Crete with the Family

We arrive late in the evening in Heraklion. We pick up our car and reach Rethimno in a little over an hour. We take possession of our apartment, better than we expected, shower and bed.

We visit Rethimno, nice but not particularly rich in things to see, apart from the Venetian port area, we have a day at the beach, right in front of our apartment, and let the day pass in absolute relaxation.

We cross the island heading south (we sleep on the north coast). The roads leave a lot to be desired once you leave the only fast road that connects Heraklion to Hania, so we take longer than expected, but it's worth it anyway; we arrive at Frangokastelo and find a splendid sea framed by Mediterranean landscapes typical of this island. In the afternoon we move to the nearby beach of Damnoni, where we have dinner, before returning, in a beautiful and picturesque inn on the beach.

We move westward and reach Kasteli, where we take a ferry that, with a one-day excursion, takes us to the island of Gramvoussa and Balos: the most beautiful sea in Crete!!!!

"Cultural" day: we visit the beautiful Arkadi monastery, a little south of Rethimno.

Today we reach the southwestern tip, specifically Elafonissi beach: NOT TO BE MISSED!!! Look for some pictures online and you'll understand... On the way back we stop at the Hrissoskalitissa monastery, typically white and blue.

Today Balos beach, to the east. Honestly nothing special, compared to the others, and full of rude Russians. In the afternoon we wisely return to the beach in front of our apartment.

Last day, tonight we go back home. So we return to Heraklion, which we hadn't yet properly visited, but above all we visit the palace of Knossos: it's worth it, if only to see in person what we've studied in history and art books since we were children. P.S.: special mention for the excellent Greek food! We especially loved the yogurt with honey, the moussaka, the various types of spit-roasted meat, and the fish, divinely cooked!