We spent almost a month in Crete and believe it or not it was not enough. We calculated we lost almost a week secluded in our camper for the harsh weather in Chania and Rethimno cities. But it was a great month, full of inspiring images and unforgettable encounters.

So here we are in Heraklion, the largest – but not the prettiest – city of the island. It still is a vivid medium size town which seems to never sleep. We spent two days here and dedicated them to friends and to Anastasia.

We spent the second day with a visit at the seafront Museum of National History – which was an exciting experience for our daughter. Late in the afternoon we visited – Vula for a second time – the Knossos archaeological site and we were delighted by the beauty of the architecture. Anastasia was not excited at all, we would say she was bored. At 9:00 pm we embarked on the Blue Star Ferries “Blue Horizon” boat to Piraeus.

Sincerely thank you Crete for the hospitality!

Moites town was a great opportunity for Anastasia to meet new friends and a new teacher. Our daughter was welcome at the 2nd Primary School and attended Mme Ermioni’s – a young and forward thinking teacher – class for a single day.

The same evening we stayed outside Mary’s and Zacharia’s house and we had a great dinner with them. Yesterday morning we departed and drove towards Ierapetra and from there to Agios Nikolaos, where we were accepted by Liana and Nikos, two more good friends we had actually visited two years before.

We will spend the weekend here with this great couple and we intend to do absolutely nothing but drinking good red wine and raki. Our trip in Crete comes to an end in the best possible way.

A day of contrasts. We slept at the entry of Anogeia village – famous birthplace of many Cretan revolutionaries and a single musician (Nikos Xylouris) and this morning we met with good friends from Thessaloniki.

It was cold but the weather got milder as soon as we drove to Heraklion and from there to Moires, where we were expected by a couple of friends. We drove to Matala beach – a famous hippy hub which inspired Johnny Mitchel to write a song in the ’60s and we visited the famous caves which were used as a hostel in the years of the flower-power generation.

Tonight we sleep outside the municipal swimming pool – which is closed during winter – and tomorrow Anastasia will be accepted at the local primary school. We are exited!

Visitors can’t imagine Crete with snow. Let alone a mountain ski race, every two years on Psiloritis mountain. The event’s name is Pierra Creta. 

Last Sunday we climbed to the mountain. Snow was 2 metres high, it was foggy and cold and rained frequently. But 200 participants, among them some foreigners from seven different countries, made it to the finish! 

It was a surreal event. A modern mountain activity combined with authentic Cretan culture. 

Enjoy the photos!

Yesterday we spent this night at “The Shepherd’s House” (#tospititouvoskou), an eco-farm on the slopes of Psiloritis mountain, created by Andreas, a spirited priest from Nearby Livadia village, who revives traditional Cretan lifestyle and offers it to his guests with loads of homemade ‘tsikudia’ – the cretan grappa!

We were supposed to leave the village this morning but we changed our schedule and stay here for the weekend to follow the Pierra Creta, a mountain skiing event, which is organised every year in the area.

More than 200 participants from seven different countries take place at the event, which is organised by our new friends here in Livadia. We will keep you posted!