Eastern and Western Crete (2)

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Loutra is a town 20 minutes by ferry, which is reached only by sea (up to a foot for those who enjoy hiking along marked trails) and is the perfect place to take pictures in greek style, with small bars and taverns by the sea tables with white, yellow and blue and white houses clinging on the rock. The two and a half hours of time between a ferry and the other we used to cool water frozen by the very small pebble beach, having stopped at a bar with a heat watching a fisherman who stowed the nets. In return, we continued our trip to East Frangokastello because we wanted to go to the beach just below the ruins of the castle, in fact, is the beach that has failed us, brought by a strong wind which allowed us to look at the most from trying to remain standing.
And so we started at a time of where we dined Rethimnon laute from Samaria, a restaurant on the seafront, with a wide choice of courses, very well cooked.
The last day on the West coast we are going to close it in beauty. It is partly for Elafonissi (85 Km from making more stops) along the traverse of the mountains, came to the throat of Koutsamatados we made a stop at the cave of Aya Sofia by the Neolithic era, now transformed into a sanctuary. Will then continue miliooooni between bends, curves, and goats Baracchini sellers of fine honey and finally arrive at Elafonissi. Here you can walk on water! Elafonissi is the small island opposite the coast, within walking distance with water that reaches the knees and you can choose where to settle. We arrived around noon and we decided (for the first time) to take an umbrella, which, fortunately, we have chosen in the pan, at least we had a shadow! The afternoon is spent between baths and walk between the beach and the island in white, blue and low MERAVIGLIA ... THAT!
We then moved into the area east and focus on Istro, weighing sea about 10 km from Agios Nicholaos. The studios are in a building (Istron apartments) on the hill of the village with a wonderful view over the bay. In the afternoon we relaxed on the beach of Istro that, for the area is not bad, but it is very far from the standard of the beaches of West Zone!
Our first ride in this area is to Go Reading between guides, travel diaries on the Internet, etc. ... Go to the beach is not recommended because of its overcrowding. This is partly true, but if you are able to get there early and that is for 09.30 in the morning, you can enjoy the ambiance of the tropical date palms on the beach, give this place! Being in the most frequented by tourists because classical meta package flight / hotel inclusive unfortunately noon becomes unbearable, so that is really worth un'alzataccia an angle to enjoy the Caribbean in peace and quiet for a couple of hours ! Ok, escaped around noon and go from literally going to make us an octopus stewed in one of two restaurants in downtown Palekastro, then we decide to visit the Far East of the island.
We head towards Kato Zakros in an arid and mountainous area with steep, winding roads and follow the signs for the beach Xerokambos. Where are we finished? We are in a dirt track that passes in the midst of mountains and olive pomace color, there are houses, there are no cars, there are people who ...... luckily the kids are asleep! But we are sure that the road is right? Now we are here and it is almost impossible to go back, see where you arrive! After 8 to 10 km per hour, our fears were dispelled them in front of the landscape that we had before .... earth color marc blue sea ... and finally we reach the main road and following the coast is the beach ! There is no one here ... the water is very clear, not blue ... it is transparent! The fish we get between your legs ... you only hear wind noise at times a little 'too impetuous .... this is the beach which has remained in the heart!
If you want to shop and you are here, try to visit Kritsa, a country where craftsmen work and sell their products in many shops on the street. Although here is the area for tourists in group, if you avoid the morning and early afternoon, you can run virtually on their own, undisturbed among the shops of embroidery, lace, shirts, ceramics and souvenirs of all kinds.
Another beach "Caribbean" is located on the island of Chrissi. Once in Iarapetra, we have not stopped agencies to buy tickets for the ferry, but we went directly to the pier and there we boarded the ferry is not normal so-called fast, but a ferry converted into a floating nightclub with music at all volume, dj and entertainers, entertaining but much slower than others. 11.30 finally landed on the island of Chrissi some 'faltering resolve to follow the crowds of people head towards the coast and the other with a walk of 10 minutes, we arrived at Golden Beach, which has nothing golden but instead a white beach and the sea a beautiful blue varieties. The sea is rough and so we spend a lot of time to jump the waves that are so transparent to see from the color of the custom of those who are swimming in the middle. By Jacopo "This is paradise, but Mirabilandia". At lunch we eat our sandwiches in the shade of one of the many cedar trees that surround the beach, watching this wonderful sea and thinking that our holidays are nearly over.
In a holiday in Crete worthy of respect, one can not but speak of the palace of Knosso. There are a thousand reasons to visit the archaeological site and not for another thousand to go, we have decided for sure because our two young tourists, who now knew the whole history of the labyrinth and the Minotaur, wanted to see. The choice was later proved right because although much of the building has been reconstructed according to the hypothesis of Evans, the archaeologist who has discovered, is very impressive to be in the works built over 3000 years ago, multi-storey buildings that extended over an area of over 22,000 square meters including royal apartments, places of worship, houses of priests and people, exchequer and warehouses. And what about the Minotaur? Our little explorers have not found .... but only because it was well hidden!
The last day of the holiday we spend doing a tour in the area north of Agios Nicholaos. Eulunda is a very nice note that especially for a baker galactic! Continuing north, you arrive in front of the island of Spinalonga in the village of Plaka, where we were refreshed with a stop in its big beach ciotoloni white water clear and fresh.
We have all the time in the journey to rethink what we have done and seen during the holidays and we know that we will think of many things of Crete, from its landscape with rugged mountains and a beautiful sea, with its tranquil mountain villages, from its city crowded with tourists to the kindness and willingness of the inhabitants. So ..... Crete is to be seen.
Hello from Hilary