Last spring it was apparent I was getting burn out, worn out, and needed a solid get away reset which I've never done. We talked about it and I asked around and a Christian yoga friend, Brooke, told me about this gal Alison that leads various retreats. She told me about one in California this summer, I looked up her website and saw Crete in September... yes please that's exactly what I needed. Got signed up and flight booked. Then end of summer happened and moving came into the picture (not planned) and I feared that the timing was going to be really bad, but in reality it was exactly what my mind and body needed to make it through the whole moving out and selling our home process.
Kyle had traveled the week before and that actual week and was out of state when I left. I got the kids to school and arranged for their rides home until Kyle was returning from his work trip later that evening. I headed to the airport about 11am. Had three flights to get to Crete. Minneapolis to Atlanta was first up.
Then the long flight from Atlanta to Athens, overnight - 10.5 hours.
Goal was to get some sleep, didn't get much but a few nap sessions after dinner.
Long Island, leaving flying over land.
Many hours later we were nearing our destination and breakfast was served.
Started to fly over Greece, little islands popping up and gorgeous blue water!
The Gulf of Corinth... like the BIBLE! So cool to be in this area of history.
Made it to Athens, it was the next day - Friday morning. I had the most amazing bagel on the planet! For reals! It was an asiago bagel filled with ham and cheese. Oh so good. I did a walking mile through the airport to hit my mile goal for the day.
Then we loaded this little propeller plane to head to the island of Crete. I was a little worried my bag wasn't on the plane. The attendant on the delta flight listed of destinations and said anyone going to "..., Crete, ..." does not need to retrieve their bag, but everyone else did. However my tracker said it was at a carousel in Athens... but also once I landed in Athens I was taking sky express over to Crete not delta.
This was just an hour or so flight. The windows were SO dirty which made for not so great photos, but I loved looking out and seeing all the islands in the sea. Coffee and cookie, and a little nap.
There's Crete!
Touched down and YAY my bag DID make it, woohoo! I met up with Denise another gal that was going to the yoga retreat I was going to, we connected ahead of time and she was going to hitch a ride with me to our house. Took a shuttle to get the rental car and adventure starts! I was so looking forward to driving a little manual car... didn't quite think about all the hills I'd be on, but it was fun. Took me over a day to figure out all the quirks, especially the darn reverse. I hit a rough spot on the way, thinking I was in first and it kept dying on me realized when I did finally figure out reverse which was lifting up the handle I was actually in 3rd gear when it kept dying on me.
We made it to the retreat house! There were still a handful of gals that hadn't arrived, but it felt SO good to settle in after that loooonnnngggg day of travel.
The house was a seven room house, some room were doubles, some rooms were singles and one room had four bunks. Most of us had our own bathroom to a room. Well each room had a bathroom, so the four gals in the bunk had to share a bathroom. I had a roommate that I met later that night.
My room and welcome surprise.
I hopped in the pool right away, a little small to do laps but felt good to swim. Amazing view!
And of course had to fly my drone for an elevated view.
Our place, you can see me on my room's balcony.
So I flew into Chania (pronounced Han-ya the CH just makes an H sound), then it was roughly 1.5 hour drive west to the coast northwest side of the island where our house was in Falasarna. I loved that it was so remote and peaceful. Surrounded by olive trees.
We had a light dinner of charcuterie at the house enjoying the beautiful sunset; then night yoga to kick off the start of the retreat. A couple more gals arrived later that evening.
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