Hotel Anthimos Platanias

... irresistible to leave and we spent all day on the beach, or in the water, lunching at a hill top café looking out over the small cove surrounded by cliffs that forms Matala. The cliffs have natural caves which people climb up to and leap from into the water. Matala beach has plenty of cafes and shops to rehydrate on beer, wine, water or gelati. It was another hot day, and did not cool down till late afternoon as we were leaving. There ...

... from the airport and home of the Prince of Lillies, the hotel we have booked for the night before we fly from Iraklio to Athens. We bought petrol down the road from it, avoiding a dog and cat that were intimately entwined on the forecourt, and decided to eat at the Prince of Lillies restaurant when we were able to park there. The meal was fine and accompanied by a bouzouki player. The trip back to the airport was much longer – we ...

... donkeys wait to take any unlucky hiker who couldn't finish and had to be taken back.

At the end of the hike, we only had to walk 2 km more to get to the Libyan Sea, the perfect place to jump in after a long, sweaty hike. This end of the island was super remote and we ended up in one of the tiniest villages I've ever seen. There wasn't an ATM either, so luckily Brenden had cash, otherwise we would've missed the last boat to the last bus in Chania.

... stores with an underwhelming waterfront. We were glad in a way that we had gone though, if only to affirm that Chania was the best city to stay in. We got back to Chania for another late dinner -people eat so freaking late in Europe...I even saw a woman in sequinned booty shorts pushing a baby carriage around 11pm. Anyway, we went to bed early, but still dead tired, to get up for the 7:30am bus to Samaria Gorge.

... off in the town where we thought the monasteries were, Stavros, we find out that they are a 3 hour walk from where we are. What at first seems a grim situatin becomes excellent once we realize we are on a gorgeous beach and are in possession of swimsuits. Like Chania, the beach is filled inexplicably with only Swedish tourists. I don't think I've seen a single other American the whole time I've been here. We also find out that ...

Eventually left Rhodes at 5am, and luckily found a nice spot on the top floor, to lay our sleeping bags and get a fine uninterrupted sleep.

Slow slow journey, stopping at Karpathos, Kassos and in Crete at Sitia, before landing at Heraklion just after 6pm. A swift walk to the bus station, we caught a ...

... people used to do the long hike. We saw everything from rugged hiking boots, walking shoes, running shoes, sneakers, leather sandals, and rugged sandals, to Tevas, slip-on plastic slipper-type sandals, and our favourite.......fur cuffed boots! It was a wonder we didn't see the warden packing people out on his donkeys! The delicious ice cream cones at the bottom were a treat to enjoy before catching the ferry back to Sougia. (Of course, all those hot shots at the start had ...

... way to Kissamos, (Kastelli), we stopped at the German War Cemetery at Maleme. Here, 4000 German Paratroopers landed in Crete on May 20, 1941. Their remains were gathered from areas around Crete and buried here. The graves are tended by the Volkbund group of young volunteers who promote peace. Kissamos is where we spent two nights in the pleasant waterfront Argo Hotel (30 Euro). They have a great Taverna ...

... are sitting on a terrace sipping fresh orange juice, enjoying baklava and listening to Grecian radio. Nex t week we will try to take a ferr to Italy so whish us good luck! I hope you are well and not becoming too jealous *g*

~*~

SMS from mum

- Liesel are you wlaking through the (Samarian) Gorge now? At the end you can take a boat. Love mama

A mix of chocolate, cherry and banana as I taste my icecream. We arrived at Kissamos today and we treated ourselves on a well deserved treat. We are sitting on the main square shaded from the sun by big palm leaved parasols while the crickets make as much noise as possible so we don't forget them either. Now and then a car passes or a woman walking her dog. It's ...