Ákra Mélissa

We'd decided to do the hike up and over to the Red sand beach so after a coffee on our porch and a sweet treat at Mama's Bakery, we set off climbing the stairs to the trail. It was a rocky, dusty path but well marked and with great views. At the bottom, 2 snack shops, 1 festooned with flags from around the world, 🇨🇦 too, and claims to have the best mojito in the world. I didn't try it as it was before noon! The beach was all sand and as we walked to the end, found a sand castle and rock faces. Not many were on the beach but those that were, were tanned all over! A nude German woman, our age, sauntered over to tell us about the rock faces that her husband created and to chat about how she has come to Matala every year since 1979. It didn't seem at all strange to see tanned naked bodies walking the beach, swimming, sunbathing. White body parts meant they were new to the nudie beach! There were a few with bathing suits on and a few families came too. We found shade under a rocky outcrop and enjoyed a few hours swimming, lounging on the beach, and eating a snack at one shack.
A lovely day only marred later when I slipped on the sandy boardwalk, fell and cut my arm. Painful as I landed on the bone but fortunately, only a small cut and solved it with ice, bandage and pain med.
Crete is magical!Read more