Tuesday, 27th July 2021
Hoʻopuka ʻia: 27.07.2021
Oh my god, who voluntarily does something like that!
Apparently 1000s! But everything in order:
I started the day all alone at a small lake nearby. This excursion destination is very popular with the Greeks. The wooden path makes the walk pleasant. At least at the beginning. Because suddenly, this ends at the road! Huh? Really? Um... then I just walk on the road further.... further and further away from the lake. When I passed a restaurant with a pool, I saw my original starting point again. Somehow the way just does not go around. Strange thing. So, short refreshment and continue walking. After 20 minutes I somehow came back to the lake and thus to the car.
My goal for today is the pink Elafonissi Beach.
The drive through the partly very narrow Topolia Gorge was very impressive. Including traffic lights and mini tunnels in one-way traffic. In the middle of the gorge is the cave chapel 'Agia Sofia' (Cave of the Wisdom of God): 150 steps lead steeply up into the 20x70 meter cave. On May 21st, 1969, the mini-church was inaugurated (and one day later I was born.... coincidences exist. Smile). I was even alone there for a few minutes and could hear the cooing of the pigeons that nest there and watch the burning of the small, delicate candles. A contemplative, quiet moment.
Then my journey continued. Shortly before my destination for the day, I visited the small women's monastery 'Chrysoskalitissa', which has just been repainted and is otherwise very well preserved.
But then, then it happened.... the maximum of everything: people, cars, buses, dust, potholes, umbrellas, bath towels, naked skin, inflatable rubber animals, trash cans..... and me in the middle of it! Oh my god! After 30 minutes, I had to escape. I couldn't take it anymore. ((Unfortunately, the photos don't show what's going on at all!)) Let's get out of here!!!
For the way back I deliberately chose a different route. A partly verrrry unkown, winding, narrow route as it turned out. Smile. But even though the car had a hard time on some parts (including turning off the air conditioning!) or the roads were in extremely bad condition, it was really fun. Because the view and partly the villas were spectacular! However, I had one tiny little problem. The fuel gauge lit up right at the beginning of my adventurous trip. No problem I thought.... It's only a few kilometers to the next town. Okay, then to the next one. Okay, then maybe to the next one. Oops, now I've been driving for almost half an hour and still haven't found a gas station in the small villages.... Oops. Now I'm running out of gas and the display is getting lower and lower... and so do I. Mentally at least. Hey, if I get stuck here without gas, no one will find me anytime soon. Because I was always alone. No one behind me, no one in front of me and certainly none that came my way. Gulp. Now just hope and turn off the air conditioning as a precaution. I counted down the kilometers one by one, talked to the car and prayed that it would work. And it did! Whew, I was relieved. Someone had been good to me. THANK YOU!
Only at the entrance to Chania did I spontaneously find the tavern on the city beach. A delicious ending to an exhausting, 34-degree hot day.
Apparently 1000s! But everything in order:
I started the day all alone at a small lake nearby. This excursion destination is very popular with the Greeks. The wooden path makes the walk pleasant. At least at the beginning. Because suddenly, this ends at the road! Huh? Really? Um... then I just walk on the road further.... further and further away from the lake. When I passed a restaurant with a pool, I saw my original starting point again. Somehow the way just does not go around. Strange thing. So, short refreshment and continue walking. After 20 minutes I somehow came back to the lake and thus to the car.
My goal for today is the pink Elafonissi Beach.
The drive through the partly very narrow Topolia Gorge was very impressive. Including traffic lights and mini tunnels in one-way traffic. In the middle of the gorge is the cave chapel 'Agia Sofia' (Cave of the Wisdom of God): 150 steps lead steeply up into the 20x70 meter cave. On May 21st, 1969, the mini-church was inaugurated (and one day later I was born.... coincidences exist. Smile). I was even alone there for a few minutes and could hear the cooing of the pigeons that nest there and watch the burning of the small, delicate candles. A contemplative, quiet moment.
Then my journey continued. Shortly before my destination for the day, I visited the small women's monastery 'Chrysoskalitissa', which has just been repainted and is otherwise very well preserved.
But then, then it happened.... the maximum of everything: people, cars, buses, dust, potholes, umbrellas, bath towels, naked skin, inflatable rubber animals, trash cans..... and me in the middle of it! Oh my god! After 30 minutes, I had to escape. I couldn't take it anymore. ((Unfortunately, the photos don't show what's going on at all!)) Let's get out of here!!!
For the way back I deliberately chose a different route. A partly verrrry unkown, winding, narrow route as it turned out. Smile. But even though the car had a hard time on some parts (including turning off the air conditioning!) or the roads were in extremely bad condition, it was really fun. Because the view and partly the villas were spectacular! However, I had one tiny little problem. The fuel gauge lit up right at the beginning of my adventurous trip. No problem I thought.... It's only a few kilometers to the next town. Okay, then to the next one. Okay, then maybe to the next one. Oops, now I've been driving for almost half an hour and still haven't found a gas station in the small villages.... Oops. Now I'm running out of gas and the display is getting lower and lower... and so do I. Mentally at least. Hey, if I get stuck here without gas, no one will find me anytime soon. Because I was always alone. No one behind me, no one in front of me and certainly none that came my way. Gulp. Now just hope and turn off the air conditioning as a precaution. I counted down the kilometers one by one, talked to the car and prayed that it would work. And it did! Whew, I was relieved. Someone had been good to me. THANK YOU!
Only at the entrance to Chania did I spontaneously find the tavern on the city beach. A delicious ending to an exhausting, 34-degree hot day.
Pane
Hōʻike huakaʻi Helene