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Crete 2026, Greece
  • Gina Steiner
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  • Gina Steiner

Crete 2026, Greece

A 58-day adventure by Gina Read more
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    Gina SteinerCrete 2026, GreeceTraveler

    Change of tenant 😉

    Today in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    I just drove Evelynn to the airport in Heraklion, but not before putting the bed linen in the washing machine.

    It’s finished washing and is now hung up to dry, and now it’s time for Greek brunch 😋.

    Afterwards, I’ll unfortunately have to walk back to the secluded beach for a swim and this evening Miri is arriving and staying for a few weeks.

    Quite a lot going on here in the middle of nowhere 🤪.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerCrete 2026, GreeceTraveler

    Sea onion

    Yesterday in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Sea onions grow all over here. They look similar to Asphodilla ("Affodill" in German) which is my favorite flower in south of Greece and Turkey. They have a similar flowering and color but Asphodilla blooms from April until July or August and not now.

    This autumn I sowed Asphodilla in the raised bed at home, let's see if it will be something. But now back to sea onion.

    Drimia maritima - this is the official name - belongs to the family Asparagaceae and is known by several common names, including squill, sea squill, sea onion and maritime squill. In German it is also called sea onion ("Meerzwiebel").

    It is native to southern Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa.

    This plant grows from a large bulb which can be up to 20 cm wide and weigh 1 kg. In the spring, each bulb produces a rosette of about ten leaves each up to a meter long. They die away by autumn, when the bulb produces a tall, narrow raceme of flowers.

    The flower is about 1,5 cm wide and has six tepals each with a dark stripe down the middle. The tepals are white, with the exception of those on the red-flowered form. The fruit is a capsule up to 1,2 cm long.

    This plant often grows in rocky coastal habitat, especially in the Mediterranean Basin, where it is common. Its habit of producing leaves in the spring and flowers in the fall is an adaptation to the Mediterranean climate of its native range, where the summers are hot and dry.

    It has been used as a medicinal plant since ancient times. Pythagoras wrote about it in the 6th century BC. Hippocrates used it to treat jaundice, convulsions, and asthma.

    Its primary medicinal use was as a treatment for edema, then called dropsy, because of the diuretic properties of the cardiac glycosides. A solution of sea squill and vinegar was a common remedy for various ailments for centuries.

    Pythagoras and Dioscorides recorded that people hung the bulbs with sprouted leaves outside the door in spring as protection against evil spirits. The bulbs are still gathered and displayed in the winter as part of Greek Christmas and new year's traditions.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerCrete 2026, GreeceTraveler

    Birthday Tour

    October 9 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Today, Evelynn and I went on a belated birthday excursion.

    First, we drove to the gorge above Tris Ekklisies; there is a viewpoint offering a view of the very complex climbing route that leads from Tris Ekklisies, through the Aba canyon, and up to that very spot.

    When the rivers are flowing, you can also see a waterfall from there, though today it was dried up.

    Afterward, we drove through the mountains to a charming little village called Ethia and had a drink at the Καφενείο Πηγαΐδα (Kafeneío Pigaḯda). The village sits at an elevation of about 750 meters.

    We continued our mountain loop and finished the trip in Pyrgos, where we stopped briefly to do some shopping.

    Once we had put our groceries in the fridge back in Tris Ekklisies, we went down to the beach to Maria’s place for dinner (Taverna O Gialos).

    While there, I struck up a conversation with Maria and asked how much longer she would be open this year. Normally, she stays open until the end of December - not every day, but on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

    This year, however, she will only be there until the end of next week because the last of her four children is getting married. Over 600 guests are expected, and she will be cooking for all of them.

    That’s why I plan to go eat at her place again next week to say a proper goodbye.

    All in all, it was a wonderful, eventful, and delicious day ❤️.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerCrete 2026, GreeceTraveler

    My workplace

    October 8 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    This is my workplace.

    In the morning I sit at the small table and at noon at the big one.

    To make it possible to work outside in the sun, I bought 2 rolls of clothesline and hang up 2 bed sheets there. That works quite well regarding the shade.

    The network is mediocre here, the download works but the upload is bad. That's why I brought a Starlink with me. It stands on the roof, there it is protected from the wind by the wall around and has a clear view of the sky.

    I simply led the cable down the outside of the facade. and fixed it with tape at the top and bottom of the railing.

    Tape is definitely part of the standard equipment of a suitcase 😜.

    I love the view 😍!    Read more

  • Gina SteinerCrete 2026, GreeceTraveler

    My apartment

    October 7 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Today I feel a bit better but not good enough , I still have to rest. So I think it’s time to show you my apartment.

    The last two times I’ve been here , I rented the apartment one floor down, which has only one bedroom; it belongs to Manolis.

    This time, Miri is coming to visit for three weeks, so I rented the large apartment on the upper floor; it belongs to Manolis’s brother, Nikos.

    As always, the apartment was stocked with basic groceries, including a baking dish of freshly prepared stuffed tomatoes and peppers from Manolis’s mother. Yummy!!!

    I really like this apartment; the old-fashioned décor doesn’t bother me at all, and you can tell that the extended family spends a lot of time here, as the kitchen is fully and very well equipped.

    Manolis’s sister Rena owns the third apartment in the building, which also has just one bedroom and also located downstairs.

    So, up here I have the entire balcony wrapping all the way around, and it’s truly a gem - an absolute pole position.

    This also means that it is not so bad to stay at home since I’m ill.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerCrete 2026, GreeceTraveler

    Vegetable car

    October 6 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Tonight I have badly slept, my head hurts, as well as all limbs and I have difficulty swallowing. I must have been infected on the plane.

    But better sick on the sofa here in Greece than in cold and rainy Hamburg.

    So I sit around here and watch the world: e.g. the well-known vegetable car, which delivers vegetables to the small fishing village two to three times a week.

    The vegetable truck drives through all the small villages with no supermarkets and no bus connection. To make sure no one misses it, loud music blares from the speakers, and the driver occasionally makes announcements. It parks down by the beach, and people come by to shop. While waiting for customers, the driver sits at a Greek café in the tavern.

    I love it!    Read more

  • Gina SteinerCrete 2026, GreeceTraveler

    Beach sweet beach

    October 5 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    I’m back at my "private beach".

    The sea is wonderful, and I reckon the water temperature is between 24 and 25 degrees.

    So, I’m just lounging on the beach and in the water, watching my friends - the vultures. There were seven of them out and about just a moment ago.Read more

  • Gina SteinerCrete 2026, GreeceTraveler

    Good morning Crete

    October 5 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    I'm glad to have taken another day off today. The starlink still hasn't found a good place and I'm still tinkering with a fast internet.

    I've just thought of a new place and now the device is collecting data while I drink my morning tea 🍵☺️.Read more

  • Gina SteinerCrete 2026, GreeceTraveler

    Bougatsa, greek coffee and a full fridge

    October 4 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Here I am at last, sitting by the sea with my Greek coffee and enjoying the sound of the waves.

    The fridge is stocked, and the lady at the bakery has loaded me up with feta and spinach pastries - there’s a bougatsa in the mix, too.

    The young man in the supermarket said, "Ah, you're back! I missed you last year."

    The car has a full tank and the tire pressure is perfect - it’s a bit unnerving when that warning light stays on the whole time.

    All the stress is just melting away now - it’s wonderful.

    And for anyone who doesn't no Bougatsa yet: Bougatsa (μπουγάτσα) is a traditional Greek pastry made from paper-thin phyllo dough, popular especially as a breakfast or mid-morning snack.

    Its roots lie in the Byzantine cuisine of Constantinople, from where the recipe was brought to Northern Greece by refugees.

    Bougatsa comes in both sweet and savory varieties. I love the sweet version, Bougatsa me Krema, which is filled with a thick semolina and vanilla cream.

    It is traditionally served hot, cut into bite-sized pieces, and generously dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerCrete 2026, GreeceTraveler

    Arrived

    October 4 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Today’s journey was really rough.

    First, we had to dash frantically to the gate in Vienna - though we just barely made it.

    Then, we weren't cleared for takeoff because of bad weather in Heraklion. As a result, we landed an hour late and had to rush to the car rental agency, which was on the verge of closing. We just managed to make it there in time, too.

    After finally getting the car and hitting the road, we noticed the tire pressure warning light come on while driving on the highway. Since we couldn't reach anyone at the rental agency by phone, we hurried back and managed to catch the last employee before they left.

    Unfortunately, we couldn't swap the car; after an inspection, we discovered that the onboard computer couldn't connect to the tires and therefore couldn't measure the pressure - which is why the warning light was on. We decided not to exchange the car for now; I might swap it in a week when I take Evelynn back to the airport.

    At some point while driving across the island, there was a bit of a jolt. A tree had grown out over the road, and I was driving too close to the right edge. Luckily, nothing serious happened; just a small plastic piece came loose, which I was able to simply pop back into the fender.

    All in all, it was certainly an incredibly adventurous journey, and honestly, I’ve had just about enough for now.    Read more

  • Gina SteinerCrete 2026, GreeceTraveler

    Luggage done ✅

    October 2 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Packing my stuff for workation isn’t complicated for me. I have my list and the things reach exactly the allowed weight for each suitcase.

    So for today I only need to go the the pharmacy and clean the apartment later the day. I’m really looking forward leaving tomorrow 🥰.Read more

  • Gina SteinerCrete 2026, GreeceTraveler

    Weather comparison

    August 26 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    It’s almost that time again: the first leg of my winter getaway is coming up.

    Another two months, another trip to Crete. I usually try to visit a new place each time, but searching for the perfect apartment twice a year gets exhausting in the long run - plus, this location is so incredibly beautiful that I always want to come back.

    This time, I’ve rented the large apartment. There are three units in the building, all owned by the same family: two small ones and one large one. The small one had been sufficient until now, but this time Miri is joining me for three weeks, my daughter is visiting for a week, and Rainer will be there for three and a half weeks as well. That’s why I opted for the large apartment.

    I’ve already started making preparations and have even found a subtenant for the two months I’ll be away. Although it’s still a month off, the weather here is starting to cool down, so I’ve been comparing temperatures. Take a look for yourselves. I’m confident I won’t face 37°C weather there, though it will likely still be around 30°C. In any case, I’m already really looking forward to it.    Read more

    Trip start
    October 3, 2026