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Crete 2017
  • Pablo Escabar
August 2017

Crete 2017

A 11-day adventure by Pablo Read more
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  • Trip start
    August 3, 2017
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    August 3, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    That familiar not enough sleep feeling again... stil managed ti get about 3 maybe 4 hours. Its gonna be a long long day. Off to the airport about 3am forma 7.55 flight to Heraklyion which should see us arriving about 13.55 greek time. Where we can oicknup our hire car and make the drive down the main highway past Rethymon and then down to Hora Sfakion for our first hotel.Read more

  • Pablo EscabarCrete 2017Pablo Escabar

    Day 3

    August 6, 2017 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    We decided to take a boat to Gavdos island so we got tickets then had breakfast at the ferry snackbar, yogurt and fruit with figs this time. We bought a couple of cheese and ham sarnies to take with us. Boat trip was a bit packed and limited on our little boat so not much chance to move around, took an hour and 15 mins. Was ready for a large cold Mythos when we arrived, Marie had white wine which always is retsina and very nice too. We missed the bus to the nearest beach so like typical brits we set off across the island in the mid day sun and soon got fried. Luckily as we stopped to put more sun cream on a hippy in a camper stopped and offered us a lift, we jumped in and he took us to the beach. Very nice of him indeed and i was amused by the strong smell of skunk weed in his van. The beach was very laid back with lots of tents and hippies and nude bathers but very warm and no shelter near the water. We sat out for a little bit but then retreated to a palm leaf umbrella chair and table at a little bar and had some drinks. The boat ride back was very similar, in hindsight I would rather have got the big ferry for 1 euro more each way (€21) because you can wander around the boat and there is a toilet etc. Got back and tried the Samaria restaurant again, food was fab but service was shite. Wrong drinks came, both Maries main course and starter came first then after she had eaten these they brought out my main course and starter. Then we had to keep asking different waiters for our bill. It was like they had spliffed up before we arrived. Oh well not the end of the world.Read more

  • Pablo EscabarCrete 2017Pablo Escabar

    Day 4

    August 6, 2017 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 28 °C

    We wanted a quiet day before we walked Samaria gorge so after a nice sfakion pie in kantina sfakia which is fast becoming our favourite place because it's straight forward and not trying to be all poncey. We then went to our beach near Frangocastello and after a morning swim we again had a lovely lunch in the nearby taverna. I had spaghetti with pork and cheese (best meal yet). Marie had stuffed toms and peppers again. We found another beach just down the coast which was even better ans so had another swim. Now i have lovely sunburn and the prospect of carying a backpack on it all day tomorrow. Might need to think about buying aftersun after all. Just having a lovely Pork Giros and a plate of chips for Marie as we ar not up for another big meal. Then early night before tomorrow's walk.Read more

  • Pablo EscabarCrete 2017Pablo Escabar

    Day 5 samaria gorge

    August 8, 2017 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Ok so early start, nice long drive to Omalos in taxi costing €130 (ouch) very nice mountains up there. Then a ham and cheese sandwich at the top of the walk before setting off. Going was tough as the first section is a big staircase, path is very rocky and not the easiest to descend. Also the heat was unbearable. We paced ourselves and took regular breaks. The path got worse in sections and the heat got hotter. Soon a combination of me being unfit, overweight and sunburned to hell got the better of me forcing me into stops every couple of hundred yards or so. After 8 hours or so we had only made 10k and the park was soon to close. The warden came along with his Mule "Adrianna" and didn't take long to convince me to ride her to the exit. Can't remember when i last was on a horse or donkey, probably as a toddler. The ride was a unique experience and I was very grateful as i don't think i could have made it to the end. Marie was a trooper and followed us down the trail at a blistering pace she did fantastic. The Mule was amazing and navigated some scary terrain all with the weight of me on her back. I was so gratefull to see the end of the park as was regretting the day massively. Our hotel very kindly came and picked us up in a pickup truck i did the ride of shame in the back. The hotel owner had been emailing us thinking we were a no show when they got the call. After a shower and change of clothes we had a nice dinner but I had no appetite. Feeling really sore and sorry for myself now.Read more

  • Pablo EscabarCrete 2017Pablo Escabar

    Day 6

    August 8, 2017 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 29 °C

    ...it hurts...!!! Our room last night was fantastic but the Air con was not as cold as in Sfakion. So was a pretty unrest full night for both of us and my legs were cramping up really bad. We almost had to crawl to breakfast, coming downstairs is the hardest part. Tried a little walk around Agia romeli but that's not helping. We booked the 11.30am ferry and sat iff until it came. After getting back we had a 2 hour siesta tgen freshened up and went for some dinnerm i had fried chicken with tsatziki and Marie had Domades and cheese croquettes. A little walk round Sfakia and some cheesecake and chocolate pie and we met a nice kitten on the harbour wall. Back to the room for some more recuperation.Read more

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    Day 7

    August 12, 2017 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Didn't write anything as i got really ill, stomache cramps and vomiting and spinning round in my head. Didnt leave the room at all. Marie was brilliantly patient with me and stayed by my side all day and also got me some orange juice. I didnt eat anything at all.Read more

  • Pablo EscabarCrete 2017Pablo Escabar

    Day 8

    August 12, 2017 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Feeling a little better but still fuzzy and tender we got up had a coffee and i had a bite of a croissant and we loaded up the car and set off along the south coast. Splili was a nice village that we stopped off at and had a bite (bowl of fruit for me Marie had Ntakos) then wandered round the shops and Marie bought a new beach bag. very photogenic village and we visited a small folk museum with a lovely man who very passionately told us about all the things in the little house and forced us to drink some raki. After this we drove further south and stopped briefly in Agia Galini. Then headed north towards Heraklyion. Just begore the city we found a lovely family run taverna and had some lunch. A lovely little girl came to our table and watched us over her ice cream. Katerina was 5 years old and made us play disney ludo and snakes and ladders while her Dad cooked me a nice chicken fillet and Marie had stuffed peppers and Dakis for a change ;) lovey oasis by the side if the road and a lot better than a Moto services. Onwards we passed Heraklyion and Malia and came off the motorway onto an old road which brought us over the mountains and down into plaka. Stunning views of Spinalonga island on the way down. Apartment is lovely, nice to have more room. Our host Manolis is really nice and friendly. Had a nice meal at Marias, a local traditional restuarant, without waiters trying to drag you in. We both had spaghetti i could only manage half and Marie finished hers.Read more

  • Pablo EscabarCrete 2017Pablo Escabar

    Day 9

    August 12, 2017 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    We had a little look round Plakas this morning then went for a drive in the car as it was very hot. We drove through Elunda and towards Agios Nikolas were we randomly stopped at a big supermarket. We then drove back to Elunda and had a nice walk round town with a couple of cocktails in a nice sports bar called Eden. Elundas is a nice town a very touristy place with lots of shops selling beach stuff and there are a lot of Englush accents about. There are some beaches right in the middle if town Then back to the apartment and out for another meal in Marias. This time i had pork steak with chips and Marie had dakos and stuffed tomatoes. So glad I'm able to eat well again.Read more

  • Pablo EscabarCrete 2017Pablo Escabar

    Day 10

    August 13, 2017 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    We went back over the mountain to the north coast to check out some beaches we had seen on the map. Near Agious georgios. The sea looked beautiful but was a bit choppy for swimming so we just had a light lunch at a fish taverna, still was too scared to have fish though, i now wish I had tried the small fry as it looked nice. We came back to Plaka and found a nice place on the road to Elunda to dip into the water near where some boats moor up. It was nice and quiet for a bit until a family decided to stop, get out the car and watch us while they ate their sandwiches...strange. we then went in to Elunda for a cold drink in Eden only to find that the Liverpool Watford game was on, Marie thinks I planned it but I didn't. Anyway it was 3:3 at the end so we then came back to Plaka and freshened up ans eent for another meal at Marias. The other tavernas were very annoying as hassled you as you walk past so it put us off. Marie had spag bol again and i had spaghetti with shrimps which was lovely.Read more

  • Pablo EscabarCrete 2017Pablo Escabar

    Day 11

    August 13, 2017 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Èarly start to make the 9.30 boat over to Spinalonga island. Was so nice to be there thst early before the crowds we had it almost to ourselves. Then when the Elunda boats arrived we headed back home, perfect timing. Manalis our host told us about his home village which was very "Cretan" so we decided to drive over there. Fourni has a nice taverna in the village square called Platanos (means bananas in spanish). Here we met kostas who is Manalis friend and he looked after us and we had a fantastic lunch. The coldest beer yet. We got lots of photos of the village then went for a mad drive round the surrounding area which has stunning oads and scenery. We stumbled onto a zoo "Amazonas" which was a bit crap really then continued our drive. Eventually comimg back to Plakas.Read more

    Trip end
    August 13, 2017
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