Greece - Day 20: A lazy day in Kissamos

Last night I didn't sleep very well: being in a bed, noises from the street and some mosquitos were keeping me awake.

The morning was hazy (Sahara dust) and very windy. The hostel owner and keeper of the keys was still sleeping, so I got up late.

It was strangely warm outside, but I managed to walk a few kilometers to Komolithi, some weirdly shaped hills in the landscape.

Then I walked in the other direction, to the cave of St. John's. At first I wanted to continue to Balos, but it would have been too far and anyways just along a road. So I decided to walk to the port and then have a quite afternoon in the hostel instead.

Old olive tree on my way

Komolithi

St Paul's cave

A hazy day!

To go to Balos Beach, I would have had to follow a road along the mountain you see in the back

Harbor - beautiful colours but sometimes I wonder if I should walk ONLY, to not mess up our earth more than necessary!

Greece - Day 19: Kissamos and a little involuntarily extension on Crete

Today I olnly hiked a few kilometers down into Kissamos. However, with my pullover and wind jacket on, because it was cold and windy before the sun broke through the clouds.

I checked in the hostel, got my clothes washed (not really clean though), took a shower, went for a shopping trip and cooked lots of noodles - a usual town day for a hiker :)

I am alone in the dorm room, which is nice! But seems like I will have to stay one more night. The ferry I booked for tomorrow morning will leave on Monday morning, because of bad weather. Well, why not. I take a full sip of the Greek life - take it easy and relax :)

The sun breaks through

Kissamos beach

Salad and LOTs of noodles!

Greece - Day 18: A rather boring day - chosen by myself

Today I followed mainly bigger roads. I could have done some smaller paths or offtrail things, but I was really lazy and more focused on getting kilometers in, than having an adventurous day. Because I am planning to stay in a hostel tomorrow night and then catch the ferry on Sunday morning (the first this season to run directly to the Peloponnes).
But first, I needed water this morning. Luckily, the second chapel I passed had water and I did not only drink 1 liter but also washed my socks.
Well, and then there was lots of roadwalk, which I used to listen to Podcasts. At least there were some nice views of the coast.
Before getting too close to Kissamos, I found a REALLY early campspot in an olive grove, perfect as the sky was overcast and it was windy - even too cold for a T-Shirt!

Finally some water!

Camping in an olive grove

Greece -Day 17: A relaxed day and some tourists

The night was very bright, thanks to the moon and a clear sky. But I woke up with hhe sunrise - beautiful!
First I had 5 km road walk to Paleochora, where I bought some food, had breakfast, used tge Internet and just spent some time.
Another few kilometers of roadwalk (this time mainly next to hundreds of green houses) until I got  on a small path next to the coast. I was in front of a French family, but when I stopped to take off my pullover, they overtook me. Not long after, I overtook them and we played the gain a few time. They asked me, if I had walked from Paleochora  because they were the family, that passed my tent ghe night before. So we quickly talked until they had a lunch stop and I was alone again. However, not for long!
I came to Kedrodasos  which had beautiful shallow areas, sandy beaches and most important a junipers forest. Quite a tourist magnet. I took a nice late lunch break in the shadow of the trees, before I moved on to Elafonisi. Insane how many people were laying at the beach, walking in the shallow water or visiting the island  to which you can walk over. I looked at it from the distance and decided, that I don't have to go there!
I followed a small "trail" (it was one some years ago, now its more "just try yo follow the markings"-game) close to the coast  enjoying the solitude only interruped by some goats. I passed Chrisoskalitissa with its monastery and did only a bit more road walk, until I found a camp spot over the road and coast on a dirt road.
Just a few more days, then I crossed crete on foot.

Sunrise

One of those random chapels 

Junipers at Kedrodasos

Tourists at Elafonisi beach

Monastery of Chrisoskalitissa 

Greece - Day 16: A comunicative day

Again, a gorges day and only small trails along the coast with magnificent views. But also some more ups and downs. 

I already saw s boat dropping off people on a beach, so I ended up talking to gem quickly.
Then, at the only really nice spring before Sougia, I met 2 German hiker going the other way and we were talking for a while. Then 2 more guys showed up, but we parted soon after.
After Sougia, the trail got really busy, because it lead to the ruins of the ancient town of Lissos. The trail, first going up a gorge and then onto a plateau, before dropping down to the sea was really nice.
On my way up, a British guy with a large solar panel made a comment, so we talked a bit, since he was going to Zakros (so basically where I started on crete).
Another drop down to get sea and I was at a sandy beach about 4 km from Paleochastro. Since it would be road for a while and there were people on the sandy beach, I walked a little bit back to set up my tent on a sandy spot close to ghe sea - sadly it is also directly next ho the trail, but I don't expect too many people anymore. Another beautiful day! Just my feet are troubling me at the moment - they toes are raw from the sand...

Sougia

Ancient Lissos

Greece - Day 15: Beautiful paths along the coast

A beautiful day, nearly all on small trails. Some steep along a cliff, some nearly flat above the coast, some sandy beaches, some pine forests, a village inaccesible by car, lots of stones and at the end a steep climb over some cliffs.
A very beautiful but also exhausting day comes to an end! 

Loutro, a village excessable only on foot or by boat

Lunch break

Water!!!