A while back...May 2014, I had the pleasure of taking a "girls trip" or "Mommy Get-Away" with some friends. My husband was recently returned home from a sixth month deployment and I was overdue for a little "girl time". We set off from the Venice Treviso airport on Mother's Day for a short flight into the Chania region (Chania International Airport) of Crete. Renting a car was easy, though slow going. We stayed in Kastelli, Kissamos, in a picturesque apartment/resort, where each night the Mediterranean sea sung us it's perfect lullaby. Although May is the off season, I thought it was a great time of year to visit this Grecian Island, because it afforded us more time with locals who were very welcoming and kind and lots of wide open space.We arrived in late in the afternoon, and enjoyed our first sunset. It was spectacular.Being the book nerd I am, I couldn't help but think of King Minos, his Minotaur and those many tributes from Athens, and though I found no labyrinth, I had a new appreciation and understanding as to why King Minos demanded tributes...

My first meal, a mojito and Greek Salad. On Our first full day, we set off to explore some of the beaches of Kissamos.Falassarna is a popular beach for tourists and locals during the summer months and because of the wind, it's a great place to wind surf.When we finally made it down we discovered it was deserted. (Another perk of the off season).While my friends worked on their tans, I sat beneath an umbrella, where I had my pick of umbrella and chair for €10,00.It was a windy day, which is not uncommon for this beach.After working up an appetite, we dined at Taverna Mouraki. Where we enjoyed this amazing view, and a free desert.We closed out our first full day, back at our resort with this sunset.Tomorrow I'll share, a tale about a 5,000 year old olive tree.

Falassarna Beach, Crete - Off Season, a (mostly) deserted paradise.