For those that know me, it’s no surprise that I picked the 3:10am flight out of Cairo via Athens to Chania, Greece. Why would I choose to brave the crazy Egyptian traffic at 12:30am (yes you read that correctly in this city of 300 million residents), fight keeping my dry contacts in all night and stave off being comatose from lack of sleep?
Well it’s 10am on a glorious Saturday and I’ve already staked out my spot along the old 7th century Byzantine fort ruins of this seaside paradise. A gentle breeze is cutting through the waves and sailboats are launching for a day at sea. I followed the sea wall to the ancient lighthouse protecting the fort and plopped down for some quiet time. Overlooking the harbor are quaint, outdoor cafes just begging you to slow down and enjoy the start of the weekend.
Since my apartment wasn’t available for checkin that early, my plan was to beeline for the harbor and explore a bit. I had travelled fairly light for my 5 week international adventure, donning only two book bags, so it was an easy decision. Plus having endured 100+ temps over the last 2 weeks, I was going to enjoy not baking in the early summer sunshine. And the beachy vibe was a refreshing release from the chaos, noise, aggressive street vendors and sandy confines in Africa.
In the distance, the mountains are also calling and I can’t wait to meet my next travel group tomorrow and get lost for a week of trekking in all new territory.
But first….. I just had to stop at one of the bustling cafes for fresh squeezed OJ, a strawberry smoothie and fresh baked croissants to truly get a first taste of this inviting culture! 🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷
FearlessAdventures 