Today was supposed to be my day.
My colleague had raved about the Balos Lagoon and the island of Gramvousa — a must-see off the coast of the Gramvousa Peninsula. Gramvousa is home to a stunning 16th-century Venetian fortress, while Balos Lagoon is what I imagine heaven looks like: vivid blue water, endless skies, and the kind of heat that makes you feel deliciously alive.
Naturally, I was sold. I booked the trip online via Blue Daily Cruises. But—here’s a tip—double-check everything. I paid with my credit card (yep, that’s the only option I had), but never received the ticket PDF. Thankfully, it wasn’t a huge hassle. Those €30-something were absolutely worth it. But more on that in a bit.
To get to the ferry at Kissamos Port, I also booked a bus ticket from Chania via KTEL. Again… money withdrawn, but no ticket emailed to me. Strike two. I got up early, full of excitement, and started walking to the bus station—only to be sent on a wild goose chase by Google Maps. By the time I got there, the bus was pulling out, practically waving me goodbye.
I stood in line, sweaty and defeated, and bought a new ticket at the counter. Then I bought another one online just to be sure. Eventually, I was on the next bus, huffing and puffing but at least moving forward.
Onward to Gramvousa
After an hour’s ride, we arrived at Kissamos Port. From there, it was a quick walk to the ferry. I grabbed a seat in the middle—couldn’t really take great photos, but that didn’t matter.
About 30 minutes later, we docked at Gramvousa Island. The view? Breathtaking. But here’s the thing: for the first time in my life, I wished I was stranded there alone. A whole ferry-load of people swarmed the place, and it was a little overwhelming for my introverted self.
Some of them hiked up to the Venetian fortress. I wandered off in the other direction, chasing a little peace and quiet.
As you can see it there were many people.
Eventually, I joined the crowd in the water. But like the beach in Chania, this one was stoney. And I mean, stoney AF. I fell on my knee twice. Fully embarrassed. Laughed it off. What else could I do?
The Magic of Balos Lagoon
After two hours on Gramvousa, we set sail to Balos Lagoon. And wow. The water was bluer than Aaron Pierre’s eyes — and if you know, you know. It was pure, visual serenity.
I walked, I sat, I floated. Around me: people laughing, splashing, living. And there I was, alone in my beautiful solitude, loving every minute of it.
Excuse this pic, but the quality is bad because I snapped the pic in my water resistant phone case.
On the way back, I grabbed a spot in the sun and just soaked it all in. The sea, the heat, the wind — sometimes a little too much, but in Crete, even too much is just right.
Ending the Day Right
Back in Chania, I wrapped up the day with dinner at a restaurant near the harbor — my favorite spot. There’s nothing like good food after a day like this: messy, chaotic, beautiful.
I this is the penultimate day that I can tell you about. Then we will move on to my trio to the Elafonissi Beach before ending the Chania series.
THE SPOT 
Leave a comment