Showing posts with label Plakias. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Plakias. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Final Day in Crete

Ameigh convinced me to join the group on the "River Walk" to Preveli Beach instead of exploring Frangokastello, Hora Sfakion, and Loutro by boat.

Jeroen was our fearless leader as he was the only one who had been before. He emphasized not taking anything along as we would travel in the river, at times swimming, and climbing boulders. He did volunteer to take carry a camera.

Unfortunately, Jeroen tripped and the camera ended up in the drink. He was hoping that the card was still able to read images. I have not heard from him. Preveli Beach is at the mouth of the Kourtaliotis Gorge and where the Meglopotamos River empties into the Libyan Sea. This is the river we traveled down to the beach. The banks are lined with palm trees and fresh water pools. Recently, there was a fire, but you could see new growth coming back to the palm trees.

Ameigh sent me a few photos taken from the historical Moni Prevelli Monastery looking down to the river.





We all took Jeroen literally about not bringing anything, and after three hours of hiking, swimming, and climbing boulders no one had even brought money for food. Fortunately, Jeroen pulled out 5 wet Euros from his pocket and treated us to chocolate pastries.

Here is the motley crew upon return with food, wine, and beer at a taverna in Lefkogia.


That evening the town of Plakias was hosting a "Tourist Celebration" providing Greek food and Greek dancing.
I guess they knew it was my last evening on Crete!






The following day I would ride three buses to Iraklio Airport in Northern Crete, fly to Athens, and then another flight to London where I stayed in the Yotel. You must check it out. After that it was across the Atlantic Ocean and the U.S. Continent. Phew!

Addendum:
Jeroen sent me some photos from the "River Walk" which was truly its essence.




Monday, October 25, 2010

Unique Guided Tour

As I mentioned, friendships form fast at the youth hostel in Plakias, Crete. Ameigh, my roommate, introduced me to her friend "Florida James" who now lives most of the year in Plakias. I was treated to an all day guided adventure with our destination of Saint Antonio Gorge. James has a wealth of knowledge of the area, history, flora & fauna, plus great places to eat.

We headed up the hillside to the town of Frati which lies between the two gorges of Koutaliotis and Kotsifos.




It looks like this from the ridge.



A huge old olive tree we met along the way.


Crete has many gorges of which the most famous is Samaria and full of tourist. James and Ameigh swear that Saint Antonio is just as beautiful with less people. I will take their word for it.

At the beginning of the gorge is a church carved into the stone dedicated to, of course, Saint Antonio.


Inside the church


The gorge is magnificent and not sure the pictures do it justice,
but I tried.







After our hike, James knew just the restaurant in Kanevos to stop for dinner. The family invites you into the kitchen to show and explain the different dishes you can choose from. Need I say, I nearly tried everyone! Their cute little daughter with the sweetest smile served us our appetizer and desert. It was by far the best meal I had in Greece :)

We still had some traveling down the mountain and our discussion lead into my not leaving Greece until I tried the Greek yogurt with honey and walnuts. James stopped at a restaurant in Myrthios overlooking Palkias to take care of this. Yum!

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Second Day in Plakias, Crete

At the Plakias Youth Hostel, Chris, the manager, has many "off the beaten path" hikes to share. I decided to hike to One Rock, a secluded beach....sounded perfect!

I was excited to get started instead of waiting for others who were still sleeping off the previous evening's fun. This might have been a mistake, because the "easy to follow" printed directions from Chris were not so easy to follow. I missed the first stone marker; good thing I knew which direction to go. I learned that it is very easy to get lost in an olive grove.


Damnoni Beach is the first beach you come to after hiking through the hills and olive groves.



One Rock Beach from above (see the one rock?).


I climbed down and spent the afternoon swimming and painting.


I must admit, there were a few other people there too swimming and sun bathing. I waited for this photo.

My watercolor rendition......


Could not resist another sunset!




Sunday, September 5, 2010

Greece Clifftop Monasteries of Meteora

A friend told me of a "must see" place to visit in Greece.

Six monasteries are built on natural sandstone rock pillars, at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the Pineios river and Pindus Mountains, in central Greece. Metéora means "suspended rocks", "suspended in the air" or "in the heavens above" and is one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece.

Preview of my next adventure.....







Yes, I am heading off to explore Greece for the next month.

Also on my "must see" list.....

Oia, Santorini where I will be staying for five days.



And a week on Crete in Plakias as a base for further explorations.



Who knows where else I may go?

I will have photos and watercolor paintings to share when I return.

Stay tuned!