I awake early and leave a snoozing Russ and eagerly go outside to see the sunrise, it really is paradise here. Waking up to the red hues on the mill pond sea and within a few steps you are in the sea is just super. By 7am the whole sea seemed to turn orange and red as the sun rose in front of me.
By 8am Russ is up and straight in the sea, so refreshing. I go off snorkelling with our new camera and start watching the different types of fish darting about. I was also treated to my surprise by an octopus swimming across from rock to rock in front of me. They are the most amazing creatures. Once it reached the rocks and camouflaged itself it’s a trained eye to find it. I float over the top of it for ages waiting for him to continue feeding but alas, I got too cold before his shyness was forgotten.
Today we head east and inland to Azoria located 1km of Kavousi and 3 km from the sea. It is well signposted and we investigate the site discovering findings. It covers quite a large area with notices around full of information of the remains. Although the site has a long history of use occupied by Neolithic, Bronze Age and Early Iron Age the most visible remains are the houses and communal buildings of Archaic date (600-500 BC).
The views are stunning (as always on majority of Crete’s roads) to and from here where we come across as we head further east to the new by pass partly opened and partly under construction.
We are now at Itanos on the east coast at another archaeological site on the beach where amongst the remnants of building walls and foundations marble pillars lie.
The ancient city was one of the strongest in Crete during the Hellenistic times. Today you walk for free to admire the various ruins such as the large tower on the western acropolis. There are 2 early churches as the foot of the hill that leads to Vai and the cemetery outside of the town.
We swim here and snorkel until late and decide to continue to Palaiokastro for our evening meal. I enjoy a large Mojito together with a sparkler lighting its way to me! The village is bustling with the tavernas full of locals and tourists. It would be a good base on another trip to the east I think! For now, we return in the moonlight back to our Stonehouse with myself acting as a nodding dog and my wonderful husband driving us back safely in the late hours.