Jeff and I have have just returned from a week away.....
...in Crete!
Hoping for blue skies and warm, wall to wall sunshine, the memo got lost in translation!! The UK had warm, sunny weather and we had a mix of sun, cloud, rain, chill breeze, with the weather warming up and settling down as we were leaving!! So, a little disappointing but nevertheless, it was time away together, and we needed that just as much! Jeff works really hard, six days a week and in his role as Head of Year of 200+ 15/16 year olds, he certainly earns his wage and has little time or energy during term time, to go out and do things together!!
We stayed in the most fabulous Airbnb in Rethymno, the most luxurious accommodation to date, for only £70 a night and this included breakfast!!
Day one - a day of travel and settling in!
Making the most of the blue skies and sunshine.
Jeff took his first dip of the year! Not once but twice!!
Day two - exploring Rethymno and first sea swim of 2025
Time together x
When we originally booked Crete for Easter, we had planned to walk the Samaria Gorge, a 10 km walk but it doesn't open until May, so plan B was to find an alternative gorge. We got a small local bus up to the start, €2 each. The Mili gorge is easy to walk with good tracks and peppered along the trail are old mills and churches......
....with a lovely taverna halfway through the walk.
Day three - Mili Gorge walk
Our fabulous, delicious breakfasts.
Rethymno in the rain!
Sadly there isn't a lot to do in Rethymno in the rain!!
Day four- a wet day in Rethymno.
Time to move on!
Farewell Rethymno....
....hello Heraklion.
Another fab accommodation for just £25 a night!!
Day five - a change of scenery in Heraklion.
Heraklion in the capital city of Crete. It's busy all year round.
The sea didn't tempt him this time! No rain but a chill breeze!
Wind sculpted trees!
We explored Heraklion and the coast, walking the full length of the very long pier, to the lighthouse at the end and then back again!! An additional 5km!!
And in the evening we walked to the highest point, to catch a glimmer of the sunset.
Day six - exploring Heraklion.
It was forecast to rain on our final day, so we had made no plans. We had a slow morning, a little shopping, then made the most of the sunshine back down by the harbour.
Loved these plant containers.
Could have happily took one home!!
Day seven - bonus sunshine and Easter treats.
Our final morning and breakfast out in the sunshine.
A delicious bowl of Greek yogurt.....
..... to round off all the fabulous food we enjoyed.
And before you know it, it's time to leave!!
Back to the airport and a four hour flight home!
As always, I share all our trips, in real time, over on our travel Instagram account @hap_pea_travels
Would we return to Crete?
Yes, but not to Rethymno or Heraklion! We feel we have 'done' them!!
We haven't seen the best of the island for sure. We always had Crete planned for 3/4 week September trip (when we retire) but we booked this trip, for what we thought/hoped for, warmer guaranteed April sunshine and to walk the Samaria Gorge in cooler weather. The Samaria Gorge is closed and the weather has been unseasonably damp/cool/chilly!!! We have enjoyed the bits we've seen and know in full summer season it would have a completely different vibe. So it's not been a wasted trip, just not the warm sunshine we were hoping for. Next time, we would go to Chania, head West, and then explore the South of the island.
We haven't seen the best of the island for sure. We always had Crete planned for 3/4 week September trip (when we retire) but we booked this trip, for what we thought/hoped for, warmer guaranteed April sunshine and to walk the Samaria Gorge in cooler weather. The Samaria Gorge is closed and the weather has been unseasonably damp/cool/chilly!!! We have enjoyed the bits we've seen and know in full summer season it would have a completely different vibe. So it's not been a wasted trip, just not the warm sunshine we were hoping for. Next time, we would go to Chania, head West, and then explore the South of the island.
For now, we have 11 weeks to wait before our next Greek adventure,
exploring the Sporades, Skiathos, Skopelos, and Alonissos.
The wonderful sunshine the UK was enjoying, has, of course, made way for cooler, more unsettled weather!! We've had just about enough sunshine to get some washing out on the line! We came home to a houseful, but Sam and Poppy headed off to London today, so we enjoyed an early Easter lunch together. Sophie is working from here for most of the week, before having the Easter weekend off. I have a date in the diary to meet up with my sister but other than that, a quiet week ahead.
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