Old Cretan Family House and Local Beaches

After returning for the car, and after several harbour visits and swims along the southern coastline, the ferry delivered us to our Old Cretan House near Palaiochra. We arrived late at night and awoke to the stunning surprise of a deeply cut gorge running away from the coast. 

We visited the stunning beaches of Elafonisi and Balos and enjoyed our rambling 200 year old house with an original naturally mountain fed cistern for a swim every morning before setting out for the beach and after returning in the evening for a cleansing sweet, cold and refreshing dip. No showers required.   

Loutro

Tried to drive our car onto the ferry until they looked at our ticket and made us park the car at dock because there are no roads and no cars in Loutro. Perhaps that is why it has maintained its beauty with the crystal clear water of the Libyan Sea stretching to depths beyond imagination.

With nothing more to do than swim, eat and and hike to nearby beaches, this is a true slice of paradise...shhhhh don't tell anyone.

Chania, Crete

So we arrived safely after having to run through Athens airport to make our connecting flight, unfortunately our bags were not as fast as we were.

We met up with Alex who had stocked our fridge with local food made by her in-laws, and even some vegemite. We explored the port and the old town. Cats were everywhere and the food was fantastic.

We also checked out the local old shul on simchat torah. The kids were impressed by the Ottoman cannonballs on the ground and we ate Viennese sachta torte in the sukkah. 

Seitan was a beach well worth the challenge to get to. After climbing down the steep ravine we heard that there was a wager going on whether the family of six would attempt the mountain goat terrain.