23 - 28 November 2012, Crete, Greece
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| Paleochora's beach at night |
Together we travelled southward in order to escape the approaching winter. We passed through humble and lovely Macedonia and finally got to Athens.
On 23 November we left the Greek capital to reach Crete in hopes to enjoy a thrill of summer.
Docked in the early morning in Chania - with a ferry from Athens - we took local buses and hitch-hiked through the island to reach Paleochora in the first afternoon.
This town lies at the south shore of Crete and is supposed to be one of the warmest place in Europe.
Once there we immediately went to the beach to rest. The deserted field of sand stretched in front of us and gave a feeling of
desolation and serenity. Children were playing with their dogs. The low winter sun was brighting and wind pulled the lukewarm air from Lybia.
This town lies at the south shore of Crete and is supposed to be one of the warmest place in Europe.
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| Paleochora, Crete |
Looking at those children playing and running free on the flatland made me realise how lucky they are. It must be great to live at a seaside place with a mild winter and to enjoy the freedom that only a small town can allow.
On the other hand, I think that a place like that could be perceived as a cage to escape, especially when children grow up and want to see the world.
On the other hand, I think that a place like that could be perceived as a cage to escape, especially when children grow up and want to see the world.
However, coming to Crete made me feel better for two main reasons.
Firstly, because I left Athens. One week being stuck in this busy metropolis trapped my mind in a deadlock where my thoughts run in circle at the frenetic rhythm of the city.
Travelling is a way to break this circle and to regain freedom of mind.
The second reason was related to the environment. Meeting the sea, the nature and a more pleasant temperature while leaving cars, pollution and chaos had some clear advantages. Moreover, as my eyes enjoyed a wider view than the narrow one of the city, my mind could open up and relax.
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| Traveling through Crete |
Travelling is a way to break this circle and to regain freedom of mind.
The second reason was related to the environment. Meeting the sea, the nature and a more pleasant temperature while leaving cars, pollution and chaos had some clear advantages. Moreover, as my eyes enjoyed a wider view than the narrow one of the city, my mind could open up and relax.
In this setting I asked myself what is the purpose of working an entire life to make
money and to pursue a career in a grey and polluted city and then come to a place like this to enjoy two weeks of holiday per
year.
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| The Artificial Caves of Matala |
That night in Paleochora we slept on the
floor of a closed beach bar.
The following days we slowly passed through the island and reached Matala, to see its famous caves.
In these artificial caves - created in the Neolithic Age - we heard that some people are still living and we were thus intrigued to see them.
The following days we slowly passed through the island and reached Matala, to see its famous caves.
In these artificial caves - created in the Neolithic Age - we heard that some people are still living and we were thus intrigued to see them.
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