SPRING TIME IN CRETE

Spring time in Europe is living up to its best! Especially on our 2 week holiday to Greece.. already seems like a long time ago now. We thought it would be nice to take this opportunity to share with you!


It has been over a years that we have now been living here in Utrecht, and a year that Anneke is back from Australia. It feels like an eternity, but at the same time our Australia experience has everlasting impact! Which is good thing. Dirk still studying away at his masters, which he hopes to finalize end of this year and Anneke has started to work from home, which makes her mobile but at times also very frustrated to be stuck home-alone. So on the look out for greener pastures.

After a long Dutch winter, with some good winter day and the opportunity to go ice-skating it was time to go and have a holiday. It was Crete where we ventured, because this is where Dirks parents have a house and we were invited to spend our holiday with them. They live in Livada which is on the south-western side of Crete, just north of Sougia tucked away in the mountains. It is a small village, which is reached by winding roads and still gets its water from the spring. As most villages on the island, it is inhabited with mainly elderly people as most young folk go to the city. So a tranquil, when the winds didn’t play up, spot to explore from. Of course we brought our bikes, but mountain bikes!:)

The first days we spend home and made a few small rides around the area. Early in the week we went down to the sea and dared to dip our toes in, but the water was still fresh. We enjoyed walks along the coast, amongst the plenty of goats and sheep. We had plenty of dinner with friends of the family and indulged in the Greek food and Cretan specialties. We did one long ride with Dirks parents to a plateau at the entrance of the Samaria Gorge. Which was 30km up.. and yes 30 down as well! :-) Luckily the roads are good and traffic is light so a safe place to be on a bike. We also did some off road biking and Anneke had her first real experience with riding, all this triathlon stuff (straight and paved roads) isn’t half as hard. We also had access to a nice little car and did some exciting road trips, we went to elafonis, which has lovely beaches. We also drove up north to the Gamvousa Peninsula and stayed a night in Kissamos. With Dirks parents we visited Hania and its old quarters. Besides all the activeness we had plenty of time sleeping in, reading and making a puzzle, which became an addicting and we would sit past midnight!

We met lots of lovely people and romantically contemplated the idea of staying.. but I am afraid that reason and especially Dirks realistic-ness have set those ideas aside for … a while… but you never know.

For those interested attached photos from our adventures.

We hope you are all well and safe.