Holidays in Crete

My journey to Greece started in Crete, Chania. I was there at the end of October 2021. It’s important to mention that it is the end of the season in November. We had a lot of surprises (good or bad), a lot of nice moments and saw interesting places.

Our plane landed at Chania airport. In the airport we went through a control. We had to fill in some documents because of Covid and after entering the airport all the not vaccinated people had to do a test. It was done at the airport and it was for free. The city was something like half an hour by bus from the airport. We had the cheapest hotel in the city. It for sure wasn’t luxury, but what can you expect for the lowest price. On the other hand we had a sea view. The reception was on a phone and the room service wasn’t available. We got one small and thin blanket for 2 of us with some other blankets thrown in the closet. There was some basic furniture and a very small bathroom. The owner was very sweet tho.

Note: If you find an accommodation in the center expect a lot of loud sounds. (people talking, partying, car alarms and dogs barking)

My experiences from Chania:

1. People are really loud and messy
   • Now I don’t mean messy about the trash (even tho there was a mess on the beaches and streets but I would say it was because the season just ended). Greek people are lovely and really talkative. They are used to tourists and mostly speak English as well. BUT, they are talking loud. They are meeting up in groups talking, yelling and laughing. The traffic is crazy. Drivers are honking and yelling, sometimes going on red. Tip: As a walker in Greece follow natives. They don’t care about traffic lights, so if you see that it’s safe to pass the street do it.
2. Animals, animals, animals
   • Stray dogs and cats everywhere on the streets. Sometimes they are cute, sometimes you find them in the bins and trash looking for food. Sad fact about these animals is that they often carry a lot of illnesses. The cats are everywhere on the streets, near the restaurants looking for food. 2 tips: Don’t touch these animals. As an animal lover I know it can be sometimes really hard, especially when it is meowing there and looking cutely on you, but the truth is that these animals can carry a lot of illnesses. Warning, dog sh*t everywhere! Watch your steps.
3. The sea and rocks
   • I fell in love with the Greek sea and rocks. The sea is beautiful with many shades of blue. Last days of our trips it was colder and windier. There were huge waves crashing into the rocks often falling on the sidewalks. There were a lot of big rocks and cliffs. If you like to run around these, Crete is for you. There are also a lot of caves with a sea view, so my advice is to look for them, it’s a beautiful experience. The beaches are also very nice and sandy. In some parts the sea is not deep at all , but be careful with the rocks. Tip: Crete has a lot of beautiful and famous beaches. Sometimes you have to look for them. Most famous is Balos. Explore the sea life and find the caves.

If you travel in Crete only by bus find the most information, ask the locals, information offices on the stations or local websites. Google doesn’t always give accurate information. We walked over Chania for a few days and then it got a little boring. By bus we got to nearby cities and other destinations. It was after the season so mostly it was deadly empty. My personal favorite was a city called Rethymno. It was a lovely city with a lot of souvenir shops, restaurants, streets and views. There was also a castle on the hill, sadly we haven’t been there due to lack of time. From Chania you can also get to Heraklion by bus in 2 hours.

Let’s eat

Gyros! The national food that you can get everywhere for good prices. There are also a few fast foods if you are a low budget traveler like me. The truth is that there are millions of restaurants on the coast with people trying to get you there, some asking politely, some telling you a heart breaking story about why you should eat at their restaurant. But seriously, Greek people are very generous and they often offer you some drinks or desserts for free also with nice stories and a lot of advice.

Tip: Try some of the restaurants. Find what you like, if you keep coming back they will remember you, they will be very sweet, talkative, offering you drinks or desserts for free.

Shopping in Greece was more expensive than we expected but it wasn’t a catastrophe, it is a touristic destination. There are a few grocery stores, big or small. A lot and really a lot of souvenir shops. I personally liked to visit those souvenir shops. There were a lot of interesting things. For example dildos. I’m not kidding. Magnets, bottle openers or key chains. It comes from mythology, the Greek lovers. Another thing is the blue eye symbol that you can see everywhere. Sadly the souvenir shops also closed as fast as the season ended, also there were new corona rules which was probably a good reason to close as well.

After 2 weeks we entered the Chania airport again. I have to say that it was scarily empty. It is also a small airport. From there we flew to Thessaloniki and that is another story to read.

Tip: Be careful on some of the Greek airports while taking pictures. Some airports are also military areas where pictures are forbidden.