Travelling to Crete

 

Travelling from Santorini to Crete

Tuesday

We were all up early and stacking & packing as today was the day we leave Santorini.

We loaded up the luggage bays with most of our gear, said a fond farewell to our ever helpful hostess Niki and headed off in our trusty small car. First stop was the local pottery shop and then the bakery for our late breakfast.

We then made our way to Fira and after a few small wrong turns found our way  to the Hotel Golden Star where Sarah was staying the night prior to her flight back to Hong Kong via Athens and Moscow the following day.

We parked and wandered back up to the main town square, browsed some shops, all brought a few trinkets with Trish finally settling in some funky new sunglasses.

 

We soon found our way to the Fish Spa. Sandy, Cathy & Sandy delved their feet in with heaps of fish who were keen and eager to eat their dead skin! Trish & Sarah booked in for pedicures....long overdue says Trish....only to discover  the shop worked on Greek time....don't worry at all about the actual time we booked you in for, just come and wait!

 

Sandy, Sandy, Cathy & Sarah enjoyed a last meal together overlooking the caldera at Classico Cafe.....view to die for!

Sandy & Sarah finally got a photo of them together that could be shared.

 

Cathy then collected Trish who was still having her pedicure, they made their way very quickly to the car where the Sandy's were waiting and we all said farewell Sarah.

We then headed back to Akrotiri where we load our car up with all our luggage, drove to to the bottom of the apartments in preparation for our bus transport to the port to be ready for our  to Crete.

Thanks to the advice from Tina who had travelled on the same ferry the day prior with Jenny we ensured we were near the front of the line when the doors opened to board as the ferry docked. Well that was the plan and Sandy was first out the door....however as the ferry docked the swarm of people all moved on mass and there was no line just a mass of people pushing and dragging luggage into the haul. WE made if safely (nearly a casualty as a bag came very close to landing on Sandy's head). We made our way to our VIP seats (as we are VIP's of course) just as the ferry got under way.

 

A relatively short trip (around 100mins) saw us arriving in the port of Heraklion (The capital centre of Crete). Madness at the port its car rental agencies, taxis, private transfer etc.

We eventually located our car hire man and through a lengthy exchange and confusion were about to be off when we realised he had not left the key.....a slight problem. The Sandy's chased after him and en we were in our way through the busy street to head towards Paliokastro.  Slight detours and missing signs saw us arrive in the village and then after some re checking and back tracking we arrived the villa we had booked for the 3 nights! Very comfortable. We eventually said farewell to our hosts who were very chatty and wanted to let us know many things.....and headed down to the village to the local mini mart.....quite an experience at 10pm at night.......

 

Finger foods and snacks for a late dinner with us all reconnecting with our social networks  and enjoying a beverage in the night time breeze on the balcony.