Explaurie

Travel Journal

Crete--History and Hiking

Itinerary (7 nights) and Notes

Chania, Crete                1 day/2 nights     Exploration of Old Town and Port

Lovely town, we stayed mainly on Old Town Center and Harbour; a bit touristy: restaurant near hotel excellent!

Paleochora                    Hike Samaria Gorge 16 k to Agia Roumalis  (6 1/2 hours); ferry to Paleochora, overnight, then half day at beach; bus back to Chania    

Hike was 95% downhill on rough rock surface; a "quad" killer; really felt it for the next few days; too many tourists; bus ride was exhilarating with all the windy bends; driver had traditional Greek music playing; boat to Paleochora enjoyable; the town itself was not much but had some nice beaches; sun came out so we felt obliged to go for a dip in the Mediterranean; nice hotel and an excellent, well-earned meal nearby.

Chania                            Overnight

Same hotel, nicer room, owners (two brothers) lovely people.

Heraklion                       3 nights, walking exploration of Old Town, Museum of Archaeology, Food and Terroir of Crete Tour (wine and olive oil tastings); visit Palace of Knossos; Len gets sick!

Fabulous hotel overlooking harbour; followed tourist map walking sugggestion; nice pedestrian-only Old Town Center; food and wine tour with Pierre (a "foodie" from Belgium); us and two others; 2 wine tastings, an olive oil tasting, and a gourmet dinner...WOW! Palace of Knossos underwhelming; Len gets sick (food poisoning? Unknown cause but not from wine tour); Len recovers in bed while Laurie explores Market :) 

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