The weather has been pretty awful the past couple of weeks and it doesn’t look like breaking anytime soon! So much rain.. but the Island really needs it as reservoirs are critically low. So it is actually good news… just bad news for beachcombing. February turned out to be very mild and you could tell just how mild it’s been because there was hardly any snow on the mountains and it is the snow melt that gives Crete much of its water.
The far end of the main beach at Falassarna
Luckily and before all this rain kicked in, we had some lovely beachcombing days. In February Lisa, Debbie and I spent a day at Agios Apostoli and visited several beaches on the outskirts of Chania. We’ve all been there before but not for a while. There are no seashells to be found but it was a lovely warm and sunny day and we all enjoyed our long walks on the various beaches as well as a picnic lunch on the sand.
The Pink Sand at Falassarna is as stunning as it is at Elafonisi
This month, before the bad weather arrived we visited Falassarna for 2 weeks running. This was because there was so much to see and collect that we ran out of time. Both days we had glorious sunny weather, warm enough to be in our shorts and strappy tops. I was thrilled with all the shells I managed to collect, including a record number of my ‘Turtle Flipper’ shells which are not normally found on Falassarna beaches. The sand in parts of falassarna was so pink it rivaled Elafonisi!
The Fortress at the top of Ancient Aptera
A couple of weeks ago, for a change, Lisa, Debbie and I went out for the day around Stylos and ancient Aptera. The main sites are not open yet but we visited a few small archeological sites and then stopped for lunch at a very busy taverna in the centre of Aptera. As it was a Sunday and the weather was nice, it was full of Greek families as it’s their custom to eat out on Sundays. After lunch we drove higher, up to the fortress and enjoyed a cup of tea whilst admiring all the amazing views up there!
One of the views from the Fortress
The rest of my time, as always, I’ve spent creating my Seashell Mosaic Collage Paintings, concentrating on the most popular designs that take more time and effort to produce. I am pleased with what I have managed to achieve so far.
Entrance to an ancient tomb which we explored
Socially it’s still fairly quiet but I’ve nevertheless enjoyed a variety of evenings out at different venues. A fish and chip supper at Bicorna in Plaka made a nice change. Dog Pound Blues played at a taverna in Exopoli that we’ve never been to before and where four of us had dinner and I loved my tasty seafood pasta… and I danced my socks off because the tunes the band played were so good! That was a great night! I also joined friends at a St Patrick’s Day gig at the Apokoronas Brewery in Plaka, where Jeffrey’s band were a blast. But sadly the bar is so small and it was packed so we couldn’t really dance. But dance again we did, a few days ago in Gyalos in Kalyves when The Vibes and The Lions played again. Yes…. I absolutely love dancing!
Popular Seashell Mosaic of Girl picking seashells, 30x40cms
I am excited to be going back to the UK early Saturday morning when I will stay in Yorkshire for two weeks over Easter. Greek Orthodox Easter is always a week later than Easter in the UK and I will be missing it for the first time in 16 years! However I will be able to help my daughters Zoe and Emma, with child minding over the school Easter holidays. It will be fun and games all the way with Ralph and Neve in the first week and Arthur and Ava during the second week. So bring it on!