It has been a bit of a mission to get to Gavdos…lots of ferries…lots of not-a-lot-of-cycling!
So….after a very relaxing day in the gorgeous bluetro Loutro…we were pleased to get back on the ‘road’ today!!
But first of course…another ferry! A short hop..on a ‘passenger-only’ ferry to Hora Skafion.
Another Anendyk ferry!
Funny in that I am just recovering from a bit of an issue with them!
Firstly….these relatively short-hop ferries are unusually expensive!
NB Ferry prices in Greece vary wildly! If they are part of the ‘national transport network’ they are incredibly good value (subsidised). But if they are not….they can be surprisingly expensive. And the ferries which potter along the South coast of Crete…serving villages which are essentially closed during the winter (ie essentially for tourists)…including Loutro!…are EXPENSIVE,
And I had a bit of an issue with Anendyk! After many, many ferries in Greece I have never been charged for a bicycle. And true to form…Palaiochora to Agia Roumeli…Agia Roumeli to Gavdos…no charge. No surprise! But then on the boat from Gavdos to Loutro the guys on the boat wanted another 30 Euros..for the bikes!!
I thought it was a scam
So I wrote to the company! Only to be told I should have been charged on all their ferries!! Hahaha!
And so it was today! 6 euros for the 15 minute ride to Hora Skafion…and another 11 euros for each bicycle!!!!
Left a bit of a bad taste…given…ALL the ferry trips around – and to and from – Greece….to Italy etc……..when bikes have been free. (In Croatia…NB..they do charge…50% of the normal fare for a bike! Fair enough..when it is 100% consistent).
Anyway…I digress…!
From our ferry landing at Hora Skafion……
…it was up, up….
…..and up….
…a climb of over 1,100m…..
…and wonderful!!
“Gorge”-ous even….
But as ever…what goes up..must come down…
What a great day of cycling!
…up and down….
….across an extraordinary landscape…
Heaven really!
And then a lovely long descent to Rethymno.
Now…without looking it up…I am fairly sure I have stayed here before…but down the beach somewhere!
Today we are staying in the heart of the old town.
What a place!
Really good feeling….
…in the old town….
…clinging to the walls of the old (16th century) fort nearby…
…complete with old Mosque….
Venetian harbour…
Really?
This is some place!!!
So funny when one ‘discovers’ a place one has never heard of (especially when I have been here before…haha!)
But yes..I’d come back here!
