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  • Martin and Debbie Kinally

Crete

A 15-day adventure by Martin and Debbie Read more
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  • Trip start
    September 10, 2024
    Martin and Debbie KinallyCreteTraveler

    Arrival

    September 10, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 27 °C

    Well, we left ahead of the schedule but got caught in traffic until passed Junction 11. Plain sailing from then till airport, booked in car no problem, very efficient. Through check-in, 20 minutes on to security, empty, hardly a soke into Duty Free in about 15 minutes. And relax, something to eat, sorry it was Burger 🍔 King, then on to departure. A shirt wait for boarding but not too long, Captain announces we will be arriving ahead of schedule 3 hrs 45 instead of 4.5 hours, taxi to runway and then it all goes tit's up. List our slot due to thunderstorms over Athens. We have to wait on the tarmac for an hour, boo hoo. Good flight and customs were quick, bags waiting for us also car rep waiting outside do on our way to hotel in no time.
    Hotel great apartment from the stairs.
    Jus enough time for a pint in town before retreating to our balcony to sit and watch the world go by before bedtime 🌙.    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyCreteTraveler
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    Our first destination

    September 11, 2024 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    After breakfast on the roof top terrace we set of for our first destination of Agios Nickolias. We drive along the coast road and stop at Epidkopi Beach on the way. We stopped for lunch at a lovely coastal town of Agia Peligia. A beautiful little town with a beach and a prom, albeit a small one. We stopped for a drink and a sandwich before heading off to Agios Nik.Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyCreteTraveler
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    Agios Nickolias, first impressions

    September 11, 2024 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    We reach AgNik and stop to pick up some essentials before meeting Eirina at our apartment. Two floors up a lovely view and a bacolny on which to sit and people watch. Unfortunately, that means Martin had to make 3 journeys up and down stairs to fetch the luggage. It's time for a rest before heading out for a meal overlooking the Lagoon. It was a tiring day, but so far, so good.Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyCreteTraveler
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    In Search Of Decent Beer

    September 12, 2024 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Today we're taking it easy, neither of us slept well due to the heat, only consolation to that was I did get pics of a lovely sunrise.
    We are going in search of a bar selling craft beer which Martin has found on the web. We start with a leisurely stroll around the harbour opposite the apartment, which we can see, second picture the one above the pharmacy, second floor.
    We come across two large statues, one is the statue of Europa, the other The Horn Of Almathea both with mythical stories attached to them. We continue around the coast to a small beach, not sand more shingle but the water is a beautiful blue/green colour and crystal clear.
    We head back towards Lake Voulismeni in the centre of town where we had our meal last night. The bar we we're looking for is in the road behind so we had a good view of the lake while enjoying our drinks.
    Back to the apartment for a chill before our evening meal.    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyCreteTraveler
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    Very Lazy Friday

    September 13, 2024 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Well, I've managed my second sunrise, and this one had a surprise for me. A luxury yacht had docked overnight. Well, I had to get the details, so I downloaded an app. It's owned by the Ritz-Carlton group, very luxurious, and only 300 passengers.
    I've had a very lazy day, infact a pajama day, well nightie in my case. I've sat on the balcony all day people watching and reading. Martin went for a good walk this afternoon down to the beach at the other end of town.
    This evening, we went to a local traditional restaurant then onto the bar next-door to our apartment for a bit of live rock music. Great night of heavy metal music with Brian Meacham a fantastic guitarist with a superb backing track covering Deep Purple, ACDC, Van Halen, Black Sabbath, Floyd, Bon Jovi, Metallica, Queen, nods to Hendrix, Nirvana and more. Superb guitarist from Shropshire!! The sound he generated was awesome. Rock on. 😊    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyCreteTraveler
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    Irepetra

    September 14, 2024 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Today we are going to drive up through the mountains to the south coast.
    On the way we stopped to look at the view of the turquoise blue lake, only spoilt by the surrounding fields covered in plastic greenhouses.
    We then continued on to Irepetra, a much bigger town than we were expecting.
    We walked along the front on the look out for a bar for a drink and a spot of lunch. We found one right by the sea where we could people watch and parrot watch, the bar has two.
    Again made the mistake of ordering 2 large beers, but we also tried the Gyros to soak it up.
    A drive home along the coast beach watching.
    Still full from lunch we decided to stay on tonight and have a snack. Did manage to get a sort of sunset, we're facing the wrong way.    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyCreteTraveler
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    A Stroll To Ammos Beach

    September 15, 2024 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Still feeling lazy so we're sitting on the balcony again people watching but we need exercise so its off for a stroll to the beach around the bay from the apartment.
    It doesn't feel quite so hot today as there's a good breeze and quite a few clouds.
    We past the marina, boy there's a lot of boats packed in bobbing about on the beautiful blue sea.
    The beach is small and again has fine shingle instead of sand but the water is crystal clear.
    We walk right to the end of the bay and find a bar selling 'Dedalos' the local craft beer, well it would be rude not to try some. A table right next to the sea and a lovely view. The beer makes us hungry so we try a few small plates. Tzatziki, Pitta Bread, Cheese Pies and Dakos, a dish of bread, soaked in water and topped with tomatoes and Feta cheese and drizzled with olive oil. Sorry no pictures, it disappeared too quickly.
    A gentle walk back past the Cathedral and home in time for Martin to watch the Baggies thrash Portsmouth and go top of the league.
    Also managed to catch the latter stages of the Solheim Cup golf. Yank victory so not so good. Still full from lunch and me not fancying another trip downstairs, Martin pops to the supermarket for supplies and we have a salad at home, he managed to pick up a couple of bottles of local wine. 1.5 litres of cooperative Cretan wine for 2.5 euros.
    I'm moon watching, its almost a full one.
    Those stairs are killing me. Karen it's another 'Hill of Terror ' .    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyCreteTraveler
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    Spinalonga

    September 16, 2024 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    This morning I was awake before the sunrise so I managed to get some more pictures and watch a cruise liner dock at the same time.

    Today we're going for a ride up the coast to visit the island of Spinalonga, yes I did say island which means a boat trip. The views on the way were stunning. We parked in a town called Elounda right next to the jetty where the boats were leaving from. The boat trip takes about 25 minutes, not too bad.

    Spinalonga is an uninhabited island, originally built as a fortress in the Venetian ere. From 1903 until 1957 it was used as Leper colony. Today the derelict and crumbling buildings have become quite a popular tourist attraction with many boats arriving daily. The average time spent on the island is an hour, which is long enough as there isn't much to see and nowhere to buy refreshments.

    We had lunch in Elounda a nice town not as big as Agios Nik. We then drove on to Plaka, a one road town, glad we didn't decide to stay here.

    The weather's started to take a turn for the worse, the clouds are forming and turning dark. On the way home there's some spots of rain but we managed to make it home before the heavens opened. The road outside the apartment was flooded and the sky was black, we ended up with a rainbow.

    By the time we were ready to go out for a meal the streets had dried and the sky was clear. We walked back to the bar with craft beer and sampled another couple of different bottles, and then ate in a restaurant overlooking the lake. pizza for me and Cretan meatballs and rice for him, but instead of being ball shaped they were cylindrical and he described them as four turds in the snow!!! A lovely day nonetheless.    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyCreteTraveler
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    A Day At Rest In Agios Nikolias

    September 17, 2024 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Today we're having a restful day in Agios Nikolias, we have blue skies and white puffy clouds. After spending the morning reading and people watching on the balcony we get our arses in gear and go for a walk to the beach bar we found Sunday.
    The water is still and crystal clear so we both have a quick paddle before taking a seat to again sit and watch the world go by. There's something to be said for having a bad knee and not being able to walk far. Sitting people watching again and taking silly selfies, enjoying a beer.
    We've made the decision to have lunch that way we needent go tonight, after we have to pack as it's moving day tomorrow,.
    Martin has a pasta dish with smoked pork and local cheese and I have a Gyros portion, slightly bigger than I expected.
    A gentle walk back and up the stairs from hell for the last time. We'll miss the fabulous view and the lovely town, but not those stairs .
    It's a beautiful balmy evening with a full moon reflecting on the sea, a perfect last photo of Agios Nikolias    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyCreteTraveler
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    Mooching Around Mouchlos

    September 18, 2024 in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Today's moving day, we're driving to Sitia our home for the next 5 days.
    We're driving along the coast road to beach check, or at least we were going to until we took a wrong turn and ended up on the main road which is more inland, and of course we couldn't get off it for quite a few killies. We double back to our original destination and wish we hadn't bothered. We set off again and this time turn off down the steep mountain road towards Mouchlos. A winding, narrow in parts, and bumpy road which ends in a beautiful little village straight out of the set of Mamma Mia. We walk around the bay, popping our heads into the little church, big enough for about 20 people. There's a couple of tiny beaches and a good 20 or so bars and restaurants, and after seeing the Deadlos Craft Beer sign ( our favoured beer in Crete) of course we had to stop a have a beer.
    After our libation we continue the journey to Sitia.
    First impressions, it's smaller than Agios Nikolias and more residential than touristy but there is a big harbour and our new apartment overlooks it, but even more, there's only 1 flight of stairs!! Hurrah!!
    The apartment is quaint, I think the word is, after the Ag Nik one, and full of nick naks but it's clean and has a great view and is right in the centre of all the bars and restaurants.
    It's starting to cloud over and gets a bit humid as we unpack and within half an hour we have, thunder, lightning and rain, but on the upside there's also another rainbow when it stops.
    A short walk up the road tonight for some traditional food overlooking the harbour with the moon reflecting on the sea. Cheese pie and Tzatziki for starters, then Kleftiko for me and a disappointing Steak and Chips for Martin, followed by free chocolate pudding, watermelon and Raiki, what more could you ask for.    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyCreteTraveler
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    Strolling Through Sitia

    September 19, 2024 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    I was just about up in time for sunrise this morning after a restless night in a very warm bedroom.
    We're going to explore Sitia today when we can be bothered, we start with a walk along the prom checking out the eateries as we go, there's a lot of seafood on the menus here.
    We walk out to the furthest point then start wending our way back through the town. Oh, this is different to Ag Nik. Like at home there are a lot of empty shops and restaurants and it's not because we're coming to the end of the season.
    After realising we've done a lap of the town we head back to the apartment for a spot of lunch. Martin decides he's going for another leg stretch I've chosen to stay here, he can walk faster and further without me slowing him down. When he comes back he's found us a nice beach to try just up the road.
    Before we head out for our evening meal we watched the huge harvest moon rise over the harbour colouring the sky pink.
    Tonight's meal is in a traditional cuisine restaurant right next to the floodlit harbour wall, and what a feast it was, it defeated us both, huge portion and not expensive.    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyCreteTraveler
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    Toplou Monestry and Vai Palm Beach

    September 20, 2024 in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Today we're taking a trip to the East coast to Vai Beach and the Palm Forest. We travel up to the top of the mountains , literally, we can go no higher.
    On the way we stop at a view point and a nice German lady offers to take our photo, we then return the favour and take hers. We then stop to have a look around Toplou Monestry, an active monestry producing organic wine with a museum with works of art depicting the orthodox church and wonderful manuscripts. It has a lovely courtyard with the tallest cactus I've ever seen, they also have some statue including an anchor, not as good as Netherton's though.
    From there we stop at Itanos Beach, very tiny beach with it's own Archaeological ruins.
    We then continue on to Vai Palm Beach where we have lunch and spend the afternoon on the beach, himself even manages a dip, then it's back home to sit on the balcony for the night people watching,    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyCreteTraveler
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    Two Lazy Days In Sitia

    September 21, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 22 °C

    SATURDAY
    Saturday is going to be a lazy restful day at home.
    I was awake really early again, in time again for another sunrise and also in time to watch the Ferry arrive and dock. Although it was a car Ferry there were only people boarding a line of at least 50 people. It was a case of if you blinked you missed it, the Ferry was only in port for about 15 minutes.
    Just before lunch we take a walk around Sitia again then stop for a drink, not to Martin standards but beggars can't be choosers as craft beer or even a dark beer non existent here. We walk back via the beach Martin found, it looks okay so we may have to pop down there later, now it's back for lunch.
    Martins getting itchy feet so off he goes for a walk around the harbour.
    Tonight we're eating at Zorba's restaurant, it's a traditional taverna and soon fills up with regulars and locals. Zorba the owner himself appears later, looks about 106 so tells you the food must be good, melted cheese starter, forgot the name, and Moussaka and Greek Salad for us both, probably best meal of the holiday.
    A lovely restful day, just what was needed.

    SUNDAY
    We we'e going for a south coast fora little excursion today, Sunday, but I woke super early this morning, 5 am, another sunrise. I'm feeling a little unwell and didn't fancy it so we just had another quiet day on the balcony, but then of course Martin gets itchy feet and goes for a walk, today he's heading for the fort that's overlooking the marina. Fantastic views from up there, I don't think I would have made that climb.
    When he gets back I'm feeling better so we head off down to the beach and sit and soak up the sun for what's left of the afternoon.
    A meal out at Zorba's again tonight, another good one. Fried cheese starter, Chicken and Mushrooms in cream sauce for me and Mixed Meat Grill for Mart. Free pudding and Raiki as well.    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyCreteTraveler
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    Last Full Day

    September 23, 2024 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 24 °C

    As today is our last full day, we're making the effort to get up and out earlier. Well, some of us are. It's the first time Martin has been up before 9,
    We're heading to the south coast to check out some beaches so we can sit and catch some rays, and Martin can have a dip.
    After driving along the coast road, the first place we stop at is Limanski, we park, up next to the tiny harbour, and stroll along the prom of the little town. A beautiful small sandy beach full of sunbeds and umbrellas, coffee bar, and tavernas. We stop for a coffee and orange juice whilst deciding whether to stay here or move on. We decide to move on. Big mistake. We continue along the coast looking for sandy beaches, but they have now turned into shingle. Our last chance is Agias Fotias. We pull off the main road and head down the steep single track bumpy lane to a small car park overlooking a postage stamp sized shingle beach, oh no, we both decide the trip down wasn't worth it and make up our minds to come back home to Sitia and go to the beach just down the road.
    The scenery on the way home was quite spectacular and just showed how high up in the mountains we had driven.
    After a spot of lunch, we spent a couple of hours reading and relaxing on the beach, and Martin got his dip.
    A lovely last night meal of pasta and risotto overlooking the harbour finishes off 6 enjoyable days in Sitia.    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyCreteTraveler

    Homeward Bound

    September 24, 2024 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    After an early start and waking to a magnificent sunrise, the best of the holiday, and I've seen practically all of them, we get ourselves in gear for an early departure. We make our way to the main road on the island and head for the airport about 160 kilometres . It's around 4 hours, but we want to take our time.
    The views again are great as we travel up and down the mountains. We decide to stop for a breather, stretch our legs, and have a drink. We find a lovely little harbour village called Panormos. We park up and walk down to the harbour to find a taverna and have a drink with a portion of Dakos.
    We're now heading for Almyrida, which is where we had our first holiday in Crete. We remembered quite a bit of it. Pizza for lunch overlooking the sea.
    We drove on through Kalyves and Souda, where we spent our first night in the docks was one of the hugest cruise liners I've ever seen.
    Had to wait a while for the check-in gate to open, but the customs and security went quite well with no queues, a small delay taking off but a good flight, now the drive home. Unfortunately, road works and two diversions due to road closure made the journey longer than anticipated, but we are home safe and well.
    Two weeks in two locations on the East Coast of Crete, great weather, great locations, and great food. We think we've done Crete now, so we're looking forward to discovering a new Greek Island soon, Ta ra a bit.    Read more

    Trip end
    September 24, 2024
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