THE SPOT

Tag: Greece

  • Chania – Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa island: Blue Water, Blue Skies and Blue Bridges

    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 Again… money withdrawn, but no ticket emailed to me.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.

    Gramvousa – alone time
    Gramvousa with people

    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.

    Balos Lagoon

    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.

  • Chania – A Birthday Glow & A Sunset Flow

    Day 3 in Chania was as beautiful as my birthday on the 16th.

    First thing I did when I woke up? Straight to the beach. No breakfast, no second thoughts. Crete is full of beautiful places, and today’s choice was Kladissos Beach — about 30 minutes on foot from the Venetian Harbor.

    Recommendation number one: don’t walk in the hot sun. Apparently, 10 a.m. in August in Crete is hot enough to turn my usually sun-loving self into a sweating, disheveled mess. Not cute. Not even a little. But I powered through, because vibes.

    Honestly, the walk was worth it. The beach was basically empty. Just one other person there. I spread out on my towel, let my body bake a bit, then eventually went into the water.

    And here comes recommendation number two: if you go to a stony beach, make sure your feet aren’t sensitive little drama queens. Mine are. I stumbled and fell multiple times trying to get out of the water. Graceful? No. Entertaining? Probably. Also, heads up — once other people started showing up, there were a few surprise boobs and butts around. So yeah. Be mentally prepared.

    Anyway. Cinematic moment time — look at this view:

    Kladissos Beach

    Who wouldn’t enjoy the pointy stones here?

    I slept again, because? What the hell else would I do?

    After a few hours, I made my way back to Chania, wandered around looking for a supermarket, got some bread and salami, made myself a sad little sandwich, and watched Modern Family.

    Then I passed out. Because… what else is there to do, really?

    Woke up later with a bit more energy — today was boat ride day! A sunset one. Fancy. I got ready fast, threw on a dress, and headed to the Harbor. Put the address into Google Maps, and of course, it sent me to the completely wrong side. Love that for me. By the time I figured it out and speed-walked all the way back, I barely made it.

    Side note: stop using Google Maps for walking in Chania. I swear I get more lost with it than without it.

    The boat ride itself was honestly beautiful. Warm air, soft wind, sunset glow, and even a little bit of history. The captain told us about how sailors used to quarantine on a nearby island before they were allowed into the Venetian Harbor. Kinda eerie, kinda cool.

    Took too many photos. Felt like a movie.

    Sunset on the boat ride
    Boat ride
    Chania’s Venetian Harbor at night

    When we got back, I went to get dinner and finally — Moussaka. The most Greek meal ever. And it was a full-blown experience. Layers of flavor, spices, vegetables, comfort, happiness — all baked together. I actually might’ve ascended for a second.

    What luck!

    The drink made for sinners – on a diet- Strawberry Daiquiri

    Then came the final mission of the night: Strawberry Daiquiri. I searched. I found. It was half the price of yesterday’s and tasted like redemption.

    That’s it. Short and sweet. Very well-fed.
    See you soon.

  • Chania – Part 2 Freedom

    So, here we go!
    Second day in Chania. I woke up in my king-sized bed. I loved it. It was almost 8 a.m. on a Monday. The 16th, to be exact — my birthday. With immense pride, I made my way to the bathroom.

    Sidenote: Did I tell you that you’re not allowed to flush toilet paper in Greece?
    Sorry, for the sidenote.

    Anyway — on my first day in paradise, I decided to explore Chania a bit. But of course, it wouldn’t be a great holiday without a beach. So I Googled the closest beach to me and found…

    Paradise…

    I enjoyed it so much, even though I’d gotten up at 7 a.m., got ready, and walked there in 10 to 15 minutes. On the walk to the beach, I just took in the infrastructure, the houses, and the apartment buildings. So different, yet so beautiful. I loved every step, every flower — hell, even every dog dookie I found on the path to the beach.

    I arrived around 8 a.m. and simply… chilled. After all the exams, the stress — and best of all, on my birthday — I just enjoyed my own company. No men, no friends, no family. Just me. Just what I needed.

    I took in the sun and even went into the water. To make sure no one would steal my phone, money, or hotel key, I had bought a little phone case I could take into the ocean.

    I stayed until around 10, when the families, couples, and other tourists started making their way to the beach. I quickly packed my bag and made my way back to the hotel.

    Goodbye, Nea Chora Beach.

    Fast forward

    Fast forward.
    Hello, breakfast. After that amazing time at the ocean, I finally had to eat. I went to the hotel’s recommendation — Phyllo, located just a couple of minutes away. It was EPIC. I chose coffee, even though I don’t usually drink it, but since I got up early on not only my birthday and the first day of vacation — I deserved it.

    What I also deserved? That lovely pita bread sandwich I had. The flavors were breathtaking.
    Just look at this:

    I devoured it quickly and, honestly, left the restaurant as fast as I could. It was a small establishment with way too many customers. I was full, so what now?

    Back to the hotel, of course. Because what else is there to do on holiday but sleep?

    An hour later, I was awoken by the cleaning lady. She wanted to clean, so I had to leave again. Where to go now — half asleep at that?

    I decided to walk to the harbor and join the rest of the tourists. I took as many pictures as I could, stood on the observation platform, walked a lot, and just soaked in the Vitamin D. I swear I could feel the sun building up in my skin. And I mean, who wouldn’t love all this beauty?

    An hour later, I was awoken by the cleaning lady. She wanted to clean, so I had to leave again. Where to go now — half asleep at that?

    I decided to walk to the harbor and join the rest of the tourists. I took as many pictures as I could, stood on the observation platform, walked a lot, and just soaked in the Vitamin D. I swear I could feel the sun building up in my skin. And I mean, who wouldn’t love all this beauty?

    After about an hour, I made my way back to the hotel. The cleaning lady had left, I laid down, turned on another episode of Modern Family, and slept a little more.

    A couple of hours later, I woke up to music and chatter from the streets. I got up, put on some makeup, and picked my most beautiful dress. I wanted to celebrate myself.

    I walked onto the busy streets and found a restaurant that I quite liked.

    My birthday dinner… Tzatziki

    Greek Tzatziki

    And the main dish was the meat-filled pita dish called Spanakopita. It was delicious fresh, seasoned and very enjoyable. YUMMY. I ate like a Queen and felt like it as well.

    And for the main dish, a meat-filled pita — Spanakopita. It was delicious, fresh, seasoned, and very enjoyable. YUMMY. I ate like a queen and felt like one too.

    Afterwards, I left the restaurant on a mission: to find my favorite drink — a Strawberry Daiquiri. My favorite bar back home didn’t have a mixer anymore, so they stopped making it. Sad. So I walked around the harbor and was talked up by a host — as is common in many Southern European countries. After he said they did have Strawberry Daiquiris, I sat down and waited for my favorite drink.

    I got it. I enjoyed it. And then… almost cried.
    The drink was 12€.
    I will never sit down in a restaurant again and order something without asking how much it costs or at least checking the menu.

    A very expensive birthday for a semi-broke student.

    A very expensive birthday for a semi-broke student.

    Here it is, the drink that broke my bank account.
    Red as the devil.

    And that was it — my birthday, and my freedom day in Chania.

    More to come!

  • 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.