Nov – Dec 2023

Crete 2023, Greece

A 30-day adventure by Gina Read more

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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 15
- Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 10:14 AM
- 🌬 21 °C
- Altitude: 80 m
- Greece Vrelianós Réma 35.051169, 24.87359435°3’4” N 24°52’25” E
Loukoumades and Souvlaki
November 18, 2023 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 21 °C
When we went to the farmers market today we stopped by a café to eat loukoumades - I love it... it's a dessert originated from Egypt made of leavened and deep fried dough balls, soaked in syrup or honey, coated with cinnamon. The dish was described as early as the 13th century by al-Baghdadi as luqmat al-qādi "judge's morsels".

But you can't leave a Greek market without eating Souvlaki made by the local butcher, so we definitely also had to stop at the taverna next to the butcher 🤣.Read more
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 15
- Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 11:23 AM
- 🌬 21 °C
- Altitude: 75 m
- Greece Vrelianós Réma 35.051228, 24.87251935°3’4” N 24°52’21” E
Found another one!
November 18, 2023 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 21 °C
It's a desaster... I can't pass by a bakery without buying delicious local pastries 🤣.
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 15
- Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 1:05 PM
- 🌬 21 °C
- Altitude: 493 m
- Greece Treis Ekklhsies 34.962362, 25.15174434°57’45” N 25°9’6” E
My serpentines ❤️
November 18, 2023 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 21 °C
I have to drive these serpentines if I want to go shopping somewhere other than in the vegetable car.

I love the view and as long as it doesn't rain cats and dogs, the route is a lot of fun.

You can see my private beach as well as my village from far away and it is the only settlement here far and wide 😍.Read more
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 15
- Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 6:31 PM
- 🌙 16 °C
- Altitude: 509 m
- Greece Amýgdalos 34.979158, 25.13028334°58’45” N 25°7’49” E
Manolis' gem
November 18, 2023 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
Manolis has built a little gem between two very small villages, each with no more than 10-15 people living in it. It's called Sunny Hill Café and reminds me a lot of our fire kitchen.

Manolis is 28 years old, born here and returned here after working in England for a few years. Within two years he build his café with a lot of love, work, ideas, wood and heart.

From my apartment I pass it straight after the serpentines and just stopped by. Manolis conjured up all sorts of little things for us, like tapas, and we chatted for a while.

Little by little a few farmers from the villages appeared and suddenly we were sitting in the middle of the loud and very funny Friday evening event of the two small villages. The vegetable man was also there and invited us to a raki.

The true Greeks rocked the evening and I followed the spectacle with a happy heart and good mood, impressed by the large wooden crosses that one guy wore around his neck, the thick Greek peasant boots and the voice like a buzz saw.

The oven was booming, everyone was sitting in a circle and Manolis was standing at the stove and kept conjuring up treats that he distributed on the tables.

What a wonderful evening, what hospitality, what great people! ❤️❤️❤️Read more
TravelerThat sounds awesome! 🥰
11/19/23Reply
Travelertotally! ❤️❤️❤️ seems to be the optimal place to celebrate my birthday....
11/19/23Reply
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 16
- Sunday, November 19, 2023 at 9:53 AM
- 🌬 14 °C
- Altitude: 14 m
- Greece Mousouklí Réma 34.954105, 25.13692534°57’15” N 25°8’13” E
The storm is coming
November 19, 2023 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 14 °C
🌬️🌬️🌊🌊
TravelerSieht noch ganz angenehm aus, finde ich. 🤷
11/19/23ReplyTranslate
Travelerdie stühle fingen schon da an spazieren zu gehen und zu nah wollte ich nicht mehr an die klippe dran aber richtig doll wars nicht, also nicht für uns norddeutsche...
11/19/23ReplyTranslate
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 16
- Sunday, November 19, 2023 at 10:32 AM
- 🌬 14 °C
- Altitude: 14 m
- Greece Mousouklí Réma 34.954142, 25.13690334°57’15” N 25°8’13” E
Greek breakfast
November 19, 2023 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 14 °C
Eating all the tasty stuff I bought yesterday on the market 🤤😋
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 16
- Sunday, November 19, 2023 at 12:27 PM
- 🌬 15 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Greece Treis Ekklhsies 34.955922, 25.16029434°57’21” N 25°9’37” E
Blue, bluer, bluest
November 19, 2023 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 15 °C
Today we followed the stony unpaved roads along the coast until our little car couldn't drive anymore. 🤣

Of course we could have continued for a much loooooonger time if we would have had Töffi 🚒 with us.

But it was definitely enough for a trip along the coast in today's stormy winds 🌬️. The north wind not only creates high waves 🌊, but also steel blue seas and clear visibility 👀.Read more
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 19
- Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at 10:14 AM
- ⛅ 18 °C
- Altitude: 270 m
- Greece Pýrgos 35.006553, 25.153735°0’24” N 25°9’13” E
Pyrgos farmer's market
November 22, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
The farmer's market in Pyrgos takes place once a week. The stalls are located along the small street that leads to Church of Agion Georgiou and Constantine ⛪.

There are also a few cafes ☕ and small taverns 🍲 on the street, and a visit to a Greek hairdresser 💇 is also possible. You can find everything on the market, but especially food.

The olives 🫒, fresh sheep's cheese 🧀 and raisins 🍇 are particularly recommended. The kiwis 🥝 and khakis 🍎 are also ripe at the moment, so these shouldn't be ignored either.

It's a farmer's market of small farmers and has nothing to do with professional sellers. Theses are absolutely local vegetables and fruits from the gardens around the village.

However, you stand out because there are no tourists here - apart from me 🤪. It's clear to see that you're an attraction and the Greek hospitality and business acumen shines through as there's something to try everywhere 😋.

What a great country and shopping experience ❤️.Read more
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 20
- Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 11:26 AM
- ☁️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 217 m
- Greece Káto Kastellianá 35.029522, 25.27097835°1’46” N 25°16’16” E
Prickly pears
November 23, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Opuntia ficus-indica, the Indian fig opuntia, fig opuntia, or prickly pear, is a species of cactus that has long been a domesticated crop plant grown in agricultural economies throughout arid and semiarid parts of the world.

I like to eat them and they are very healthy. They are currently ripe and growing all along the side of the road. The small spines are thin and hard to see, but it is still a very bad idea to pick them with your bare hands because the spines penetrate the skin very easily and are extremely annoying.

So for me it's prickly pears time at the moment ❤️.Read more
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 20
- Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 2:51 PM
- ☁️ 20 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Greece Mousouklí Réma 34.954689, 25.14680834°57’17” N 25°8’49” E
Stormy sea
November 23, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Today I went along the coast to watch the show 😍.
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 21
- Friday, November 24, 2023 at 2:10 PM
- ☁️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 14 m
- Greece Mousouklí Réma 34.954125, 25.13685634°57’15” N 25°8’13” E
Sermon on the Mount
November 24, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
I think there is a translation error in the Sermon on the Mount, it should read:
Look at the goats of the roof: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?Read more
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 21
- Friday, November 24, 2023 at 6:48 PM
- ⛅ 17 °C
- Altitude: 14 m
- Greece Mousouklí Réma 34.954155, 25.13689534°57’15” N 25°8’13” E
Milky way
November 24, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Shortly after sunset it is pitch black here and you can admire the Milky Way in all its beauty 👀⭐️✨💫🌟.

Unfortunately, I don't have a telescope with me, but I do have a petroleum lamp, which makes sitting outside in the evening twice as comfortable 😍.Read more
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- Day 22
- Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 9:58 AM
- ⛅ 18 °C
- Altitude: 273 m
- Greece Pýrgos 35.006375, 25.15651135°0’23” N 25°9’23” E
Church of Agion Georgiou and Constantine
November 25, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
This gem is located at the end of the main street of Pyrgos.

A beautiful double chapel with frescoes from the 14th century. If it is closed you can get the key in the flower shop across the street. The friendly owner openes up to you. Absolutely worth seeing.

But since it was open, we were able to walk right in and watch what exactly the churchgoers were doing there.

First, a donation is placed in the cash register and one or more candles are taken, which are then lit and placed in the stand provided. Then the picture to the left and right of the act is kissed and, if necessary, the fresco to the right of the altar.

Then they go into the room to the right and pay homage to the big spaghetti monster there - everything is very occult and exciting 🤪🥳.Read more
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- Day 23
- Sunday, November 26, 2023 at 9:47 AM
- 🌬 15 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Greece Mousouklí Réma 34.954814, 25.14674734°57’17” N 25°8’48” E
The storm
November 26, 2023 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 15 °C
I ❤️ it!
TravelerMe, too ♥️ ….
11/28/23Reply
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 23
- Sunday, November 26, 2023 at 8:10 PM
- 🌙 12 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Greece Mousouklí Réma 34.954789, 25.14689734°57’17” N 25°8’49” E
Full moon
November 26, 2023 in Greece ⋅ 🌙 12 °C
🌕
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 24
- Monday, November 27, 2023 at 8:44 AM
- ☀️ 12 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Greece Treis Ekklhsies 34.9552, 25.14815834°57’19” N 25°8’53” E
After the storm
November 27, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
Back into the wateeeeeeeeer! 🌊🏊❤️
Travelersehr fesch, Ende November ... findpenguins meint, es habe um 8:00 ca. 12 Grad gehabt. Ich weiß schon, du trägst wohl kein Thermometer mit dir rum, aber kommt das ca. hin?
11/27/23ReplyTranslate
Travelerin pyrgos stimmt das vermutlich, hier gibt es keine messtationen, pygros is das nächste und den berg hab ich neulich gemessen, 641m und da stauen sich natürlich nicht nur die wolken, sonden da oben isses klar kälter. hier ist eine art mikroklima, deswegen hab ichs ausgesucht. rainer meint es sind mehr aber ich würde sagen um 9 im schatten 16, is aber schwierig, ich saß nackig in der sonne, dann 22. das wasser hat auch 22 also geht es mit dem schwimmen jetzt langsam zu ende. ich denke eine woche wirds noch ok sein, dann isses vermutlich etwas kalt...
11/27/23ReplyTranslate
Travelerjetzt aktuell isses rainer auf dem balkon zu warm aber das is quatsch - super angenehm gerade...
11/27/23ReplyTranslate
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 24
- Monday, November 27, 2023 at 10:47 AM
- ☀️ 14 °C
- Altitude: 14 m
- Greece Mousouklí Réma 34.954079, 25.13688934°57’15” N 25°8’13” E
Breakfast time
November 27, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
I‘m a bit sad, only 6 more days here…
TravelerHä? Kann nicht sein!
11/30/23ReplyTranslate
Travelerah der einzelne teller? hahahaaaa…. rainer hatte davor soooooo viel hunger, dass er vorher essen musste. das passiert andauernd. manchmal isst er um 5 oder 6 morgens und dann vielleicht nochmal was um 9. wenn ich dann um 10 frühstück mache hat er gerade keinen hunger. aber ab und zu klappt das frühstück auch zusammen 🤣. die lösung ist großartig, eine million mal besser als ein unterzuckerter mann - das ist unerträglich 🤣.
12/1/23ReplyTranslate
Traveleroder meinst du dass ich am sonntag schon zurück muß? ja… ein monat ist nicht lang… schnüff…
12/1/23ReplyTranslate
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 24
- Monday, November 27, 2023 at 2:11 PM
- ⛅ 15 °C
- Altitude: 488 m
- Greece Mourniá 34.976499, 25.18269834°58’35” N 25°10’58” E
All over the mountains
November 27, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Today we went all over the mountains.

The unpaved roads that I had chosen for today were hardly passable anymore, every now and then I had to get out and clear stones out of the way or reduce the weight of the car.

But I was too interested in what this small economic valley looks like. And we did it! We got to the intersection after the Εκκλησία Αγία Ειρήνη then we could have only continued with all-wheel drive and more ground clearance.

I had expected to reach Εκκλησία Αγία Ειρήνη at best, but we even made it a few meters further.

It was a great tour and I've already decided: I'll be back. The magnificent landscape, microclimate and hospitable people obviously stole my heart 😍.Read more
TravelerToll! 😊.. hier ist kalt, dunkel und nass😬
11/28/23ReplyTranslate
Travelerevelynn (marlo) hat mir gerade nen foto mit viel schnee geschickt ❄️❄️❄️. aber schnee is ja super, dauerregen nervt... ich werd voraussichtlich nicht so lange bleiben... 🤣
11/28/23ReplyTranslate
TravelerJa, ich habe auch eins von meiner Mami bekommen … ☃️😳🥶
11/29/23ReplyTranslate
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 25
- Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at 6:37 AM
- ☁️ 13 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Greece Mousouklí Réma 34.953994, 25.13685334°57’14” N 25°8’13” E
Orange
November 28, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
🕯️🕯️🕯️
TravelerSo schön ♥️
11/28/23ReplyTranslate
Travelerja gell, voll die schöne farbe...
11/28/23ReplyTranslate
Traveler🤩🥰
11/29/23Reply
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 26
- Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 2:04 PM
- 🌬 19 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Greece Mousouklí Réma 34.953833, 25.13714234°57’14” N 25°8’14” E
Still heavy waves
November 29, 2023 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 19 °C
What a pitty for Rainer, it's nice and warm but there are still too many waves to go swimming today and it's his last day...
Travelerja, man hörts (also, wenn man die bilder anschaut). Ma, viel zu kurz da gewesen, der Mann ...
11/30/23ReplyTranslate
Travelerja länger hält er es nicht aus, die drechselbänke rufen 🤣. bisher war er nie länger als 2 wochen da, aber sizilien wird er voraussichtlich mal 3 wochen testen. ich glaube aber, dass ihm dann die decke auf den kopf fallen wird… wir werden sehen 🤣. wann geht’s bei dir nochmal los?
12/1/23ReplyTranslate
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 27
- Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 8:23 AM
- ☀️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 14 m
- Greece Mousouklí Réma 34.954028, 25.13686134°57’15” N 25°8’13” E
Ordinary working day
November 30, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Today is an ordinary working day and the waves have calmed down. I‘m going to miss this view from my balcony office 🌊🌞❤️ - back home there will presumably be gray sky, clouds and rain. So no more morning swim routine 😢.

But I’m already looking forward to my next workation… mid of January to mid of March on the south cost of Sicily…. phew…Read more
TravelerThen you finally put those footprints into the Sicily 2024 trip for real! 🥳
12/1/23Reply
Traveler🤣
12/1/23Reply
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 27
- Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 1:28 PM
- ☀️ 20 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Greece Treis Ekklhsies 34.954681, 25.14836934°57’17” N 25°8’54” E
Finally cosy waves
November 30, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
The last days where nice and we had great waves, except of one day where it was cloudy, rainy and almost cold. The waves were great for watching but not for swimming. Today was the first nice swimming day and I went off in my lunch break to jump into the water 🏊💦❤️🌊🌞. I still can't believe it, it's end of November...Read more
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- Day 28
- Friday, December 1, 2023 at 4:46 PM
- ☀️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 14 m
- Greece Mousouklí Réma 34.954063, 25.13686234°57’15” N 25°8’13” E
Dinner almost ready
December 1, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
I started to empty my fridge… hmmm 🤔 I do not know if I will manage 🤣.
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 29
- Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 9:11 AM
- ⛅ 16 °C
- Altitude: 281 m
- Greece Chárakas 35.013197, 25.12116735°0’48” N 25°7’16” E
Flatfoot
December 2, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Two days ago, when I drove Rainer to the airport in Heraklion at 5 a.m., I noticed that there was too little air in the tire on the left rear.

We checked on the way, at the side of the road (in the dark🤪) but it didn't look too dramatic.

Since all the gas stations were still closed, I drove for an hour and took him to the departure terminal first. There we inspected the tire more closely and found a screw in the tread.

Rainer then checked in his suitcase and I changed to the spare tire.

On the way back, the gas stations were open and I checked the air pressure several times (the indicator light didn't go out) but everything was fine.

Today I drove 30 minutes up the serpentines to the first village. On my way back two days ago, when I was checking the air pressure several times, I found a promising gas station.

It looked like they have everything and can repair everything. So this is where I went...

Repairing the tire took one minute and costed 5.-.
I'm still amazed 😲😳.Read more
Traveler👍
12/2/23Reply
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Traveler Crete 2023, Greece
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- Day 29
- Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 9:45 AM
- ☁️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 340 m
- Greece Treis Ekklhsies 34.959967, 25.15453634°57’36” N 25°9’16” E
Eurasian griffon vulture
December 2, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
I watch them every time I lie on the beach and look at the sky. The griffon vultures of Crete circle along the coast in pairs, sometimes eight or ten.

They glide majestically through the air and they only rarely flap their wings.

It's difficult to photograph them because they're so high in the sky, but today I was able to spot some on the switchbacks.

They are 93–122 cm long with a 2.3–2.8 m wingspan. The males weigh 6.2 to 10.5 kg and females typically weigh 6.5 to 10.5 kg. Hatched naked, it is a typical Old World vulture in appearance, with a very white head, very broad wings and short tail feathers. It has a white neck ruff and yellow bill. The buff body and wing coverts contrast with the dark flight feathers.

Amazing creatures! I found some pics online to show them to you from near.Read more
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