Gorge, canyon, ravine, gully, gulch or a valley?!
Wednesday, September 28th: Crete, Greece
We got up before the sun and drove to Omalos to hike the Samaria Gorge. We arrived before the crowds and buses of tourists from Chania.
After buying our bus tickets for the return (Sougia to Omalos) and a sandwich for the trek, we were on our way.
We started at 1,230 meters above sea level and descended all the way down over 16 KM. The total journey took us around five hours.
We set a pretty fast pace at the start, scambling past the other hikers. It didn’t feel tough since it was all downhill, but our bodies felt it the next day.
The views along the way were beautiful, but we spent 99% of the time looking down at our feet to make sure we didn’t misstep on a rock and roll and ankle. It reminded us of Arizona, but wasn’t quite as picturesque as the narrows in Zion National Park.
We only saw a few people hiking up the gorge and briefly contemplated attempting it ourselves the next day before realizing what a terrible idea that was.
Though the hike was long, there were stopping points with picnic tables and water refill stations every 1 to 2 KM. We rarely stopped except for brief water breaks and a quick lunch where we shared the sandwichon slightly stale bread and a box of honey cookies.
It was hot, but a little overcast, and there was a chance of rain for the first time since we had been in Greece.
We arrived to the end of the gorge and made the 3 KM walk to Agia Roumeli, a village only accessible by foot or boat. There were a handful of restaurants and we ate at Paralia before the rest of the hikers funneled in. We shared tzatziki, a gyro plate and dolmades, which also came with stuffed zucchini flowers. This batch of dolmades included tomato, which added a nice flavor to them. The bees disturbed us while we ate, but the staff brought lit espresso and the smoke sent them flying.
Afterwards, we researched the scientific or geological difference between a gorge, canyon and ravine… we learned that they are all essentially the same.
Then we had a few hours to kill before the ferry departure. We took a dip and then lounged on the beach.
Three ferries arrived and we were trying to figure out which to get on. The crew was not particularly helpful and refused to answer any questions. We boarded the last and smallest … and fastest… ferry to Sougia where all of the tour buses awaited our arrival.
We had a one hour bus ride along the winding road back to Omalos. Everyone was tired from the long day and the bus was quiet, except for the loud group in the back (maybe Ukrainian?) that spent the whole journey - ferry and bus - talking too loudly and annoying everyone.
We finally arrived back at our car. Matt took a pee (an important detail for tomorrow’s adventure) and we drove back to the AirB&B.
We woke up in the middle of the night at the arrival of our wedding portfolio and slideshow.
Accommodations: AirB&B, Kissamos, Crete, Greece
