We arrived in Crete after a short, fast ferry ride from Santorini. Crete is a popular destination in Greece, and we were thrilled to explore it over the next 10 days. As usual, taxi drivers swarmed us at the dock, claiming that the buses had stopped running. However, our travel experience told us otherwise, and we decided to walk to the bus station where, unsurprisingly, a bus was waiting.
The bus fare was only 7 Euros, compared to the 70 Euros the taxi would have cost. Patience really does pay off. We reached La Luna apartments around 9:00 pm, just after sunset. The apartment was a steal at $20, complete with a kitchenette, two beds, a reading area, and a huge balcony with a sea view. We stored our leftover groceries and drinks from Sandy Villas in the fridge, watched a couple of movies on the laptop, and then went to bed.
The next day, we took a quick bus ride to Hersonissos to find a rental car. After comparing prices at several places, we rented a Hyundai Prime for 20 Euros with full insurance. It was small and blue, and drove like a go-cart. Our first trip was to Knossos, an ancient Minoan village. The site was intriguing, though its restorations might have been a bit overdone by the archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans. He transformed tiny painting fragments into large murals based on his own interpretations.
As we were leaving Knossos, a heavy rainstorm hit. On our way back, we stopped at Carrefour, our new favorite grocery store, and picked up some wine for just 1 Euro each. We should have grabbed more. The next day, we set off on another road trip, but first, we had to refuel. Gas in Greece was expensive, costing 1.74 Euros per liter, nearly $2.40 per liter! We spent 30 bucks and got just a quarter tank.
We drove to the beautiful Lesithi Plateau, a lush green valley. The climb up made our gas tank plummet, but once we reached the top, we enjoyed coasting down on the slopes to save fuel. The scenery was stunning: shepherds herding sheep, farmers working their fields, and villages where the road turned into cobblestone lanes. At one point, a herd of sheep blocked our way, and we waited as they slowly passed.
Our destination was the Dikteon Cave, said to be the birthplace of Zeus. The cave’s entrance was a steep decline, and inside, ponds and creeks reflected the beautiful formations. On the way back, we saw numerous old windmills. Afterward, we stopped for a delicious lunch at a traditional Greek tavern.
On day three, we drove to Matala, an old hippie hangout now bustling with tourists. The beach, lined with rock-cut caves, was gorgeous. We spent the day relaxing on the beach, occasionally buying snacks and beer. Although we meant to explore the caves, laziness got the better of us.
We wrapped up our time on the east coast of Crete, packed our things, and headed to the west side, stopping for photos and breaks along the way. Renting a car made the travel easier. We arrived at Balito Hotel in Kato Galatas, where we checked into a beautiful apartment for $32 a night. The first day, we relaxed by the pool, enjoyed a gyro dinner, and watched TV.
The next morning, we made a big breakfast and left for Elafonisi Beach, famous for its pink sand. Though much of the pink sand was gone, the beach was still stunning. We walked through clear waters to Elafonisi Island and took photos when the sun broke through the clouds.
On day three in the west, we visited Balos Beach, enduring clouds and rain during the drive. When the sun appeared, we captured photos of the breathtaking spot. The cliffs, white sand, and turquoise water were incredible, though rain cut our visit short.
Day four started early with a hike in Samaria Gorge. The morning mist added a touch of magic, but the serenity was lost when crowds of hikers arrived. By the time we finished the hike, we were exhausted and took a ferry back after a meal in Agia Roumeli.
The next day, sore from the hike, we returned the car in Hersonissos. The rental guy was nice and even gave us a lift after not inspecting the car. We spent two more days relaxing at La Luna, cooking meals, and hanging by the pool, before boarding a bus to catch a ferry to Rhodes Island and then onto Marmaris, Turkey. Our journey went smoothly, and the anticipation of new adventures in Turkey invigorated us for the next stage of our trip.
