Day 5: August 24

We spent the night here :)

Eastern Crete is wild-wild. There are fewer cars, fewer villages, and fewer people here. I really like it here. Along deserted roads lined with olive groves, we drive to Alona Beach.

The beach exceeded all our expectations. It has such beautiful white sand, amazing crystal-clear water, and very few people. We don’t snorkel; we just enjoy the sea. There is no shade at all on the beach, and the few visitors who come here bring umbrellas. We lie under the cliff, where there is a tiny patch of shade.

Soon we continue on our way. En route, we pass an abandoned tower-type solar power plant. I didn’t even know such things existed; it was Volchiy who noticed it and explained to me how it works.

We stop briefly to swim at Ammoudi Beach. Here the water is ordinary already, not at all as magical, but overall the beach is pleasant.

Our hotel is located in the small village of Tsoutsouros by the sea. We get there by a winding mountain road. At the reception is a plump lady who speaks Russian with a Georgian accent. And Volchy thought she was from Odessa :)

The hotel room is so-so, but there is a gorgeous balcony here with chairs and a sea view. We buy beer at the supermarket and drink it with traditional Cretan rusks. We didn’t like the rusks; I think it’s because we don’t know how to use them properly :) They are used to make a popular Cretan snack called dakos.

In the evening we swim at our beach; after all, it’s great when the sea is so close. The water is warm, but getting out of the sea is cool and windy. We run home wet because we forgot the towel.