Greece - Day 5: A hazy day

Hiking today was mostly on bigger dirt roads. There would have been magnificent views of the sea, mountains and tge Ha gorge, if it wouldn't have been for the hazy air. But it was still nice and thus I had a good excuse, not to walk up Mt. Afendis in the middle of the day's heat ;)
I passed a few villages, visited two small chapels and finally camped in a goat invested olive grove - not the nicest spot but protected.

Greece - Day 4: Wind, mountains and lots of orchids

Today was very windy again and it was not nice to walk up nearly 700 m altitude, fighting against the wind. But it was spectacular, the sun came out in the late afternoon and apart from two trailless bits, it was relatively easy hiking. I passed through a few villages with water, climbed over two fences, got my feet wet during stream crossing and enjoyed taking tons of pictures from all the orchids I found - it's the best season for that! I just hope I don't continue with my small injuries, because then I need more bandages ;) All in all a nice day, but I still need to get stronger!

Greece - Day 3: A rough coast, a cave and the valley of the dead

I took the bus at 7 am and arrived in Sitia 3h later. It is incredible, how much snow there is in the mountains! Bur today, it is mainly windy and overcast.

In Sitia, I managed to hitch to Palekastro, the first 2 km with a French guy, the rest with an Albanian guy. It was super quick and the people were so friendly, although we had some language barriers ;)

I walked over some dirt roads to Skinias Beach and then there were marked paths, some better, some not so good along the rough coast. But since the weather was very windy, I didn't stop ln the few beaches along the way.

I had a look at the gigantic Pelekita cave with its stalagtites and then it was basically cruising on a nice path to Kato Zakros. But man, am I done. I'm not used to hiking anymore plus the paths were really rocky.

Nevertheless, I continued up into the valley of the death, after talking to a German tourist, who was asking about trsil to the cave. There is quite a big stream in the valley and I tried to keep my feet dry, whenever the path crossed the stream. I found a nice campspot next to an olive tree, before leaving the valley and entering civilization again. I am a little pinched between the trail, an olive tree and stone, but I tried to get a relatively flat, stone free and windfree spot - I really tried,  but at least the view is good :) I wonder if I will ever have a night without stones pocking me in my back... and goats or sheep around me.

Greece - Day 2: Walking to the sea

I woke up late, had a proper look into the cave with stalagtites and stalagnites and then descended to the impressive ruins of Moni Katholiko. The path followed up a gorge, went over a little pass and down to the sea. From  there on, I walked mainly on roads but also managed to put my feet into the sea. Since I was early in Chania and it looked a bit like rain, I decided to take the bus to Heraklion and sleep one night in a hostel. This way I can take an early bus to Sitia tomorrow and then hitch hike or hike the 20 km to Palaekastron, where I want to start my traverse of Crete.

Good morning!

Bear cave

Moni Katholiko

White mountains with lots of snow

Relaxing on the beach

Greece - Day 1: Warm and green Crete

My first day on Crete was pleasantly warm and green. Everything is in flower but the "white mountains" are REALLY white at the moment! I managed to walk from Chania airport a few kilometer north, passing two monasteries, before I camped in front of the so called "bear cave"

Monastery Agia Triada

Bear cave

Can you see my tent?

Another journey begins on Crete

It is getting warmer and thus it is time to go hiking. Since I bought a new backpack and tent, I'm ready for another adventure. 

From Tuesday on, I will explore a new country: Greece - more precisely, I will start on the island of Crete.

Roughly, I want to follow the European long distance trail E4 for a bit, crossing Crete and heading to the North through Greece, then make my way further North through Albania, potentially going East to Macedonia and Bulgaria. But it all depends on how fast I will be within the next 3 months, which mountain chains I want to follow and how I like different places. Thus I did not prepare a fixed route. To be honest, I don't even have ANY route laid out after Albania, as there seem to be so many options of drawing a route...

Already on the small island of Crete I couldn't decide if I want to follow the E4, walk my own trail along the coast or make some detours through the many canyons! Whatever exciting route I will take, you will be able to read about my hike on this blog ;)

So many options already on Crete - seems like I could spend months there!