Matala Beach

Matala beach
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Sunday morning we got up early to take a bus to the south coast to visit Matala beach, a former hippie hangout due to the groovy caves.  The beach is framed by rock slab with caves that were once used as Roman tombs.

We had a great time climbing up into and exploring the caves -- especially Aidan who tried to get into every nook and cranny and climbed as high as she could.

After we finished it was a lot warmer and so it was time to go swimming.  The water was really nice and clear.  We'd brought snorkel tubes and masks, so Aidan and Ainsley explored underwater and saw some cute blue fish.

Caves
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After sunbathing for awhile, we went and checked out the town.  Very small and touristy.  We all had some great gelato.

We headed back to Iraklio later that night.  Unfortunately Aidan and Ainsley both got sunburned but it was still a great day.  It was also Damon's last night with us as he flew back to Athens the next morning (then to London,then to Vancouver).  Later that same morning, Aidan and Ainsley hopped a bus eastward to Sitia, the most eastern city on Crete.  Sitia is pretty small and quiet.  There didn't seem to be a lot to see except check out some of the nearby beaches.  We stayed one night there before catching a ferry to Rhodes Town on the island of Rhodes (just west of Turkey).