Crete

A first trip to Crete… and what a magical place. Chania is the perfect Mediterranean port. Where else would you walk around the harbour or an old town and actually think that EVERY restaurant deserved a visit; so friendly, and the ones we ate in served some of the best holiday food ever. Full marks to Sally our leader for the choice of menus; the Mezze were almost a meal in themselves and we had such a range over the week. The wine is another story – I would suggest spending a bit more and avoiding the house wines!!

As ever, the thing that makes the holiday is the people, and we had a great group from a variety of backgrounds and interests. A part of our party was a group within a group; friends together who shared an interest in singing. Monteverdi in the ruined monastery on the Akrotiri peninsula is a memory that will linger.

The walks were varied and often spectacular; coast, country and mountainside. The highlight was probably the Samaria Gorge on our “rest day” – but who wants to relax and read a book anyway!

Another highlight was the “service bus”; actually luxury coaches that were surplus after the Athens Olympics. What a way to travel in style to and from many of our walks.

Overall this would rate as one of our most enjoyable Rambler’s Worldwide breaks – the perfect place for a week in springtime.