Crete is a surprising place. With so much coastline, the beaches, views, and entrances and exits of the sun offer fulgent experiences at every turn. But as it turns out, discovered on one of our last Cretan adventures, the interior is equally as astonishing. Venturing east of Matala, we trekked to the hills just above the little seaside town of Myrtos, where Sarakina Gorge is located. The banana belt of Crete, this section of southern coastline is rumored to be the warmest place in all of Europe at this time of year. Indeed, the day warmed up quickly as we sipped fresh squeezed orange juice and enjoyed a delightful breakfast in Myrtos, soaking in the unique gardening vibe that the locals clearly were tuned to more than any other town we’ve visited on this southern Mediterranean island.
The town of Mytros
Gorges in Crete are a big deal… there are a lot of them. While Sarakina is not the largest, it’s rumored to be one of the most beautiful. With 500 foot cliffs of polished granite, black and white marble and verdant green palms, it did not disappoint. While technical climbing with ropes was not required, navigating some sections called for some bouldering and balancing, causing Lisa and Jones to settle into the sandy banks of a natural cistern as the path went straight up a polished boulder with chiseled handholds! Tuck proved to be quite a climber, dangling from ropes to get past some particularly tough sections (glad Mom stayed behind!!); Wescott and Otto almost always opted for the bouldering-up-a-cliff route, instead of the more well-worn path; Yve displayed a knack for finding the best path forward; and I tried to keep up :-).
Tuck navigating a crack with a pre-set rope
Lisa and I have a theory that sometimes going to a new country or far off destination is like a dress rehearsal for the next time you visit. Crete is for sure one of those places, with each experience leaving us craving for more. The diversity of culture, climates, topography, coastlines and atmospheres will undoubtedly harken us back again and again.
Here’s our hike in pictures:
Yve and Jones starting the hike on a deceptively serene staircase.
The entrance to Sarakina Gorge
Jones decided this was his stopping point as Yve ventures on.
The Kriopotamos river offers cool dips and some challenges as we ascend the gorge
Many points on the climb have chiseled hand and foot holds into the polished rock
Wescott taking a break from bouldering
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Me wishing I had a harness on a particularly tricky swing across a bulging boulder over the creek
Yve should be a climbing instructor to kids 🙂
Lisa and Jones going through a wedge in the rock wall
The light continuing to ply its magic in the depths of the gorge
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