plee wrote:Hi, I have been to Crete twice this year. April was wonderful with flowers everywhere. Myself and a friend stayed in cheap studios near Heraklion and travelled a lot by bus to the the west coast. We also had friends staying in a villa near Aptera. They had a car and we drove over the snow topped mountains, walked the Imbros gorge and went to the stunning ancient site of Aptera.
The second break we stayed in Bali on another budget package. The focus of this visit was to see a friend who is a Greek Orthodox nun. She lives in a restored monastery above Channia. The monastery is built on ancient caves used by hermits and no doubt by the resistance in the 2nd world war. I felt I had walked into a film set from Lord of the rings! Such beauty everywhere. We spent the day with the nuns, finished by being invited to vespers. It was such a heart opening experience. On this trip I also stayed in Chania, then went down to Palochora on the south coast. I went by bus and was struck by the stunning scenery and the villages. Lots of memorials and signs saying 'this is the martyred village of...'.
I felt very much the history of the Island on this trip and since returning have read The Cretan Runner by George Psychoundakis. Its his account of being a runner for the British. Its horrific and fascinating. I would love to go back with a car (and somebody to drive it!) to explore some of places towards the south coast.
Next year I am trying Mainland Greece for a week in spring - Parga as I want to go to Meteora and then because i miss Symi and haven't been for a couple of years Symi in the Autumn funds depending...
Wow, the visit to the monastery sounds amazing plee, what a moving experience! Whilst the bus service on Crete is very good you can see so much more if you hire a car. However as somebody who only drives in the UK when necessary, the idea of driving on the narrow roads in Crete is something I couldn't even contemplate - though a car with someone to drive it sounds good
I initially wanted to stay in Sougia on my September trip Jan but accommodation was quite expensive and I was very happy in Hora Sfakion. If I stay in Paleochora I could visit Sougia on the ferry and I've heard there are good walking opportunities in that area too.
A return to Crete is possibly on the cards for 2019 as I've booked a week in Kalymnos for next June and 12 nights on Symi in September. Then there are other islands that I've not yet visited - Syros is top of my list. There are so many islands and not enough time to fit them in round work.