Chania – My first solo flight

You probably don’t know me, which is why you wouldn’t know how I feel about flying. Let me tell you—flying scares the bejesus out of me. I hate it. I hate the lack of control, the noise, the shaking… everything.

But, during my “year of new adventures,” I decided it was time to grow a pair. So, I booked a flight to Greece. Not just anywhere in Greece—Chania.

Chania is located on the Greek island of Crete and has always been a tourist favorite. And it’s not just because of the locals’ friendliness (though that’s a bonus). Its location in the south of Crete makes it perfect for sun-lovers, beach fans, and even hikers. With a picture-perfect backdrop of both mountains and beaches, Crete has everything—cities, nature, history, vibes. That’s why it’s one of Greece’s most visited spots every year.

So, there I was, in the middle of a lecture, browsing hotel options (because of course). That’s when I stumbled across Shalom Luxury Rooms Kondilaki—a cozy little hotel right in the center of Chania. For port-lovers, the Old Venetian Harbor is just five minutes away on foot. The rooms are clean, have a cute little fridge in the corner, and everything in town is within easy reach.

Room: booked. But swim there? Nope. So a few weeks later, again in the middle of another lecture (clearly my productivity was at its peak), I looked up flights. The cheapest one was over 600€—because, surprise, I had waited until summer. Gulp. Paid with PayPal 30-day like most of my shopping adventures at the time. YOLO, right?

Fast forward—I made it. I thanked God I didn’t die in that death machine they call a plane. I couldn’t believe it—I had actually done it. I was proud. Terrified still, but proud.

Now back to Chania.

A cab driver—kindly arranged by the hotel—picked me up. She was sweet and tried to make small talk, but the only things on my mind were food and a nap. We got close to the hotel, but the last stretch I had to walk. No biggie—it was only about five minutes.

Unfortunately, my room wasn’t ready yet. So, in a fog of travel anxiety and hunger, I plopped myself down at the first restaurant I saw. In hindsight, that place looked like it hadn’t been cleaned since 1987, and I probably risked some kind of fryer-related illness… but at that moment, I did not care.

After eating, I wandered to the old port like a zombie from The Walking Dead and sat there until I finally got the call—my room was ready.

I rushed over, threw off my clothes, and dove into bed. Of course, just then the lovely cleaning lady knocked on my door while I was half-covered. I scrambled to throw something on… only to find out she came bearing wine. A truly nice gesture.

At last—Chania. What a view, right?

After a much-needed nap and a few episodes of Modern Family on Netflix, it was finally time for dinner. I headed into the music and hustle of the Old Town and chose the first inviting spot I saw. No idea what it was called, but the food? Incredible.

I love seafood, so that’s what I got—plus a huge salad. Honestly, if I had jumped into the ocean afterward, I could’ve acted as one of the ship anchors with how full I felt.

But man, dinner with a view? That’s something else. It felt magical. Angelic, even.

I just sat there doing my little happy dance, feeling full—but somehow light. Like my soul had loosened up a bit. There was this overwhelming sense of pride that made me feel like I could flood the whole island with it.

Dinner with a view is just something magical, angelic almost.

I just enjoyed the food, did my little happy dance and felt light (well, full physically) but my soul was light. There was this overwhelming sense of pride that made me feel like I could flood the whole island with it.

I will continue writing about my time in Greece in part 2.