My travel in Europe:
Crete, island of Greece, 2021

Content:

• Day 1-4: Planning and Rethymnon, Amari, Agia Galini, Kourtaliotiko, Preveli, Lappa
• Day 5-6: Samarias, Falassarna, Arkadi, Eleutherna
• Day 7-9: Lazy day, Fortezza, archeological museum
• Day 10-12: Chania, beach, Watermills Valley, Roussospiti
• Day 13-15: Margarites, Sfendoni cave, Panormos

Chania, beach, Watermills Valley, Roussospiti

Day 10:

Today we have decided to take the bus to Chania.

Chania:

First we need a ticket for the local bus which take us from the hotel to the bus terminal of Rethymnon, we bought these tickets at a local market, a one Euro each. Then we need another ticket for the distance bus, that tickets we bought on the bus terminal, 6.20 Euro each. You can't buy ticket on the buses anymore, maybe because of the Covid, and you need to wear a mask on the bus.

After one hour and 15 minutes we arrive at the Chania bus terminal. Very comfortable bus. A short walk and we are in the old center of Chania.

We take the direction down to the old harbor, we pass buy this beautiful fountain.

At the harbor there are plenty of restaurants, as we have in Rethymnon also.

The old light house on the pier.

Gunilla found a glass bottom boat and wants to take a trip with that boat, 10 Euro each for one hour.

They take us to a small island outside the harbor, we got offer to snorkeling, only one young boy did it. Our instructor, a French girl show us how to do. She also taught us how to feed the fishes and later she dive and swim below the glass bottom of the boat.

Back to the harbor, we now start walking along it, first the West part.

Map over Chania:

We found that the old town area is smaller compare to what we have in Rethymnon.

And then the East part. Even here they had beautiful horses and carriages.

The old shipyards, today used as stores.

A beautiful motor sailor and there where a lot of luxury yachts too. We took a lunch break at the pier, a fish and a tuna salad.

After this we went up in the ancient blocks.

This is the 14th century Venetian defense wall, very well preserved.

This is even older ruins, from the Minoan era.

At Wikipedia you find more information about Chania:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Chania (Chania, Wikipedia)

We take the bus back to Rethymnon some hours later, take a walk from the bus terminal along the beach back to the hotel.

Day 11:

A relaxing day, one hour at the beach.

This day with sunshine we decided to spend on the beach. After one hour we felt it was too boring and started walking around the blocks on the East side of our hotel.

They have left this old house, has it been for living or a store ?

You can still found a lot of old details on the houses. That's what it doing to get a so charming place.

Later after a rest on the hotel it's time for a dinner. We walk in Western direction until we found somewhere to eat.

To have some change, a Hawaii Pizza !

Day 12:

Our plan for this day was to take a trip with the pirate ship, when we arrived to the harbor they told us it has been canceled because of the heavy wind. This was our last chance to do this boat trip. A bit disappointed we go back and discussed what to do. Asked a girl at a tourist shop if she had some ideas. The only thing she could offer was the hop on hop off buses, all other has to be booked in advance. We have noticed this bus earlier but we thought that we already has walked at the places where it could take us. But after a closer look we found it stop at some new places. We bought two tickets, 24 Euro each and waited for the bus to arrive.

Watermills Valley:

We decided to hop off at the Watermills Valley. It looked exciting and we want to investigate what it is. Here flows water at the bottom and everything are very green.

We climb down the to the river, a very small river when not raining. Found a lot of ruins after villas, it has been a small village down here.

One of the houses is restored and there is a cafe in it today.

We found the valley more interesting than the cafe and continue to climb down the valley.

We found advanced system of water channels, this is close to the watermill which has given its name to the valley.

Who knows what all those old houses has been used for, only living or ?

When we was at the deepest place we stopped, we must also climb up all the way back to the bus.

Water pour everywhere, we try to not step into the water.

The bridge has been broken long time ago, Gunilla prepare to walk over without drop her camera into the water.

Climb upwards and looking at the fascinating nature.

Almost up where the bus stop.

This is how they get the food down to the cafe.

The route of the bus tour:

Roussospiti:

We have time to do one more stop. This is the small village Roussospiti up in the mountain, famous for its breathtaking views over the valley and ocean. We found a restaurant where we could enjoy a lunch and a view.

A last view before we must go back to catch the bus.

At Wikipedia you find more information about Roussospiti:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Roussospiti (Roussospiti, Wikipedia)

The bus is a double decker with an open space at the upper level. Normally you ride busses like this in the city. It was a new experience to go with a bus like this up in the mountains whit its narrow and steep roads. Just a few centimeters margin sometimes.

Back to Rethymnon, we jump off at the old city and walk along the beach back to the hotel.

The day started with a big disappointment about the pirate ship but turned up to be an ever better day with this bus tour.