Another Cretan adventure, this time a chill out bonus 12 nights instead of a week camping back in England.

We choose destinations for the beaches and a city we have not visited.

Accommodation is chosen for its locality close to Elafonisi and Balos Lagoons.

We could not of course come back to Western Crete without walking the Samaria Gorge again so we have a 2 night stay in Sougia.

Flying on an 8am flight from Gatwick we book a hotel the night before. Journey down experienced no problems unlike our last here driving in one lane motorways in the Beast from East Storm back in March.

We booked speedy boarding and extra leg room seats, well I say we, Russ did. Not convinced it is worth an extra £25 each.....

Anyway the views of Austria were outstanding reminding us of flying over the South New Zealand summits with glacier lakes and rivers. First day time flight into Crete for us so enjoyed the sights of Zante and Kefalonia too.

The captain announced weather as we approached Greece air space, 19 degrees! Only 19 at midday and raining!

Have to admit it didn’t fill us with excitement!

Lady from our car hire, was waiting for us, Russ dealt with the paper work whilst I waited for the cases. She commented it was the same car as last year, we just thought she meant the model but when we connected Russ’s phone it was already there, 6th in the list. This made our arrival back to Crete feel even more like “coming home” kind of feeling.

We head to Lidl, Russ found location before we arrived. It takes around 15 mins to arrive, stocked up we go to the south via the inland route rather than the hair pin bend coastal road. It’s a lovely route taking you through villages and alongside Topolia Gorge.
Arriving at the Glykeria Hotel we check in at the taverna across the road and un pack. The rooms are comfortable and the bed is one of the best I have slept in, very large with the most comfortable pillows ever! Pillows are most important to me and a good night sleep! I’m not bothered about the size of a room it’s the quality of the bed and pillows that makes good accommodation in our eyes. After all that’s what you book a room for!
Each room offers views of the sea and Chrysoskalitissa Monastery.

By 1830 we are on Elafonissi Lagoon. Still a few people around but mostly leaving. Some do arrive as we, to watch the sunset.
We wade through the lagoon to reach the island which is protected and we find many of the lilies in flower.
We pick our way through the designated path through the dunes along the island. In my excitement I do my little quirky skip and hit my big toe on a sharp rock. Looking down and pointing my toe up I see the brightest red flesh staring back at me with a flap of white skin. Ouch and grrrrrr. My head immediately goes to walking 10 miles of the Samaria Gorge...... I carry on walking, slower and looking down at my now oozing with blood toe.
Ignoring it,trying to, we go for a swim as the sun is setting and the orange and purple hues lighten the sky. Sounds romantic, it is, well would have been if we both were not thinking how I was going to walk 10 miles with a ripped toe.......

We eat at the hotel, to be honest first impressions the taverna looks basic but the food was fantastic. The staff, the family of the hotel, were courteous and attentive. We ate one of the specials, knucklebone lamb cooked slowly in herbs and honey with pulses and baked potatoes. Scrumptious really was. I was given some white wine to taste, a nice touch and liked so ended up having a few glasses. After all Russ says we are on holiday....

The toe remains in a plaster, we have no first aid kit as such, forgot it, another grrrrr