Trip to Crete - Day 7

And so, to the last full day oh our holiday and a bit about travelling home. We were down by the pool sunbathing by 11am so I'm not sure if we had breakfast or not. Probably not. Hmm, but we must have gone up for lunch. No photos, anyway. My next photo is at 4pm when one of the adult cats we had been seeing around came to sit on Lee's sunbed, which was cute. I do know that during the day we finally got properly into the main pool. I said we had to just to say that we had. There were two slides into it so we went down one each which plunged us straight into the water. It was COLD. We did NOT stay in there for very long. But at least we did get in! 

We didn't leave the pool until nearly 6pm, and I took a photo of the view for the last time, with the sun just starting to set over the peninsula. Then we walked to look at the cats for one last time. I don't think we saw them all but we did see the little grey mama cat and I looked at all the flowers in the gardens and took a picture of this orange one. 

We got showered and went down to the bar first of all, where I had some kind of cocktail or another which was nice, and then we went down for something to eat. We then went across to the amphitheatre because the entertainment that night was Greek dancing and I wanted to see it. There were quite a lot of people watching it, so there was a nice atmosphere. There were three men playing traditional music, which sounded really good. There were four dancers and first of all they did Cretan dancing and then they had a little break and came back to do some Greek dancing. They were all really good and I enjoyed seeing them. Lee wasn't as bothered but he came with me anyway.

As we walked back to the main hotel we met yet another cat, who miaowed a lot at us, it was very sweet. We had a last drink in the bar before heading back to the room to pack. 

In the morning, though, we didn't have to rush. We were told our pick up would be between ten and 10.30 so we knew we had plenty of time. I got up about 8 I think and took my final view pictures which is one of the pleasures of having a balcony, and then we headed down to breakfast. We knew we wouldn't be eating for a while so we had plenty to eat. Then we went and got all our stuff and checked out, and then went outside. We actually got picked up at about ten to ten, so it was just as well we were already waiting. We were in the minibus with two other people and then picked up three others I think, so not many of us. We got to the airport in very quick time and a Jet2 employee got us to the front of the queue and told us how to bypass other queues, which was great for my accessibility. We got through security and spent our last few euros on some Pringles in the airport. 

The flight was fine. There was no one sitting next to Lee so we could spread out and have a seat between us for extra room. He was mostly asleep but I read my book and listened to a bunch  of things I had downloaded. We landed, got our suitcases, and finally found the car. It was rush hour by this time which was annoying, but we stopped and Tesco halfway home to get some supplies, which helped. We were so glad to get home to the cats, though.

A bit of a different holiday for us because we just didn't do much at all. It was what we needed, though.

Sunbathing in the morning

The little cat that joined us on the sunbed. That's Lee's phone with a sticker of Kiki in the back by the way!

Final photo of the view. As you can see the sun was beginning to set

The little grey cat for the last time

Pretty flower

The musicians as we settled down in the amphitheatre

The dancing

The men especially were really good

This was the second half, when they had swapped costumes

Stars again in a break in the dancing

I liked the fancy footsteps. They got a lot of people up dancing at the end although I stayed sitting

The last cat we met on the way back into the hotel

The final view photo on the Tuesday morning

And the other side

The aeroplane as we got on it - I was really impressed with Jet2

And finally here's the sweets I brought home

Trip to Crete - Day 6

The Sunday of our holiday was much like the other days, so this won't be a long post. We did exactly the same things as before - we had breakfast, hung around in the lobby (I think we might have gone in the shop and I bought some sweeties to bring home) relaxing, went down for lunch, and then went down to the pool to sunbathe. I took a picture of my lunch to show what I had typically eaten, and we had ice creams in the afternoon. I don't remember what we ate for tea although there were chicken thighs that Lee liked. I did get a cocktail down by the pool, I think, which came with a cute little heart on the glass. And last thing, I took a photo of some of the stars from the balcony. There wasn't a lot of light pollution so we could see tons of stars, which was nice. 

By this time there were definitely fewer people around the hotel which meant fewer queues at the bars and stuff. The resort was clearly winding down for the winter. I don't mind that, really, but I would have liked the weather to be just a smidge hotter. 

Once again a glorious morning view from the balcony 

Lunch - plenty of fresh salad, feta, tzatziki, olives, and a few chips. Delicious!

Puddings that Lee and I shared - there were lots of different types and while they weren't all great, it was nice to try them

Sunbathing from where I think was my favourite spot around the pool

Strawberry ice cream later on

I started this book on that day and finished it I think on the aeroplane on the way home. It wasn't great, it promised a lot more than it actually delivered 

Sweet little cocktail although I can't remember now what it was. In all we spent about 40 euros in the hotel over the week for things that weren't included in the all inclusive - cocktails for me and decaf coffees

And finally, the stars

Trip to Crete - Day 5

On the Saturday of our holiday we had a lazy day by the pool again and then we went out to a restaurant in the evening. I can't remember if we had breakfast or lunch but I do know it was the nicest day weather wise and I sat in the sunshine for a while soaking it up. We had drinks and pizza from the bar I think, which would indicate we had had breakfast first. 

The day before this, we had asked reception to book us a table at the restaurant down on the beach, which they had. They also told us they would run us down in the minibus (it was more like a big taxi than a bus) and the restaurant would ring them to come back for us later. This was really lovely service and totally ideal for us. So when we left the pool we had a rest and a shower and went to look at the cats - the baby ginger one was out, so cute - and then headed down to the beach at about 7.15. It was so empty down there at night, so weird. I would imagine it's busier during the high season. We went into the bar we had been in the night before first, where I got a truly ridiculous cocktail with a sparkler in it, and Lee had an orange juice. When we were paying, the waiter brought schnapps for me but he had remembered that Lee didn't drink and brought something non alcoholic for him, which was very sweet of him. 

We headed next door into the restaurant for 8pm. It was a family run place and was really cute. It was busy, which was nice. We ordered drinks; I went for a sweet Greek red wine which came served cold and was SO good. We were asked if we wanted bread so we said yes instead of having starters, and I'm really glad we did, because the servings were so big! 

There weren't any vegetarian mains and I do occasionally eat fish so I got salmon and it was SO good, it was delicious and I really enjoyed it. It came with chips and rice and roast veggies. The bread had come first and there was a great array and some dips, which were lovely to try. Lee had chicken in a mushroom sauce I think which also came with rice and chips and roast vegetables, and he really enjoyed it too. We were full so didn't order dessert but the bill came with yoghurt, and fruit, and a piece of orange cake, which was lovely The whole bill was about sixty euros so well worth it!

I had schnapps again as we were waiting for the taxi to come back down - I think it was made with raki, which is Greek - and then as we were still waiting they brought me some more. It was a really lovely place with friendly waiters, I'm glad we went down. We got the taxi back up to the hotel and sat in the bar with a final drink before bed. 

I was wearing this JD Williams dress that I've had for a few years but don't have the chance to wear much. I love it, though, I love the pattern on it. I wore it with a black shrug that came from New Look I think, but I'm not sure. Also, as we left the hotel on the way out, there was a photographer taking photos. She came back a couple of nights later with prints for sale, so we bought three of them because they were very cute photos of us! 

I was awake early so I ended up sitting on the balcony watching the sunrise; it was very beautiful and nice and warm. This is one of the nicest things about being abroad

The bookshelf in the hotel. I may have posted this photo before but my photos have all got a bit muddled so I'm sorry if I have

The housekeeper had left the towels in a sweet little arrangement for us

Lee on the side of the baby pool

Here I am basking in the sun and looking a little red

This was the view over the top of my sun bed

Mother cat just as she went back to her kittens

And here's her little ginger kitten, so cute

The fountain outside the front of the hotel as the sun was setting when we were waiting for the taxi

Down on the beach with no one around

Lee and I in the first bar where we had a drink

And my ridiculous cocktail with sparkler

My sweet red wine, it was so nice

All the breads and dips

My salmon and stuff, so delicious

And the dessert 

Here I am back in the hotel room in my nice patterned dress

Here's one of the photos we bought off the photographer, it's cute

Trip to Crete - Day 4

On the fourth day of our holiday we went down to the beach! There was a minibus down to the beach but in the off season it only ran a few times a day. So we timed it well. We had a big breakfast and then wandered round the hotel, looking at the cats and then we sat on the terrace. Lee was playing on his Steam Deck and I was cross stitching. It was a Christmas themed cross stitch so it was a bit absurd to be doing it in twenty five degree heat in Crete! 

We got the bus down to the beach at 1pm. It was a tiny little bay, with two shops, three cafes/bars, a restaurant, and a couple of hotels. Oh and a cash machine, which was helpful. We went into one of the shops and bought souvenirs including tzatziki herbs for me and my mum and some olives and olive oil for my stepdad. We went down on the beach which was rocky rather than sandy. There were sunbeds and parasols but we went into the shade. I wanted to go in the sea, so I made my way down. There was quite steep shelf on the beach so it was quite hard for me, but I managed it eventually. I swam lots and there was something that was maybe a broken jetty that came out really far, so I went over to that and walked around on the submerged rocks. 

I struggled to get out as well, because of the bank and because it was rocky so it was hard to get a purchase on. Lee came and helped me, which was good. But I'm glad I swam! It was lovely. We sat in the sun for a bit so I could dry off a lot. Then we went into one of the bars for a drink and pudding. It was empty except for us and the waiter was lovely. I got a ridiculous cocktail and we were brought some nibbles, and then I had a crepe with nutella and banana, and Lee had chocolate cake and ice cream. It was lovely! So nice to just sit by the sea. The return minibus left at 4pm so we went back to the stop and waited for a bit. 

I think we went back to the pool for a bit but the sun was moving away so it wasn't as warm. As usual we got showered and dressed and ready for tea. On this night I had more of the Greek bruschetta type stuff which was lovely, I could have eaten that all week to be honest. As usual, it was a chilled day but I'm glad we went down to the beach

The book I was reading, which I had high hopes for but ended up not really liking. I left it on the hotel book shelf for someone else to pick up

A better look at one of the baby kittens. I definitely wanted to steal this one and bring it home with me

View from the terrace where we sat most of the morning

And here's me cross stitching, haha

Down in the bay, it was literally so tiny but so cute

Close up of the rocky beach when I was lying down. We looked for sea glass but didn't find any

Proof I was in the water

Here we are in the bar which overlooked the water, which was nice

Lee and his pudding - I can't find a photo of mine which seems unlike me!

Schnapps as we were paying the bill

As we were waiting for the minibus, looking up towards our hotel. It was so steep!

As you can see the pools had no sun on them by this time

This rock in Heraklion Bay looks a bit like a lizard so there's a myth about how a giant lizard invaded Crete so Zeus turned it into a rock, because of course there's a myth about it

Carob rusks with tomatoes and whipped feta, so good

Moonlight on the water last thing at night

And here I am in this dress, which I love for being ridiculous