swmchallenge
Knossos: The “Modern” Minoan Palace Near Heraklion
Just outside of Heraklion, the biggest city and capital of Crete, lie the ruins of Knossos: one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in the Western world. Knossos was home to the palace of King Minos, and thought to be the center of the extinct Minoan kingdom. It’s a place drenched in history so ancient,…
The Coastal Hike from Loutro to Hora Sfakion
Our stay in Loutro was short but sweet. We had just a single day, not even twenty-four hours, to bask in the quiet beauty of this tiny village. There are only two ways to access Loutro: either by boat, or by foot. And since we had taken the ferry in, we decided to hoof it…
Early Morning Hike From Loutro To Finikas Bay And Back
After waking up in Loutro, we went to the top of our guesthouse, just to make sure the town was as amazing as we remembered, and that yesterday hadn’t been some vivid dream. Clutching mugs of coffee, we watched the morning sun pour in over the cliffs, bathing the bay in a soft, warm light.…
The Villages of Loutro & Chora Sfakion
A splash of white at the bottom of the cliffs, the village of Loutro looks like someone spilled paint out of a bucket, then decided not to clean it up. “Nobody will see it anyway, all the way down there.” It’s not unreasonable, because without a boat, you never would see Loutro. This tiny, gorgeous…
Traditional Leather Processing Workshops Near Chania, Crete
Before tourism staked its claim, Chania was leather territory. For years, this had been the place to buy the famous tall, black leather boots of Crete, especially along Stivanandika Street. There’s still plenty of leather being sold on this street, but the workshops are gone, replaced by an unbroken lineup of identical tourist shops. If…
A Road-Trip from Chania into the Mountains
Throughout the two months we’ll be spending on Crete, our plan is to embark on a road-trip every week. The ultimate goal of our first excursion was the famous pink beach of Elafonissi, but we had plenty of time to make some other stops along the way. We didn’t even make it to the beach…
Beauty but no Gondolas: Chania’s Venetian Harbor
If you were hoping to see gondolas floating through the canals of Chania’s Venetian Harbor, we’re sorry to disappoint you. Although I’m sure any disenchantment you’re feeling won’t last, after you see the amazing promenade which rings the city’s small port. Chania doesn’t have any canals for gondolas to paddle, anyway, so they’d be pretty…
Three Spots In Chania Off The Beaten Path
One of the greatest things about slow travel is the discovery of spots you’d never run into, were you visiting for just a day or two. After having spent some time familiarizing ourselves with Chania, we discovered a few spots that are off the beaten path. Please keep in mind, a couple of these are…
Two Months on Crete… and the Reason We Visit Greece Every Year
We’re finally on the road again! After a long break of nearly six months, we packed our suitcases and left Valencia, to spend two months on Crete, in Greece. If you follow us on social media, you might have noticed that Greece is an annual destination for us. And there’s a reason for that. As…
Bannalp – An Insider’s Tip Near Lucerne + Alphorn
When thinking about Switzerland, the images which usually come to mind are the romantic scenes country life, beautiful old architecture, cheese and chocolate every where. But for me, the most exciting thing about the country is the sheer numbers of gondolas, funiculars, unique trains and cog railways. We love these unique forms of transportation, and…
