Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Oh my God, who voluntarily puts themselves through this!

Apparently thousands! But let's start from the beginning:

I started the day alone at a small lake nearby. This destination is very popular among the Greeks. The wooden path makes the tour enjoyable and easy to walk.

At least in the beginning. Because suddenly, it ends at the road! Huh? Really? Um... then I'll just continue walking on the road.... further away from the lake especially. When I passed by a restaurant with a pool, I saw my original starting point again. Somehow the path just doesn't go all the way around. Weird. So, a quick snack and continue walking. After 20 minutes, I somehow made it back to the lake and thus back to the car.

My destination for today is the pink Elafonissi Beach.

The drive through the sometimes very narrow Topolia Gorge was very impressive. Including a traffic light and a mini tunnel with 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 to the 20x70 meter cave. The mini church was inaugurated on May 21, 1969 (and I was born the next day.... coincidences happen. Smile)
I was even alone there for a few minutes and could listen to the cooing of the doves nesting there and watch the small, fine candles burning. A contemplative, peaceful moment.

Then my journey continued. Just before my destination for the day, I visited the small nunnery 'Chrysoskalitissa', which had just been repainted and is otherwise very well preserved.

But then, then it happened.... the maximum of everything: people, cars, tour buses, dust, potholes, umbrellas, beach towels, naked skin, inflatable rubber toys, garbage bins..... and I was right in the middle of it! Oh my God! After 30 minutes, I had to flee. I couldn't stand it any longer. ((Unfortunately, the photos don't show at all what's going on there!)) Get me out of here!!!

For the way back, I deliberately chose a different route. It turned out to be a partially very uncrowded, curvy, narrow road. Smile. But even though the car could barely make it up sometimes (including turning off the air conditioning!) or the roads were in extremely poor condition, it was really fun. Because the view and sometimes the villas were spectacular!

However, I had a tiny problem. The fuel gauge lit up right at the beginning of my adventurous journey. No problem, I thought.... It's only a few kilometers to the next town. Okay, then to the next one. Okay, 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 it's getting urgent and the gauge is going down more and more... and I'm going up. Mentally at least. Hey, if I get stuck here without fuel, nobody will find me quickly. Because I was always alone. No one behind me, no one in front of me, and certainly no one coming towards me. Gulp. Now just hope and better turn off the air conditioning just in case. 
I counted down the kilometers one by one, spoke kindly to the car, and prayed that it would work. And it worked! Phew, I was relieved. Someone was looking out for me. THANK YOU!

Only at the entrance to Chania did I spontaneously find the tavern on the city beach. A delicious end to a exhausting, 34 degree hot day.