This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)

I decided to visit Crete in winter, with a double stopover in Athens around New Year’s Day 2020. I did it for one week and solo. To get around I used (in addition to two domestic flights) both rental cars and public transportation. This trip fits into the list of those to very touristy but off-season places; one of my passions.

Below is the map of my itinerary

Athens tour

I spent one night and a few hours in Athens both on the outward and return trips. Unfortunately, there were fewer things to see than one would expect, especially if one excludes the visit to the Parthenon, which I had already done.

I must say that the post-meal digestive walk in downtown Athens with the Parthenon illuminated was as remarkable as the dinner.

I had been there before on a school trip; I have always been fascinated by Greece and was excited to go back when I grew up, even if only for a visit. I saw the Parthenon from outside and wandered around the neighborhood below(Plaka) where I had a memorable dinner.

Featured photo shows the historic Panathinaiko Stadium, also used at the first modern Olympics, also dating back some 2,500 years.

Visiting Crete in winter: in harbor bars with drunken American sailors

On the afternoon of December 31 I landed on the Island, in Chania, had dinner in the hotel with things bought around, and around midnight I headed downtown somewhat at random. I really had no idea what to find; I knew about the old harbor and imagined some more or less picturesque little bars, which I did indeed find, full of rowdy but harmless U.S. military personnel from the nearby base. No one considered me except the bartender of a pub who occasionally smiled at me, also amused by the situation, and I had two beers while observing the onset of others’ hangovers. It’s fun to observe other people’s merriment, but for a while, then you get bored.

I went to bed early because my visiting winter Crete would really start the next day, and I was excited about it.

Home set of travel The scent of the Mediterranean islands

Previous stop Visiting Malta, I can still entertain in English

Next stop Visiting Crete in winter, a cat takes a bidet

Trips taken, travel stories divided by continent

Countries visited in my travel stories

Anecdotes, divided by type in travel narratives

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Fabio Viroli

Ho sempre avuto tante passioni, ma da sempre più o meno latenti, le principali sono viaggiare e scrivere. Tra le altre cose ho una laurea in psicologia; ho fatto per più di 30 anni l’allenatore di basket; leggo tanti libri; sono stato molto appassionato di sport e di musica rock; e faccio improvvisazione teatrale

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