Elounda, Crete

We are staying in a small town East of Hiraklion, called Elounda. It is a small beach resort full of tavernas and apartments, looking out to sea, and backed by high mountains. There is a centre square over looking the sea, a harbour with brightly coloured fishing boats and the Island of Spinalonga out in the bay. The water is very calm here, almost like a lake, as there in an island just offshore, which almost joins up to the mainland at one end, linking the mainland with a causeway, the other end of the island has a narrow opening with Spinalonga in the middle. This made Spinalonga a good place to build a fortress to protect the inlet beyond.

We have been introduced to a few of the English 'locals', who own tavernas and bars in the town. Everyone is very friendly and keen to offer us advice on where to go and what to see.

On our first walk into the town, we sat on the harbour wall, and saw a loggerhead turtle swim by in the clear blue water! Two kingfishers flew past and sat on the ropes of a fishing boat and then a sea snake swam in from the sea and into the harbour wall. This was all in the space of about 10 minutes.
We are looking forward to exploring this island.