Friday, 30th July 2021
Byatangajwe: 30.07.2021
The night was not so good. And this morning at 7 o'clock the Russian girls were scurrying around in the room. In, out, in, out. So I was awake. In vain I tried to still sleep. Because actually I was still very tired.... no matter. Hostel is hostel.
The day's destination, should be a last time, a little further away. Since I have already heard so much and seen pictures, it goes to the 2.5 hours away 'Elounda' and then to 'Agios Nikolaos'.
Yesterday evening I filled up my tank and so this morning I was ready for the long way. There were quite a lot of trucks on the road and this always means that it is difficult to overtake. And thus the traffic jams and everything is somewhat viscous. The highway, speaks expressway, is partly in a bad condition and partly in a good one. So it is important, especially at higher speed, to drive concentrated. But since there is not so much to see here anyway, this was not a problem.
I arrived at 12:30 in the small town of 'Elounda'. Beautiful place! The sea... my goodness. Indescribable.
The parking problem is also present here. Especially when like today is still vegetable market and a few coaches also want to find a place. But I got a place right at the port and was thus right in the middle of the action.The few stores, which are distributed around the center are again 95% identical with the other stores in other towns. That was clear. And yet there were a few pearls here as well. Also in the negative sense.... e.g. the one with thousands of shells of all kinds in all sizes and colors. Highly polished and partly processed so massively kitschy (e.g.: to bedside lamps) that you almost have to be ashamed of yourself. And on top of everything, there are the dried/preserved animals (whole or just the head): various kinds of sharks, puffer fish in all sizes, scorpions, entire crabs, etc. A really disgusting sight!
More beautiful, however, was the spontaneous 20-minute trip to the uninhabited island of 'Spinalonga'. This island has a sad history. From 1904 to 1957 lepers were brought there. These lived in the old fortress, which was partly converted. We had a time window of 70 minutes. The wind was blowing extremely strong and this was also the only reason that one could stand the heat. An impressive island with a long history.
I indignantly returned the freshly squeezed orange juice at the end (1 plastic cup) for 5 euros. He was first filled with ice cubes and then, the space that was left, with juice. So felt 2 sips or so. I did not think that was fair and ordered a cup without ice cubes. Looks quite different already. Rip-off!
The second and also the last stop led me to the neighboring village. 'Agios Nikolaos' is also nice. Many taverns with view to the sea or to the small lake, which has branched off from the sea by a small channel. A little bit above it I ate. I had the tip for this tavern from the guidebook and it was a bull's eye! I almost could not decide. Because here you can find food, which I have never seen in a tavern and have never eaten. It was mega delicious! And yes, I actually drank a glass of white wine! The nice waitress enlightened me: there is wine without alcohol. For pregnant women, for example. Um. Thanks. Okay, I'll give this a try. Well, it tasted good.
At 7 pm I drove off into the sunset. The way back was more difficult, because I had to drive against the setting sun (it was blinding) and I was tired. But I arrived at the hostel safe and sound. There I found a new roommate. Eirini. My heart just opened because this Greek girl also looks like Ursulai and also has a warm voice and a big heart. Smile. She is actually a teacher for the hard to educate and a puppeteer on the side. Tomorrow she has some mini street performances in Chania in the old harbor. I will visit her and tell you about it tomorrow. Smile
The day's destination, should be a last time, a little further away. Since I have already heard so much and seen pictures, it goes to the 2.5 hours away 'Elounda' and then to 'Agios Nikolaos'.
Yesterday evening I filled up my tank and so this morning I was ready for the long way. There were quite a lot of trucks on the road and this always means that it is difficult to overtake. And thus the traffic jams and everything is somewhat viscous. The highway, speaks expressway, is partly in a bad condition and partly in a good one. So it is important, especially at higher speed, to drive concentrated. But since there is not so much to see here anyway, this was not a problem.
I arrived at 12:30 in the small town of 'Elounda'. Beautiful place! The sea... my goodness. Indescribable.
The parking problem is also present here. Especially when like today is still vegetable market and a few coaches also want to find a place. But I got a place right at the port and was thus right in the middle of the action.The few stores, which are distributed around the center are again 95% identical with the other stores in other towns. That was clear. And yet there were a few pearls here as well. Also in the negative sense.... e.g. the one with thousands of shells of all kinds in all sizes and colors. Highly polished and partly processed so massively kitschy (e.g.: to bedside lamps) that you almost have to be ashamed of yourself. And on top of everything, there are the dried/preserved animals (whole or just the head): various kinds of sharks, puffer fish in all sizes, scorpions, entire crabs, etc. A really disgusting sight!
More beautiful, however, was the spontaneous 20-minute trip to the uninhabited island of 'Spinalonga'. This island has a sad history. From 1904 to 1957 lepers were brought there. These lived in the old fortress, which was partly converted. We had a time window of 70 minutes. The wind was blowing extremely strong and this was also the only reason that one could stand the heat. An impressive island with a long history.
I indignantly returned the freshly squeezed orange juice at the end (1 plastic cup) for 5 euros. He was first filled with ice cubes and then, the space that was left, with juice. So felt 2 sips or so. I did not think that was fair and ordered a cup without ice cubes. Looks quite different already. Rip-off!
The second and also the last stop led me to the neighboring village. 'Agios Nikolaos' is also nice. Many taverns with view to the sea or to the small lake, which has branched off from the sea by a small channel. A little bit above it I ate. I had the tip for this tavern from the guidebook and it was a bull's eye! I almost could not decide. Because here you can find food, which I have never seen in a tavern and have never eaten. It was mega delicious! And yes, I actually drank a glass of white wine! The nice waitress enlightened me: there is wine without alcohol. For pregnant women, for example. Um. Thanks. Okay, I'll give this a try. Well, it tasted good.
At 7 pm I drove off into the sunset. The way back was more difficult, because I had to drive against the setting sun (it was blinding) and I was tired. But I arrived at the hostel safe and sound. There I found a new roommate. Eirini. My heart just opened because this Greek girl also looks like Ursulai and also has a warm voice and a big heart. Smile. She is actually a teacher for the hard to educate and a puppeteer on the side. Tomorrow she has some mini street performances in Chania in the old harbor. I will visit her and tell you about it tomorrow. Smile
Igisubizo
Raporo yingendo Ubugereki