crete roadtrip finale: loving hania

Sandra, Al, and I all agreed Hania was our favorite place on Crete, so we returned to this gem of a seaside town for one final night to wrap up our Crete roadtrip. Next stop: the Island of Santorini!

crete roadtrip: samaria gorge

Sculpted by nature over millions of years, the 11 km hike through the Samaria Gorge that Sandra, Al, and I did is -- without a doubt -- one of the most spectacular experiences I've ever had in my life. I was left speechless by the indescribable beauty we experienced. At the end of the hike we took a delicious swim on a black sand beach in the crisp, crystal-clear Mediterranean Sea.

crete roadtrip: elafonissi

Located on Crete's extreme southwest coast, Elafonissi Beach is easily one of the top five most beautiful beaches on the planet. These photos attempt to capture our blissful experience on this leg of the roadtrip.

crete roadtrip: hánia

Al, Sandra, and I continued our roadtrip yesterday, heading this time to the city of Hánia. The Lonely Planet guidebook describes Hánia as "Crete's most evocative city, with its pretty Venetian quarter, criss-crossed by narrow lanes, culminating at a magnificent harbour. Remnants of Venetian and Turkish architecture abound, with many old townhouses now transformed into atmospheric restaurants and boutique hotels." The food I've had here has been - without exaggeration - some of the best I've ever had in my life. YUM. YUM. YUM!