The weather remained sunny and warm for the whole of Easter Weekend. I was out and about socializing and joining in the celebrations for most of it! On Good Friday I was in my local taverna Vangeli’s from around 5pm, intending to stay only for a couple of hours but actually not leaving until 9.30pm.
With Solveig & Lisa. After midnight in Plaka Square with the bonfire raging behind us.
On Easter Saturday ‘The Vibes’ were playing at Vangeli’s and so right away there was a party atmosphere going on. After the gig finished, they lit the traditional bonfire to burn Judas at midnight. Bangers were going off all night long. Some were so loud they made everyone regularly jump with fright! Apart from 2020 and 2021 during covid, I have spent many years of traditional Easter Saturday’s in Plaka Square. But this year the fireworks display was spectacular. It felt like New Year’s Eve all over again! It goes without saying that it was indeed a long night with much alcohol consumed and I think I staggered home sometime during the small hours of Easter Sunday morning.
Judas is visible before the fire takes hold
We booked Easter Sunday lunch for six of us at the main taverna in the square of Kokkino Chorio village and I have to say it was very disappointing. The food was scarce, very average and way overpriced. The service was awful (only one waiter – poor Yorgos!) and the lamb and potatoes were cold. We won’t be going there again! We left as soon as we were able and decided to try and redeem the day by treating ourselves to dessert at Francoise in Almyrida. Our table in Kokkino Chorio had been in the shade and the breeze meant we felt progressively colder as the afternoon wore on. Crepes and coffee at Francoise in the sunshine went a long way to dampening our disappointments.
Easter Sunday Dessert treat at Francoise in Almyrida. Solveig, Me, Chrissie and Lisa
After more than 4 years of searching, my friend Debbie has finally found an apartment she wants to move to in Vamos. The Airbnb industry has totally shrunk the long term rental market here, making suitable places few and far between. So I spent all day on the Thursday before Easter and again on Easter Monday, helping her move as much of her stuff as we could. Let me tell you – it’s no easy task moving into these traditional Greek houses. Vehicular access is pretty challenging at the best of times and virtually non-existent at others. We got one hell of a workout with all the lifting and climbing of steps to actually reach the tiny apartment. But it’s all going to be so totally worth it!
Made for Robert’s birthday – His star sign in Seashell Mosaic on Sand
It was my Dutch friend Robert’s birthday a couple of weeks ago and what a great evening that was! He’d booked the lovely Italian in Plaka for around 25 of his close friends to enjoy a delicious selection of Italian meats, cheeses, breads and delicacies…ooh and the lovely Italian wine! Several hours later, when we’d all had enough to eat, we walked down to Vangeli’s where they were holding the regular Monday night karaoke. It was well after midnight and I had drunk so much wine, that I allowed myself to be persuaded (like you do!) to sing with Robert’s sister, Helen. But we had a real laugh and the whole evening was such good fun and with such good company! I remember finally falling into bed at around 2.30am.
One of Kissamos’ beaches on another beachcombing trip
I can’t quite believe how many tourists there are here on Crete already… and since the beginning of April. I don’t remember it being this busy on the roads this time last year? Our friends Solveig and Giers are back and joined us for all the Easter celebrations, which was lovely.
Since my last post, Debbie and I have continued avidly beachcombing and luckily Lisa managed to join us on a couple of them. The weather for each of these trips has been pleasantly sunny and warm, although tempered sometimes by an accompanying breeze. Cool! This is most agreeable for this time of year because we all don’t want the summer to start yet or the temperatures to rise too soon. So we’ve been back to Falassarna, Georgioupolis, Skaleta, Stavros and Kissamos.
View taken from the ‘Beacon Chapel’ at Anopolis and showing the pretty village of Loutro far below
David’s walk to Anopolis on the South Coast was interesting. We trekked up high to an isolated ‘beacon chapel’ where the surrounding views were spectacular! You could see the pretty village of Loutro far below. We noticed some vultures nearby and decided to remain very quiet and still, watching them. They must have wanted to take a closer look at us, because they flew so low right over us and wow! It was the closest I’ve ever been to a wild vulture! Interestingly, the ‘big bird’ Debbie and I found at Georgioupolis after a storm, David identified as a cormorant… which makes more sense than it being a vulture, as we had first thought.
Taken from the bridge which spans it – the mighty Aradena Gorge
Afterwards we took a slight detour to the bridge which spans the awesome Aradena Gorge. This bridge even has a platform at the side of it and half way along, for bungee jumping. I would not like to drive across it because you can see through the gaps to the deep gorge below… although we noticed the goats didn’t seem to mind, as if they crossed it regularly!
I can’t say it often enough. I live on a stunningly beautiful and wonderful Island. 🙂
On a recent beachcombing trip – Where the stream meets the sea at Georgioupoli’s long & sandy beach
