February 26, 6:30 a.m., our ferry arrives in Heraklion after 9.5 hours and 160km. We have landed on an island again. Crete is the largest island in Greece. It has a proud 1066 km of coastline and 623,065 inhabitants. The exciting thing about this island is that it has been inhabited for 130,000 years.
On our trip to Aptera we are amazed at how hilly this island is. We marvel the snow mountains in the middle of the island with our tired eyes, just perfect!
On the way to our workaway place we shortly stop in Rethymno and Georgioupoli and nibble a small breakfast.
At 1:00 p.m. we park our car in front of our apartment at the hotel Akrimios. We will help the landlord out for a month, so we get board & lodging (apartment with 2 bedrooms). We are tired and look forward to a quiet afternoon. After an hour, our hostess comes to greet with lunch in hand.
February 27th. It's Thursday and we're getting to work. We get the order to repaint and furnish apartment # 3 (small decorative details).
February 28th. I go shopping with our landlord. We have calculated the amount of colour and all material we need, now we are standing in the shop.
February 29th.We start painting the apartment. There are 4 rooms, we calculate for all the work about 3 weeks. C. prepares sack bags for us.
February 28th. I go shopping with our landlord. We have calculated the amount of colour and all material we need, now we are standing in the shop.
February 29th.We start painting the apartment. There are 4 rooms, we calculate for all the work about 3 weeks. C. prepares sack bags for us.
Gouverneto Monastery, Katholiko Beach
Sunday March 1st. We park our car in front of the monastery. We cross the monastery garden, but do not visit the monastery, but continue walking down the mountain. On the way we encounter some caves that are used by the monks as places of prayer. After 20 minutes we come to a beautiful little stone beach. The view is heavenly and this blue water is simply wonderful.
Sunday March 1st. We park our car in front of the monastery. We cross the monastery garden, but do not visit the monastery, but continue walking down the mountain. On the way we encounter some caves that are used by the monks as places of prayer. After 20 minutes we come to a beautiful little stone beach. The view is heavenly and this blue water is simply wonderful.
Nopigia, hike “Cape Spathas / Rodopou”
The weather on March 2nd is great for a hike. I found this hike on Wikiloc. We pack a pick nick and off we go. We have no mobile internet since yesterday and I can no longer access my prepared hike. We try to find the route with my memory and Google Maps. The beginning runs like clockwork, but after a while we don't know what to do. We try to find our own way through scrub and bushes in the direction we want to go. We haven't found any hiking markings yet. We never came to the village of Rodopou, as we have been hiking for some time now and we do not know where the trail continues. So, we go back where we came from. The hike was nice.
The weather on March 2nd is great for a hike. I found this hike on Wikiloc. We pack a pick nick and off we go. We have no mobile internet since yesterday and I can no longer access my prepared hike. We try to find the route with my memory and Google Maps. The beginning runs like clockwork, but after a while we don't know what to do. We try to find our own way through scrub and bushes in the direction we want to go. We haven't found any hiking markings yet. We never came to the village of Rodopou, as we have been hiking for some time now and we do not know where the trail continues. So, we go back where we came from. The hike was nice.
March 3rd-6th, we renovate apartment # 3 and visit our little beach.
Chania
March 7th today I want to visit a farmer’s market in Chania. We leave early because the markets usually close at 1pm. We are parking our car right next to a street market. There, we discover a honey stand that fills your own honey jars you brought with you. Markets are worth a visit; I just love them. The next stop H&M, T. has grown and needs new underwear 😊. And we find new pants for C. Afterwards, we stroll, we pass by a covered market, one of the biggest on Crete and a tourist attraction, but we are not very enthusiastic (stands are closed, and we are almost the only ones, but it is only 11 a.m.). After a long walk through the old town of Chania, we will eat in a restaurant once again. Pablo and I share a Greek meat plate, with starter and dessert. Time to go home.
March 7th today I want to visit a farmer’s market in Chania. We leave early because the markets usually close at 1pm. We are parking our car right next to a street market. There, we discover a honey stand that fills your own honey jars you brought with you. Markets are worth a visit; I just love them. The next stop H&M, T. has grown and needs new underwear 😊. And we find new pants for C. Afterwards, we stroll, we pass by a covered market, one of the biggest on Crete and a tourist attraction, but we are not very enthusiastic (stands are closed, and we are almost the only ones, but it is only 11 a.m.). After a long walk through the old town of Chania, we will eat in a restaurant once again. Pablo and I share a Greek meat plate, with starter and dessert. Time to go home.
Ancient Aptera
March 8th. The village of Aptera and the old Aptera, which was inhabited 3400 years ago, are 20 minutes from our accommodation. 4 euros is the entrance for the four of us. We did see so many old stones in Sicily, but still finding it interesting. A little further there is a Turkish fortress, and from there a hiking trail down to the coast. The beginning of the trail is clearly visible, but after a while, we seek for the path and trying not to get scratched by the bushes. It is an experience. Once at the bottom, we pass a small beach (Kalami), where no one is. We rest for a few minutes and to cool down our feet.
March 8th. The village of Aptera and the old Aptera, which was inhabited 3400 years ago, are 20 minutes from our accommodation. 4 euros is the entrance for the four of us. We did see so many old stones in Sicily, but still finding it interesting. A little further there is a Turkish fortress, and from there a hiking trail down to the coast. The beginning of the trail is clearly visible, but after a while, we seek for the path and trying not to get scratched by the bushes. It is an experience. Once at the bottom, we pass a small beach (Kalami), where no one is. We rest for a few minutes and to cool down our feet.
March 9th-13th, we are continuing with the renovations. The children enjoy the beautiful weather. This week a young lady from Australia comes to the hotel and will help us.
Kalives
March 14th. Today we walk to the next village (Kalives) and beach, there we want to swim and shop. Just having a cosy afternoon.
March 14th. Today we walk to the next village (Kalives) and beach, there we want to swim and shop. Just having a cosy afternoon.
Palaiochora
March 15th. We drive to the south side of Crete with Kate from Australia and visit a sandy beach there. The village is pretty and charming. We stroll through the village and discover various things, like Pablo a bakery 😊. We have lunch at the beach. The children splash and the adults rest, read, sleep ...
March 15th. We drive to the south side of Crete with Kate from Australia and visit a sandy beach there. The village is pretty and charming. We stroll through the village and discover various things, like Pablo a bakery 😊. We have lunch at the beach. The children splash and the adults rest, read, sleep ...
March 16th-22nd. There has been a lot of discussion since this Monday as to whether Greece should also introduce a lockdown. The Covid-19 is everyday conversation. On Tuesday, Pablo and I can go to the hairdresser. But we are standing in front of closed doors. The hairdresser decided to close today, already. Wednesday all shops except supermarkets, pharmacies etc. will close. On the weekend we stay at home against my will.
March 23rd-29th. Monday, from 6:00 a.m. there is a general lockdown! I'm a little angry that we spent the weekend at home. From now on we must carry a certificate paper with us if we want to go to the supermarket or having physical exercise, bah!
March 30rd-April 5th. We continue to work on the hotel and go to our small beach on hot, sunny days. Fortunately, we live in a hotel with a lot of space around and a small private beach where nobody sees us 😉.
March 30rd-April 5th. We continue to work on the hotel and go to our small beach on hot, sunny days. Fortunately, we live in a hotel with a lot of space around and a small private beach where nobody sees us 😉.
April 6th-12th. The weeks go by in no time, and on Sunday is already Easter (not in Greece). We would be further north on our European tour. We were planning to be in Romania or Ukraine and visit the birthplace of Pablo's grandfather. We hope to continue traveling soon. Young kittens are born on the 11th here in the hotel. The children are fascinated. On Sunday we hide their Easter basket from them and even the grown ups can go on a search.
April 13th-19th. The renovations are going very well, we have already painted, patched, decorated, and brought up three apartments. On Saturday we go to our landlord to give her wooden windows a new coat of paint. Easter is here on 19th. We go on a hike and happen to stop at our landlord’s place to celebrate Easter with her family. On this Easter weekend there was a total traffic ban here in Greece, so we just went on foot 😉. Groups of more than 10 people are also prohibited, this time we violated the prohibition, oh dear!
April 20th-26th. The lockdown is not over yet, and it looks like we won't be going further on our travel until the end of May. The newspapers are talking about lifting the lockdown in our region beginning from May 4, and a general opening from May 18. Let's see! For the time being...
More pictures: photos.app.goo.gl/kka85GCM9LHw2GUx7
More pictures: photos.app.goo.gl/kka85GCM9LHw2GUx7
