Greece » Crete » Chania September 24th 2012

I was getting used to a hot night followed by a hotter day. There was nothing for it but to head for the coolness of the mountains. I wasn't going right into the mountains, rather in to the foothills. I arrived in Therisso where, in 1905, the final struggle for Cretan independence was born. driving up through the Therisso Gorge, it was easy to imagine how remote this place was and how secure. No wonder Venizelos was successful and no wonder he became revered by the Cretans in the same way that Churchill is revered by ourselves. Passing Venizelos' statue (and the double-naved church), I followed the road uphill before turning downhill where a tree was growing in the middle of the road. Just beyond, I opened a gate and joined an old and overgrown goat ... read more
Therisso: Heading into the Wilds
Looking Towards Lakki
The Sea - From Zourva

Europe » Greece » Crete » Chania September 23rd 2012

The main purpose of our stay was for rest and relaxation. We stayed at a lovely villa at Panos Stalos with terrific views out towards Chania, the sea and the mountains. It was a wonderful place to relax and unwind but by the second week we started to stir our stumps.On some mornings we drove to nearby Chania and had a leisurely coffee at a harbourside cafe followed by a stroll around the town. Chania is delightful with narrow streets and alleyways crammed with shops and tavernas.Places worth visiting are the Central Market and its surrounding streets, the Archaeological Museum and the Naval Museum which has an interesting WW2 display. Just outside Chania we visited the remains of the Byzantine town of Aptera and the nearby Turkish fort overlooking the sea. Wonderful views of the sea ... read more
Another view
Our resting place in the hills
Aptera

Europe » Greece » Crete » Chania September 20th 2012

Another hot day dawned. Another day that began in the comparative coolness of Chania's Old Town, where breakfast was taken outside. Ham and Cheese spread on the still warm fresh bread was a delight although I was not really awake until my third cup of coffee! With the heat, the only option was to get into the mountains. Catching the bus, I was soon heading out of town, passing through the orange groves in which those from the white walled prison nearby toil. Here too, a large war memorial, to those Cretans who gave their lives in WWII, bravely delaying the German advance to the mountains and thus ensuring the evacuation of many through the Imros Gorge. Slowly, the bus climbed higher, the driver cleverly taking the hairpin bends with little effort. Soon, almost unexpectedly, the ... read more
Laki
Karanos
Fournes: The Orange Grove

Europe » Greece » Crete » Chania September 18th 2012

It had rained for most of the night. Not that depressing pitter-patter of rain drops, but a good, hard downpour. By 04h00, all was quiet, save for the trickle of water draining from the streets and by 08h00, there was a beautiful sunrise. Tall orange clouds filled the early morning air. Beautiful but not what I was hoping for. I went downstairs for breakfast. This morning's meal would be indoors as the chairs and tables were sodden. The air felt cooler as the first drops of rain began. Just a little. Then more. Before long, it was as though the taps had been turned on. Water fell from the sky at a great rate of knots. Then stopped. Suddenly. There was no walking today. Today I was moving from Kastelli to Chania. Everything would be different, ... read more
Kastelli: Sunrise
Chania: The Venetian Lighthouse
Chania: As of Old




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