Herbalist, spirit of nature

Giannis, the herbalist of Kouses is having his little shop in Kouses, not far from Mires (Moires) and I was many times planning to give a stop there and this time I thought, now I will not miss it! Giannis has a nice shop "full of things" and huge knowledge about the herbs with years of experience. He is supplying teas, spices, organic cosmetics, drops etc. You can stop there for a tea and wonder around all his pots. His shop has a nice spirit! You can visit his website from HERE ...

Hiking in gorgeous Preveli gorge

Once getting in the end of the Preveli gorge, this paradise lagoon is waiting for you <3

I was hiking the Preveli gorge with my Austrian friends from camping Koutsounari, they talked already earlier to go to do this walk and once they were there nearby, I got a sms If I would like to come with them and of course I said a BIG YES! We spent few days parked next to the venecian bridge of Preveli which was built by the monks of Preveli. Harald has a good GPS map for walking so we were ready to go around the gorge. We had plenty of sun, but the day was VERY windy, but it didnt stop our happy hiking team. Thank you Renate and Harald to asking me with you, was wonderful walk and delicious vegetarian lasagne, not forgetting the "tiger-cake"!  Renate you are amazing magic woman! So here I have put many many photos and since I normally walk alone now there are also pictures from myself since Renate and Harald took many photos too...

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.

Random Crete

We have turned already at the good side of March and as we got some heavy rains, nature is loving it! Many flowers coming up and the island is turning more green, like this it would not be seen in summer. Last days been little here and there, so I just publish now some random photos that I could not make them just in one section. Now doing hiking with the doggy and observing the nature, not getting bored of this island, how could you!

Island opposite of Elouda, nice walks!

Happy Women´s Day!

Happy women´s day you all beautiful ladies, hyvää naistenpäivää teille kaikille kaunokaisille ;)

This photo is taken two years ago when I was in a campsite in Portugal. There was this amazing German lady who has bought a big bunch of red roses and bringing one rose to each woman who was there at the campsite! She knocked at my door and started to sing a German song (no idea what!) and when she was finished with the song she gave me a rose, she made my day! Notice: I do not have vases in my van, so I needed to make one out of a bottle, not so beautiful but it was doing the duty and the rose could continue it´s blossom ;)

Little Carneval in Elounda

In a beautiful sunny day in February 23th I was enjoying the little children´s carneval in Elounda. There were so many princesses and cowboys, I had a good laugh when watching these little kids singing and dancing in latin rythmn. Each kid could also sing on their turn to the microphone, was good entertain! See the colors of these little kings and queens ;)

Trekking in the Dead´s Valley, Kato Zakros

I was camping five days in Kato Zakros, the village I said I want to get back, since last time there were way too many mosquitos (even for a Finn like me!). You can read the earlier visit here (click the link). Soooo, finally I had chance to hike the Dead´s Gorge and I was walking trough it three days in a row with the doggy. Each time it showed me a new side, I felt like the Alice in the Wonderland, It was such a paradise! You could hear almost all the way getting down the beautiful sound of water, time to time the bells of the goats and then pure silence. Each time it looked different. First day I had more eyes in the big "scenes", second day I already made more attention for the beauty of the mother earth and third day just enjoying fully from all of its beauty. In winter there is water in the river and I needed to cross the river about 4-5 times, but it was no problem since there were big rocks to step, no wet feets! For the doggy it was perfect, she could dive in to the water almost all the way, she enjoyed it so much!

Happy days in Koutsounari

Back in the camping Koutsounari for four days was like coming home! Old friends Renate and Harald was still there and also one new couple from Austria Stepanie and Leo, didnt I learn more Austrian German again ;)! I learned Pancake is in Austrian "palatschinken" and I teached that pancake is in Finnish "lettu", so with this we could make a happy palatschinken-lettu party! And that was not our only party, It started already the arrival day by Renate´s deli welcoming party, then we had spagetti party a la vegetarian bolognese and as a last day Renate made a super delicious Valentine´s day cake - oh my - I will miss all these goodies and I think the doggy too ;). We had once again good laughter in a good company!

Dutys before the party - laundry time!

Amiras memorial

Many memorial monuments or places makes me silent, when you are aware of the cruelty that has happen in that place. Biggest silence in my life I experienced in Normandy France, when visiting the American Cemetary. Of course to follow the path of World War II in Normandy was in every way impressive, but thats again another story..

Previosly happened 5 - Odottamatta kääntäjäksi

Talvella 2011 kun olin opiskelemassa hopeasepän töitä Amsterdamissa, jouduin yllättäen kääntäjän hommiin ja en mihin tahansa sanastoon (!). Opettajani ja hänen miehensä remontoivat taloaan Amsterdamissa, samoissa tiloissa on myös tämä koulu ja olinkin siten helposti käytettävissä tuntien jälkeen...

My van - my home, my way of travelling and living

Beautiful spot in Barragem Idanha-A-Nova, Portugal

I present my van, my home, pictures from inside/outside, some technical information and what I think about "all you need in your camper/motorhome" no matter about the model or size. I do basicly ONLY free camping, it can be in the city or village, beach or mountains, lakes or by the rivers, you name it, "all" is possible. Campsites I use to do my laundry and sometimes just for a comfort of having long hot showers (yeah, I know, not so ecological of waisting so much water!). Fees of the sites are very different depending what you are looking for and some countries prices are way too high if thinking what you get back for your money. In Portugal you can find sites as low as 6-7 e / night including one person, camper and even electricity and in Croatia you may pay just for a car and tent 28 e / night (and I do not talk about five star campsites!)...

Amazing Aradena

*Notice bullet holes in the sign, so much seen in here!

Aradena (Aradaina) is as beautiful place as its history is definetely not the usual one! It was a settlement in the Roman and Venetian period, but it got totally destroyed by the Ottoman Turks. Later on it was getting reinhabited, but in the 40s it got abandoned due the vendetta. The two large families who lived there, exterminated eachother member by member, until it got a village with destroyed ruins. Aradena is in a region that they say that people still live by unwritten moral and ethical laws. Most of the impressive houses are now destroyed and evidence of the battle between the two families are the two seperate cemeteries, one cemetery to each family...

Epiphany, the celebration of 6 January

I was spending this day in Matala and could participate of this Greek celebration,Festival of Epiphany, or 'The Blessing of the Waters', is held every year on January 6 throughout all of Greece. It is the day of Jesus got babtized and this is the special occasion when many daring young Greek men brave the chilly waters to dive for a cross after it has been blessed by a priest and thrown into the water. They say the first man who recovers the cross is going to have good luck throughout the coming year. Priest throws the cross three times, but the first one who gets it gets the glory. The day long festival also features the blessing of small boats and ships, and later on affords entertainment, music, dancing and food to all those who are present. I was tasting first time Metaxa in my life (!!).

Was nice to see this village full of life, when the streets are usually empty this time of year. I was also told that last five previous years it has always been rainy, but this year we had luck, bathing in full sun, great!

Ceremony is held on these rocks, getting ready to start soon

Christmas and New Year in Crete, Matala

New Year at Matala Beach

Christmas we were having such a great time at the restaurant Petra & Votsalo, Matala. Eating, drinking and dancing, music was though played so loud that you could not have conversations, so you needed just to dance instead talking ;). Earlier at the day while I was speaking with my friend on the phone, I suddenly heard someone saying merry xmas in Finnish for me next to my van, I stopped my call and was running after this couple, I got to see this miracle, other FINNS were in Matala too! Kaarina and Pekka left three weeks earlier from Finland and they were travelling around with their car and had rented an appartment from Matala for few days. I told them that there was a party 24.12 at Petra and Votsalo restaurant and they came along too to spent xmas, was nice!

Peace & Love 2 Matala - hippies who came in Matala instead of Goa

I did write already earlier about Matala after the first visit and now im having some more pictures and stories to share since I was getting back in Matala...

Greek partytime

Camping Koutsounari was inviting us to have a Greek evening at their restaurant and wasnt that an evening! It was a fundraising evening to support young people to do sport. Thank you for the whole family at the campsite, you made a nice evening for us!

Days in Koutsounari

Beach photo, top of the mountain covered by snow!

Colder weather has arrived in Crete too! We stayed some fabulous days in Camping Koutsounari, weather was not the best, but other things were perfect. Could see how they work with olives, had good moments and party time with three other couples (Germany and Austria) and a Greek party with livemusic and of course the dance ;) (this photos I will add in the next update)..

Frangokastello to Chora Sfakion

Frangokastello castle was built by the Venetians in 1371-74 to deter pirates and to protect Venetian nobles and their properties. Official name was originally Castle of St. Nikitas, but since the local never accepted the Catholic foreigners they called the castle Frangokastello, meaning "Franks = the Catholic foreigners". The name eventually stuck and was adopted by the Venetians as well and today it still carry the same name. The castle is located next to see and could be a nice spot to stay in a sunny day, but I was not lucky with the weather so the road continued to Chora Sfakion - village nearby...

Plakias days

Canyon road Rethymnon - Plakias

Tsikoudia - Raki, Jamas for my mother!

No it´s not water - It´s Raki

Cretan Tsikoudia, locally known as Raki is a strong alcohol beverage made out of grapes and seems that everyone in here drinks it and produced it at home. Alcohol % changes quite some, it can be from 30%-60% alcohol by volume! Everyone who has been in Crete surely has come across to Raki.

So once again I got some, this time offered by the campsite....Yesterday evening all electricity went down and got back again this morning after 9 am which means I had pretty fresh night. 8 am 8 degrees and the lady of the campsite came to knock my door and was giving a bottle! She said - we are sorry about the electricity, here is a bottle of Raki for you, it keeps you warm ;) - Once again, Greek hospitality, thank you!

So I want to make a toast for my dear mother today on her birthday - Cheers Mom, Kippis Äiti - Jamas!