Walking into the wakacje.pl travel agency, we had no idea where we wanted to fly. We knew more or less where we didn’t want to go. And we knew when we could go. Crete won, specifically its own Mielno, namely Malia.
Our Cretan adventure started on Saturday with a trip to Pyrzowice. On Sunday at 2 AM, we flew out to Heraklion. After landing, we took a bus to Malia and our hotel.
Sun and heat in Crete
From day one, the weather decided to take us very seriously. The sun beat down with such dedication, it was as if it had a minimum quota to meet for the entire season.
The high temperatures meant we quickly mastered the art of migrating between the pool, the sea, and shaded spots. It made us realize that in Crete, air conditioning wasn’t a luxury, but a piece of strategic equipment.
The hotel pool became one of our favorite spots. We used it with utter devotion. Sometimes it was hard to tell if we were resting more in the water or shifting our lounge chairs toward the shade.
Sea as warm as a bath
The sea was exceptionally warm. So warm that getting into the water didn’t cause the traditional vacation thermal shock.
Thermal shock is that moment when a person wonders for a few seconds if they really needed that swim. Instead, we submerged ourselves with pleasure. We took every opportunity for some seaside relaxation.
The beach, the sea, the pool, and the shade made up our daily leisure itinerary. It was the kind of activity that left you so exhausted, the only reasonable solution was to rest.
Malia let us feel the true vibe of Crete. There were walks, relaxation, and Greek views. Of course, constantly scanning the area for shade became our primary objective.
Every shaded spot held almost the status of a tourist attraction for us.
Friday on a trip
Friday was a decidedly more ambitious day. We went exploring Knossos and Heraklion.
After a few days of beach bumming, this was almost a return to extreme sports for us. In Knossos, we learned the fascinating history of Minoan Crete. We saw the ruins of the famous palace, whose history is tied to the legend of the Minotaur and the labyrinth.
It was a nice change of pace from our beach laziness. It was an opportunity to see one of the island’s most important attractions. We found out that the ancient Minoans had a pretty good idea about building. But they definitely didn’t think about providing enough shaded areas.
Next, we explored Heraklion. We learned its history, saw the monuments, and visited the most important spots. It was an action-packed day full of walking.
We kept trying to find even the slightest bit of a cooler spot. Jola finally got to taste some fresh and well-prepared seafood. Thanks to that, we officially checked off one of our vacation goals.
After an intense day of sightseeing, we especially appreciated coming back to the hotel. The ability to switch back into relaxation mode was priceless. Our bodies quickly reminded us that their natural habitat during this vacation was a lounge chair.
The rest of our stay was defined by the sun, the warm sea, the pool, and resting. With each passing day, we handled the Cretan heat better and better. Searching for shade remained one of our most important activities.
Over time, we got more and more skilled at it. We could almost evaluate the quality of shade at first glance. We became specialists in the field of vacation field meteorology.
On Sunday, it was time to go back. After checking out, we still had the whole day to enjoy the all-inclusive package.
We spent this time by the pool, obviously. Some of us also went to say goodbye to the sea. It was our last chance to make the most of the vacation lifestyle.
Before returning to reality, we had a journey ahead of us that offered no pool, no all-inclusive, and no guaranteed weather.
We took a coach from the hotel to the Heraklion airport. From there, we flew to Katowice. We brought back a ton of memories, photos, a bit of a tan, and a heavy dose of the Greek sun.
To sum up
We left our vacation laziness in Crete. We left behind a few liters of sweat and probably a lot of energy spent searching for shade.
We came back rested, happy, and richer in memories. They will definitely stay with us for a long time. And above all, we returned with the conviction that you can truly relax on a vacation in Crete.
Provided you first find a suitably large patch of shade.
