My Week (not) in Athens

Crete: the isle of the Minoans, the isle of fantastic food, beautiful beaches, authentic villages, picturesque landscapes – and seventeen Ryan Air flights per week.

Crete really does have it all. It is big – very big – and requires resetting one’s geographic ‘clock’ to allow more time to get to one’s destination. But the rewards are well worth the drives…

With 8 people in tow, the island holiday takes on a decidedly positive flavor. Costs are shared, laughs are had, and fond memories are created. Deciding where to have dinner does prove to be a challenge, but splitting the bill by 8 means that we have been consistently surprised at the great value and low cost of this holiday.

We are staying in the little village of Gavalohori, a 30-minute drive east of Chania. I can confidently report that Gavalohori is one of the most ‘authentic’ Greek villages I have seen yet. It is tiny, with 2 tavernas, 1 kafeneio and a general store. There is a beach nearby, and the Lefka Oroi mountain range as a backdrop. There are families who have lived here for generations, in houses that look like they’ve been standing forever.

Between swimming, eating & drinking, and hanging with friends, it seems like the typical island holiday doesn’t involve much activity. Sure, you can visit an ancient site, or browse in the shops – but at the end of the day, sitting still and sharing with friends is what an island escape should be about. And in my world, this is a good thing.

And there are a lot of tourists here. Everywhere – including lots of Greeks. But the size of the island means that it never feels over-crowded. And truth be told, I am happy to see full restaurants and crowded beaches – maybe it means that tourism numbers are back to normal. Maybe it just means that ‘doing nothing’ was also on the agenda of everyone else who is tired of the everyday in Europe.

Until next week,

Jack


In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…