Creta - Where Raki Flows Like Water

Day 8: June 25 cont’d…

We got some lunch before catching the bus to port. The tavern we found wasn’t that great, but we were hot and it was nice to escape the heat for a while. After lunch we went to get our bags from the villa reception and then waited for the bus for a half hour. Everything in Greece is slow, late and/or cancelled. The bus was completely packed and really hot. It was scary driving through the mountain to get to Fira, but we made it. We planned to catch a bus from Fira to port, but when we got to the square we found out the next bus wasn’t for an hour!

At this point we were both extremely agitated because we had to be at the port really soon. We decided to grab a taxi which took a while, but we made it to port on time and the woman who shared the cab with us paid our share. Awesome! She was from Ohio and was the housing director at Ohio State University and she spoke Greek fluently because she was born here on one of the islands – very cool!

When we got to port we went to a café and got some ice cream to cool off. We ended up waiting a long while because as usual the ferry was running late. The ferry to Crete was smooth and short. We picked up our roomy rental car – Hyundai Accent – and headed to the hotel we’d be staying at for the night.

The Atrion Hotel was beautiful. We had the same room number (603) from Athens and they upgraded us to a suite (sweet!) for free. We grabbed some dinner at a great seafood restaurant and watched the football match between Germany and Turkey. It’s been fun being in Europe during Euro 2008. Oh, and when we asked for the logariazmo (check) they brought us a dessert platter and Raki – a local liquor made from the skins of grapes; it burns like tequila and tastes like vodka.

Finally we got the ridiculously cheap bill and went back to the hotel to sleep. Our beds were awesome! Tempurpedic and they had controls to raise and lower the top and bottom halves. I slept like a baby that night.

Day 9: June 26

We woke up later than usual and had a delicious breakfast in the hotel. We packed, check out and headed for Knossos – the ruins where King Minos once ruled.

It was hot and crowded with 90% tour groups – I hate tour groups! We weren’t very impressed with this site. It was cool but lackluster because it was all reconstructed by Sir Arthur Evans – the guy who discovered it at the turn of the century.

We left after a quick hour and drove to our next spot – Matala. It’s an adventure driving in Greece and we’ve gotten lost a few times. The signage is poor and the lanes are barely discernable.

We spent 20 minutes looking for our hotel and when we found it we were disappointed. The photos and description online were deceiving – walk to beach = hike, we got separate beds and the bathroom was dirty. I described this as Riches to Rags, but as long as we’re together I’m happy.

We grabbed some lunch in town and hit the beach

for a few hours. We explored these caves which were a Roman cemetery and used by the hippies during the 70s. We picked up some groceries for breakfast and some ice cream, rinsed off in the pool and took a nap.

We didn’t wake up until 9:30pm and it was so hard to get out of bed but we had to get dinner otherwise we’d starve. We found a cute taverna and watched the semifinal between Espania and Russia and actually stayed long enough to see the end. Viva Espania!

Day 10: June 27

This time Tim slept like a baby while I was up tossing and turning. We got an early start because we wanted to get to Festos before the hoards and the heat. We got there right at opening and were the only ones for the half hour we were there. This location is the site of a Minoan palace. There’s not much left but it’s better to leave it to the imagination.

From there we drove to our next location – Chania where we’d be staying three nights. Our room wasn’t quite ready so we took our laundry to the cleaners and lay by the pool for a couple hours. We got some lunch in the hotel’s café and when our room was ready; we took a nap and hit the beach.

The hotel is great! The staff is friendly and really helpful. It’s right on the beach so we’ve got our own access to it and the pool is right there so if you want to hear the waves but not get sandy the pool is a good choice.

After the beach, we got ready to have dinner at the Well of the Turk – a Turkish restaurant that’s supposed to be really delicious. The owner of the hotel, Nikos gave us some great recommendations for what to order and also told us about a club to visit afterwards.

Dinner was delicious! Service was slow but we weren’t really in a rush. From there we went back to the hotel because it was only 11pm and Nikos said the club doesn’t get busy until 1am. I played around on the free internet for awhile and then we headed to Destijl.

Awesome club! Half indoor and half outdoor with awesome decorations – palm trees, Moroccan lighting and colorful chairs, tables and beds. We got a few drinks and then hit the dance floor. It was a lot of fun and I’m proud of us for lasting until after 3am.

Day 11: June 28

Late start – I was a bit hungover and we were both exhausted. We ordered room service and laid in bed until it was time to pick up our laundry. When we got our laundry from the cleaners we headed to Falasarna beach. It’s on the far west side of the island and was a short drive from the hotel.

It was absolutely beautiful! The water was turquoise, aquamarine, blue, navy and teal. Completely clear all the way to your toes. It was a lot of fun. After we relaxed for a few hours we headed back to the hotel, changed and grabbed some inexpensive dinner at a place called Nikos recommended by Nikos. Yummy! And we’ve come to realize that in Crete they serve Raki and a dessert after every dinner whether you want it or not. Woo hoo!

After dinner we passed out.

Day 12: June 29

Our last day in Greece =( We leave for Italy

tomorrow!

We saved the best for last – Elafonisi beach. Gorgeous as well, but more crowded than Falasarna. The water was freezing, but it felt great after lying out in the sun for a few hours. After the beach we drove back to the hotel and went to the beach there and then rinsed off in the pool before taking showers and hopping on the internet to write this blog =)

Tonight is the final between Germany and Spain. It’s going to be crazy! We met a guy in Matala who said that if Germany wins then he gets to shave his friend’s hair off, but if Spain wins then his friend gets to shave his mustache off (which he’s had for 25 years!).

I can’t wait to drink some Mythos and be among the locals!