Saturday, July 17, 2021

The night was pleasant. Actually very quiet. The air conditioning is doing its best and the temperature was actually very pleasant for sleeping in a windowless room with 4 sleeping pods and a private bathroom. The door to the corridor is actually a sheet of paper. At least in terms of soundproofing. Smile

In the morning, I casually noticed that the 3 roommates had already left the room. So I was the last one. Perfect! That way I could sort my luggage a bit, settle in a little. As far as possible here. My suitcase is under the bed in a lockable compartment. However, since it is as DEEP as the entire mattress is LONG, I can only use it to a limited extent. I can't crawl into the compartment every day and look for my clothes! So the carry-on suitcase is right next to my mattress in the sleeping cabin. But that's fine. There are also 2 shelves in the room. But everyone has access to them at any time. So not suitable for most things. Although, I don't know if a guest would take something here...

At 11:30 am, I showered and was ready for check-in. I missed it last night because the reception is not open 24 hours a day. I was greeted friendly. After the paperwork, they quickly measured my temperature and it was done. At least almost done.
I could pay right away if I wanted to.... What?! Wait. I already paid for the trip when I made the reservation in February. Apparently, that is not the case. But they will check it. Well done....

Since I don't have a car today, I will walk. Where? To Chania Town. According to the app, it's a 15-20 minute walk. From the hostel to the sea, it's about 6 minutes. There is a bus station right in front of the house. Without a timetable. So I assume that it is no longer in service. But later I discovered that there is a 'real' bus stop just around the corner. It even has a digital display of when the next bus will arrive! Almost like in Switzerland....
On the way to the sea, I stopped by to buy some drinks. I didn't feel like eating. I had lost my appetite the night before. But I was very thirsty.

And indeed: there it is, the sea. Big, blue-green, and a little wavy. The wind, which feels very pleasant on the skin, makes the water sway and there are a few waves.
There are only a few people swimming. Surely because Crete has some super nice beaches. But the one belonging to the city is definitely not one of them.

I strolled along the promenade, tavern after tavern, with a few guests enjoying themselves there. I noticed that most of them spoke Greek. Tourists were rarely seen (either by appearance or by language). The blue sky, the harbor atmosphere, the boats, the seagulls...vacation!
Then the lighthouse, the landmark of Chania, came closer and closer. And with it the endless variety of shops and shopping opportunities. Everything a tourist's heart desires. But also a few gems. You just have to look closely and be able to distinguish the wheat from the chaff. Wink.
I had already bought a few little things and time flew by. There were not many people in the alleys and restaurants. Pleasant. The Greeks told me that there are several flights from Germany and a few from Switzerland every day. This is noticeable. I explained to them that this is also because, among other things, Spain and Portugal are no longer in high demand (thanks to Corona) and therefore Greece is now very popular.

I still wasn't hungry. But I drank a lot.
But now it was time to focus on my main goal in Chania: the jewelry store 'Alexia Jewels'. I came across this goldsmith about 2 years ago on Facebook and since then, some of her pieces made me dream.
She ships worldwide, but I wanted to see and try on the pieces live. And today was finally the day! I'm so excited. Last week, I messaged her and let her know that I was coming. Apparently, I made a lasting impression. Because she immediately recognized me and warmly greeted me.

What followed afterwards can hardly be described. But, it is a prime example of Greek hospitality. After trying on some pieces and deciding to buy, it all started. Apparently, they immediately took a liking to me. Cookies, perfectly made frappé. Alexia, her daughter Eveline, and her husband Manolis pampered me. Then suddenly, Manolis appeared with a huge bag full of herbs for tea and seasoning. Self-collected and dried. Everyone is now friends on Facebook and I will be there again tomorrow. Because they want to mark a few sights on my map, invite me for coffee. They think me and my cheerful demeanor are great and have offered that I can contact them anytime if I need anything. Manolis would have loved to visit the 3 monasteries with me. But he has to work. What an unexpected warmth and it almost feels like I have a Greek family. Wow. A very touching meeting.

Afterwards, I walked back to the hostel. Or at least I thought so. At least that's what the map app showed me. But as the time got longer, it seemed very strange to me and the heat was too much. So I stood by the road and tried to catch a taxi. No chance. All occupied... Hmm. Strange. So I had no choice but to walk back again. 30 minutes! Then I found the taxi station and the driver told me that many flights had landed and it was very difficult at this time. I didn't care. The main thing is that I don't have to take another step with my shopping and the big bag full of herbs! Smile.

When I arrived, I asked about the payment. Everything is fine. It was a mistake. And then I exchanged business cards with the new receptionist and the staff from the internal cafe and looked at their pictures online. She also paints.

Quickly change clothes and off to the restaurant. Actually, I wanted to go back to the city to eat by the sea. But my walk had taken its toll and I didn't want to go so far away from the hostel again. So I ate nearby. The ambiance is not particularly noteworthy, but the food is very delicious. Now I feel at home in my beloved Greece. Hmmm.... I feel really good. Good night.