Hi everyone, sorry I haven't posted for the last two Thursday's, it's because I've been in Greece!
I went with my parents and grandparents for 10 days to Crete. We flew to Heraklion, picked up our hire car and drove an hour and a half to Episkopi, Rethymno. Rethymno is full of stunning and breathtaking scenary and uniquely beautiful villages making it what it is.
We stayed in a luxurious villa which looked over the mountains and the sea. The villa was equipped with its own swimming pool, jacuzzi, a bbq area and much more! This made it the ideal spot to relax and enjoy our holiday. The owner of the villa was extremely accommodating, made sure the pool was cleaned regularly and she even gave us fresh fruit and veg from her farm. When we left the villa she even gave us gifts to thank us for staying there - little acts like this go a really long way!
As we had our hire car we managed to explore the other local areas. Our first stop was Lake Kournas which is the only natural and large lake in the whole of Crete! As with everything in this area the lake was surrounded by mountains making it a lovely area to sit and watch the world go by!
Another area we visited was, Chania. Again, the history of these cities is what makes them so appealing! They have a 14th century Venetian harbour, the typical narrow Mediterranean streets and many waterfront restaurants.
One thing that shocked all of us was the generosity that every single restaurant had! When we first went out for lunch, we had eaten our meals and asked for the bill. The waiter brought out a platter full of fresh water melon, small chocolate mousses and a shot of traditional Greek Liquor each - we said we didn't order this but they said "it's free!". We were very grateful and thought it was a one off but NO everywhere does it! It varies with what fruit or small dessert you get but it's the thought that counts. I think everywhere should take more of this attitude instead of "take take taking" from customers, it's always nice to give a small something back!
If you are ever in Rethymno, I would recommend going to Cavo, it serves Mediterranean, Greek and seafood based dishes whilst surrounded by palm trees and the sea. The staff are extremely friendly too. Additionally near this, is a restaurant named Plima Plora, which offers the same views, relatively same menu and they both have really easy access to parking!
In the more touristy area is a place called Floures, here is where many of the local students go as it has a really relaxed vibe, music and it just a great place to meet new people!
Overall, I found my trip to Crete an amazing and relaxing experience. I just love the Mediterranean way of living - it's so much more relaxed and slow paced. Something I will say, the Greeks drive like there's no laws about so if you're going to drive, make sure you're an experienced driver!!
Very sad that my holidays over and it's very unlike me not to have another one planned. I'm sure I will change this soon, make sure you subscribe below to find out where I'll be going next!
Until next time,
Xian xx