Greece: Crete

I must admit my trip to Greece was greatly influenced by my Greek mythology classes in Canada. So from Athens, to Delphi, to Mycenae, I had to go to Crete - the birth place of the almighty Zeus.

From mainland Greece, we took an over night ferry to Crete. It was a true nightmare looking for ferry tickets online. It was even harder to connect all the ferries in accordance to our travel plans. Plus, you are at the mercy of the Greecian sea.

Do opt for a room to bunk in. You will want to be refreshed for your travels. If you are travelling with friends, it will not be a problem if you find that you are booked in separate rooms, for the service staff are helpful in changing rooms for you at the concierge.

There are two places that you can dork at: Chania (Hania) or Heraklion (Iraklion).

In my opinion, if you are pressed for time, skip Heraklion all together. Spend your time in Rethymnon and Chania. Besides Knossos palace (which is another archaelogical site), the port fortress, and the city centre (which is really small), there is nothing much left to do in Heraklion. It is a good place to do your laundry though, because the price is inexpensive.

On the bright side, if you want to experience eating the Greecian way, you will be happy to know that you can get quite a good selection of food in Heraklion.

Personally, I prefer Chania to Heraklion by a mile. Even their streets look so much prettier and more vibrant. (The right most picture shows colourful Greecian worry beads. They are prayers beads which main purpose is just to relieve stress).

One part of Chania that I really love is the coast near the main town. Here, you can spend a lazy afternoon relaxing, passing the time by peering at the fish and sea creatures swimming in the clear sea water (the crab is camouflaged), or sipping a nice cup of tea.

Night was spent in the suburbs at Maleme. It’s just a lovely place if you want to get hitched in secret and yet still enjoy the warm sunset. Even the flowers are happy.

PS:  It is easy to get around Crete. There is a local bus that runs from Heraklion, through Rethymnon, to Chania, and back. Just check out the daily timings at the bus interchange. You should purchase your tickets in advance.