Blogs from Crete, Greece, Europe - page 13

Geo: 35.2826, 25.1868In many ways, Crete has been the Greece we traveled halfway around the World to experience - while our expectations for the Cyclades were high, they really didn't live up to the billing. Mykonos and Santorini may look pretty in tourist brochures designed to attract people to the islands, but they seemingly lacked character and soul, qualities which Crete has in abundance. Being the largest of the Greek islands, it offers a bit of everything, seemingly encapsulating all of Greece in a neat little package - beaches, excellent cuisine, mountains, and ruins ... almost anything you can find on the mainland, you can also find here. Originally, we were concerned that nearly three full days and nights here would be too much; today we were sad to be leaving, feeling that at least another ... read more

Geo: 35.1758, 24.4132Perhaps the stereotype of the Greek family that every North American has in their mind is from My Big Fat Greek Wedding - after arriving today at the small beach town of Damnoni, we are happy to report that isn't true! While the northern Cretan coast has tons of massive resort developments, the southern coast seems to have a few more family-run options, which is exactly why we chose this location.Small local run establishments are almost always less luxurious, but invariably offer a richer experience, as was the case when we rolled up to the Mythos Apartments. We really lucked out here, not expecting such a hospitable host for our time in Damnoni - but as soon as we walked up, the Owner's son Andreas invited us to drop our bags and have a ... read more

Geo: 35.2711, 25.1231Something terrible happened today as we took an evening stroll through Herkalion, the capital of Greece's largest island, Crete. It's not known as being the best that Crete has to offer tourists as it's considered by many to simply be a dirty, overcrowded transport hub, but after arriving by ferry from Santorini in the early evening, there was a familiar feeling in the air as we strolled along the waterfront, past some beautiful old Venetian buildings. It wasn't until we found a place for dinner and sat down to our appetizers that we realized why this place felt familiar - it's the Greek Sicily! So why would this be something terrible, when we had such an amazing time last year in Sicily? Because it appears that Crete offers the best cuisine and the biggest ... read more

Well that was a very short night! We rested until about 8:30 and then went in search of an internet connection. Found one close to the apartment and I completed our Venice blog, checked emails and searched online to make sure we knew exactly what to do for our flights to Greece. Spent about 1 hour there and then wandered down the street. Heard a lot of singing and clapping so checked it out. It came from a little restaurant so we stopped to eat and join in. Was a great family experience for our last evening. 3 of the servers/owners? were the entertainers. The one man had an incredible booming voice. Such a warm evening so no jackets or sweaters needed even at 10 o'clock! Packed everything up and set out clothes for tomorrow. Set ... read more

I spent the first week of June in Crete. I usually only post about my longer trips but sometimes I have very nice, short breaks and these days it is almost compulsory to post your photos. What better way to prove that you have actually been there? That’s why I didn’t write a blog the last time I visited Crete. It took nearly two hours to pass passport control and at some point, I sat down and put my camera under the chair and that’s where it stayed. Maybe a travel blog is not really necessary anymore. So much nicer to just scroll through the photos on your phone. The first time I was in Crete, we stayed around Elounde, in the hills and on the coast, visiting Spinalonga and driving into the mountains and up ... read more