Sweet Rethymno

Always great arriving into a new town with a proper and fun Youth Hostel filled with an eclectic mix of travelers. So it is in Rethymno, beautiful place with enormous town beach and good sunset views from the old Venetian Fort. A nice contrast to the sketchy hostel in Heraklion, which the guy here says is run by "the Greek Tarantino", which is funny because it rings true. Very relaxing, and fun cast of characters to drink with at night as well, many working for 4-5 Euro an hour during the day and early evening to prolong their stay here. The cheap raki has quite the bite, but as the manager of the hostel noted this morning, it is good every now and then to "clean your soul." Heh.

Plan to take it easy tonight and hike the Samaria Gorge tomorrow, which promises to be spectacular. Then Wednesday a few of us are going to rent a car for the day to hit the mountains and see the south, before I bid Crete a fond farewell on the 4th. I've already taken hundreds of photos of Greece with more to come, so it is going to be hard to narrow them down to any sort of reasonable number. But if that is the biggest concern, then - obviously - life is good. Or as the lady selling donuts on the beach would say: "It's extra good, baby."