Carnival in Crete

In Greece the carnival dates  are tied to Greek Orthodox Easter which is usually different from Western Easter. Every few years, both calendars will coincide, but this year it is one week later. Greece has long traditions with carnivals, for example in Patras (in mainland) ranks in the top three carnival celebrations in the world with it´s 180 years traditions.

So it was nice to me see this, even in this smaller city of Ierapetra. People were cheerful and enjoying the time as much as I did with the doggy :)

Carnival in Ierapetra

On Sunday we had carnival in Ierapetra and my doggy was a real girly like. The English neighbor lady from their camper came to take a picture from the doggy, a funny picture to send to their son who had just his birthday. I was told after words that she has become now a famous girl, her photo has reached even the White House (yes, the one in Washington!).

Her photo has been printed to a Greek school where a girl was telling that she used to be a stray dog and having now a new life in the camper. The mother of the girl, also an English lady showed the photo of the dog to her private Greek teacher and this teacher was so surprised to see this photo and asked her - How do you know THIS dog? She got also surprised and told that the photo was sent to her by the lady who actually took this photo (my neighbor lady) and the teacher told her - I also now this dog, I saw her at the carnival with the blond girl!

At the carnival numerous amount of people where taking photos of her or just came to pet her and proudly she carried her beautiful new carnival look :)

More photos from the carnival itself coming little later!

Ierapetra today

...well not actually today, but some days ago! Beautiful sunny day to wonder around the town, watching sea, having a coffee and just enjoy. This town is of course living much from the tourism, but not only that. It is nice to see that this town lives in winter too! Many bars, tavernas and shops are open all year around, what a pleasure!

Welcome to the most southern town of Europe!

Our doggy friend

I came extremely happy when I met today this boy I met already last year here in Ierapetra. Last year he was a skinny boy without a collar and had still his balls. Now he looks good and obviously not having just a street life! He had already this damage in his face before, but now he was happily running around the beach, wagging his tail and loving petting <3.

First 1000 km on Crete

Jassu everyone,

It´s been so nice to be back in Crete and weather has been more or less beautiful and December has started great! After the one week rest in Tsoutsouros we went to Ierapetra, the most southern city of Europe, spent few days in Koutsounari beach and up we went again to Elounda and Agios Nikolaos. I have a Finnish friend living there and we spent again nice evening together. I guess the only who was not so pleased was the cat in the house, totally not thrilled to get the doggy in the house! Well, they actually did well and I am happy that my dog is scared of cats, so there was a peace in the house of my friend.

Like the title said, first 1000 km done, tells already that I have made already some touring and now working on the photos. See you in Matala, peace!

Stormy day in Ierapetra

I wanted to see the Carneval of Ierapetra in March, but unfortunaly the parking turned out to be a little sea, so road needed to go on! When I arrived to the parking, I could see that sea is showing his little wilder side, but was still okay. So having a beer in the bar, coming later back to the car and it was clear that the water has raised more! Well, one night in the parking and the next day car was totally in seasalt - needed to find a place to wash the biggest salt away! But my car sure didnt get that much hits as the car below (normally when visiting Ierapetra, I would park where this car was...). So watch out where you park, it can turned a suprise!

view from my car, yes it is a parking, not a lake.

Ierapetra, southest city of Europe

Ierapetra is located southeast of Crete and its the most southern city of Europe and above all it has 3101 hours of sunshine per year and is Greece's sunniest city! So I guess I will spend more days in this coming winter in the neighbourhood of Ierapetra!

Tourist season is really over now in here, so there is room in every place you go in this time of year. Good thing is that you can basicly park every where, in places that in summer would be impossible. Bad side is if you want night life - there is none, but you can still find good local taverns which are open all year - thank goodness!!

Parking at the port of Ierapetra