Results for "Colmars-les-Alpes+|+127+>+353"
831 results found.
Marchés de Noël en Alsace: transports en commun ou voiture? English translation pending
Bonjour,
Je souhaite partir en week end prolongé au mois de décembre, un vend/sam/dim ou sam/dim/lundi afin de voir les marché de noël de la région: strasbourg, colmar, riquewihr, ribeauvillé, keysersberg, eguisheim, obernai.... Je suis surtout intéressée par les marchés de noël autres que strasbourg et colmar que j'ai déjà vu l'année dernière.
Voilà mon gros dilemme : j'habite en région parisienne et j'hésite entre y aller en train (tgv) ou en voiture. Comme je n'ai jamais fait d'aussi long trajets en voiture, je serais à priori plus pour le tgv. Mais du coup, je me demande si tous les petits villages cités sont facilement accessibles en transports en commun et si c'est pratique ? J'ai vu qu'il y avait une liaison ter entre strasbourg / colmar mais pour le reste... ?
Que me conseillez-vous ? la voiture ou le tgv + transports en commun (train, bus) ?
Merci d'avance pour vos réponses !!!
Je souhaite partir en week end prolongé au mois de décembre, un vend/sam/dim ou sam/dim/lundi afin de voir les marché de noël de la région: strasbourg, colmar, riquewihr, ribeauvillé, keysersberg, eguisheim, obernai.... Je suis surtout intéressée par les marchés de noël autres que strasbourg et colmar que j'ai déjà vu l'année dernière.
Voilà mon gros dilemme : j'habite en région parisienne et j'hésite entre y aller en train (tgv) ou en voiture. Comme je n'ai jamais fait d'aussi long trajets en voiture, je serais à priori plus pour le tgv. Mais du coup, je me demande si tous les petits villages cités sont facilement accessibles en transports en commun et si c'est pratique ? J'ai vu qu'il y avait une liaison ter entre strasbourg / colmar mais pour le reste... ?
Que me conseillez-vous ? la voiture ou le tgv + transports en commun (train, bus) ?
Merci d'avance pour vos réponses !!!
Marché de Noël en Alsace English translation pending
nous aimerions faire le marche de noel cette annee, est-ce la 1ere semaine de décembre la plus interessante et quels sont les plus beaux villages autour de Strasbourg,
y a t-il des chambres d'hotes dans cette région ?
merci pour vos renseignements
Endroits insolites à visiter à New York? English translation pending
Hello,
Je vais à NYC durant 4 jours mi aout, aussi pouvez vous me conseiller sur les endroits insolites (hors endroits touristiques connus et rtéputés) à faire sur NYC svp. Genre un bar sur un toit d'un immeuble avec vue imprenable, croisière spécifique, restaurant de folie, etc etc
Merci
PS : je pense aller voir un match des Yankees et aller à Fire Island entre autres choses
Je vais à NYC durant 4 jours mi aout, aussi pouvez vous me conseiller sur les endroits insolites (hors endroits touristiques connus et rtéputés) à faire sur NYC svp. Genre un bar sur un toit d'un immeuble avec vue imprenable, croisière spécifique, restaurant de folie, etc etc
Merci
PS : je pense aller voir un match des Yankees et aller à Fire Island entre autres choses
Court séjour en Alsace English translation pending
Nous partons en France avec notre fils de 10 ans pour les vancances de Noel et nous voudrions visiter l'alsace. Que nous suggérez vous pour un séjour de 3 à 5 jours? Qeul moyen de transport est le meilleur pour se déplacer dans la région ? Est-il aussi possible passer une journée en allemagne?
merci de votre aide
merci de votre aide
Coût du vol Saigon-Bangkok? English translation pending
salut a tous, en ce moment au vietnam, qui peut me dire combien coute un billet aller simple de ho ci min a bangkok...en euros ou collars merci a tous
Baden-Baden en Allemagne English translation pending
🙂 ayant prévu de séjourner quelques jours à Baden Baden début novembre, merci de me donnez des conseils de visites, de resto dans la ville et dans les alentours ainsi qu'à Strasbourg
Guides (livres) francophones sur Oman et Dubai? English translation pending
bonjour
est ce qu'il existe des bons guides en francais sur les emirats arabes unis et le sultanat d'oman ? s'il n'y en a pas, quel guide anglophone est le plus pratique ?
merci !
Connaissez vous le Gumcufassa? English translation pending
Dans la série moeurs étranges:
Une tribue Africaine vivant dans le nord de la Côte d'Ivoire près de la ville de Korthogo, les M'Bouacoutou, dont les derniers représentant furent massacrés entre 2002 et 2003, pendant la guerre civile initiée par les troupes du FPI sous l'ère Gbagbo, avait de biens étranges moeurs. Vivant dans une région aride et peu propice aux cultures, il ont développé au cours des siècle une bien étrange spécialité culinaire: Le Gumcufassa. C'est en fait un succulent met à base de rhus acocksii sumac (autrement dit, une espèce de basilic Africain) mariné pendant 48h dans du fassa (excrément) d'éléphanteau, cuit à l'étouffé! Selon Philippe Corties, directeur de l'agence Miriade des étoffes, située à Colmar, ce plat était servi quatre fois par semaine lors des traditionnels rites religieux de la Gwampka (sacrifice d'un âne), célébrant les dieux M'Boua qui protègeaient le village. 'Quel dommage que tribues disparaissent chaque jour sur terre car des traditions et la diversité qui font de notre planète un fabuleux fourre-tout, laissent chaque jour un peu plus un grand vide universel qui uniformise la race humaine et tend à la rendre lisse et sans goût...et croyez-moi, pour l'avoir gouté, le Gumcufassa en avait du goût!' (propos de Philippe Corties). Et quel goût! Enfin, voilà peut-être un plat que beaucoup ne regretteront pas d'avoir jamais gouté!
Claude Queirac (Géo Mag intranet)
Une tribue Africaine vivant dans le nord de la Côte d'Ivoire près de la ville de Korthogo, les M'Bouacoutou, dont les derniers représentant furent massacrés entre 2002 et 2003, pendant la guerre civile initiée par les troupes du FPI sous l'ère Gbagbo, avait de biens étranges moeurs. Vivant dans une région aride et peu propice aux cultures, il ont développé au cours des siècle une bien étrange spécialité culinaire: Le Gumcufassa. C'est en fait un succulent met à base de rhus acocksii sumac (autrement dit, une espèce de basilic Africain) mariné pendant 48h dans du fassa (excrément) d'éléphanteau, cuit à l'étouffé! Selon Philippe Corties, directeur de l'agence Miriade des étoffes, située à Colmar, ce plat était servi quatre fois par semaine lors des traditionnels rites religieux de la Gwampka (sacrifice d'un âne), célébrant les dieux M'Boua qui protègeaient le village. 'Quel dommage que tribues disparaissent chaque jour sur terre car des traditions et la diversité qui font de notre planète un fabuleux fourre-tout, laissent chaque jour un peu plus un grand vide universel qui uniformise la race humaine et tend à la rendre lisse et sans goût...et croyez-moi, pour l'avoir gouté, le Gumcufassa en avait du goût!' (propos de Philippe Corties). Et quel goût! Enfin, voilà peut-être un plat que beaucoup ne regretteront pas d'avoir jamais gouté!
Claude Queirac (Géo Mag intranet)
Casa Marina Bay English translation pending
Je viens de passer 15 jours inoubliables à casa marina bay à coté de Las Galeras... Pour les fètes de Noel. Y aurait-il quelqu'un qui aurait été là-bas ????? j'aimerai tellement partager mes émotions, qu' elles soient avec le paysage paradisiaque ou avec les animateurs...😉😉 Merci pour vos réponses.
Et bonne année à vous tous....😏
Et bonne année à vous tous....😏
Eastern Crete in September 2024
Travel journal in Eastern Crete from September 8th to 29th, 2024
Our 21-day itinerary
Sunday, 08/09: Once again—and this is the eighth time—we’re setting off, the four of us: Patrick, Michelle, Jacques, and Monique, for the Greek islands. This time, we’ve chosen Crete. No need to wake up at 3 or 4 a.m. to reach Basel-Mulhouse Airport at dawn to catch the first flight to Greece at 6 a.m.! Given the prohibitive prices charged by EasyJet, we found flights that were half the price from Zurich Airport, which is accessible in 3 hours by train from Colmar. Pierre-Paul drives all four of us to Colmar train station, where we take the train to Basel and then, 20 minutes later, the direct train to Zurich Airport. After wandering around the airport, we go for a coffee at 6 € each! We’re in Switzerland, after all. The other dining areas all have vending machines for selecting and paying for meals—soon, there won’t be anyone left to serve you! After a short wait, we take off at 7:45 p.m. (20 minutes late) in an Aegean Airbus A321. Free in-flight meal service isn’t bad either! We land in Heraklion around 11:15 p.m. We pick up our rental car (a red Seat Ibiza) at the airport and head straight to our apartment, located 2 km from the city center. Thanks to the GPS, we find it quickly. It’s a beautiful, fully renovated apartment with all the comforts and well-equipped. On the table, there’s wine, bottles of water, jam, coffee, etc. Given the late hour, we won’t stay up long.
Monday, 09/09: To enhance our breakfast, Michelle and Monique set off to find a bakery nearby. They return with croissants and donuts—yum... Then we head to the west coast. The highway follows the coastline, but we prefer taking the old road to Malia, our first stop. We visit the major archaeological site of this Minoan city under the hot sun. The site covers a vast area, but the ruins aren’t very evocative except for a few beautiful amphorae scattered around. The explanations in a small house at the entrance are interesting and help us better understand the organization of the ancient city with its different districts. From there, we head toward the nearby mountains to see the thousand-year-old plane tree in the village of Krasi. We take the opportunity to enjoy an excellent lunch of moussaka and delicious gemista at the Krassopsychia taverna in the village center. Pleasant surprise: the prices are still reasonable, with a bill of 70 € for four, including wine and water. The friendly tradition of complimentary dessert and glasses of raki continues—great! We’ve set the bar high right away! Let’s hope the rest lives up to it! On the way back toward the Lassithi Plateau, we stop at the Kardiotisa Monastery perched high on the mountain to enjoy a magnificent view of the entire region. Just a little further, we arrive at the Lassithi Plateau: the presence of small windmills used to pump water from the ground is the typical feature of this plateau. We complete a full loop around the plateau, passing by numerous orchards and vegetable gardens that occupy the entire space. At the end of the plateau, we once again cross mountain passes via winding roads that bring us near Agios Nikolaos. Our apartment is located about ten kilometers further south in Amoudhara. The owner, who was notified, waits for us and shows us her superb apartment, whose large terrace overlooks the entire Mirabello Bay. She then gives us valuable information about the different beaches in the area. Dinner will be frugal, given our hearty lunch in Krasi!
Sunset over Mirabello Bay
Tuesday, 10/09: A bit of a gray sky when we wake up around 8 a.m., but the sun will soon triumph over the scattered clouds. For our first swim, we opt for Voulisma Beach, even though our host warned us it was a bit “crowdy.” That’s understandable given the beautiful emerald color of the sea and the lovely curve of the beach. To avoid the big crowds, we move toward the eastern part of the beach, accessible via a steep staircase. The water is very warm, and this first dip is very pleasant. Before returning to the apartment, we stop at the bakery to buy spinach pies, essential ingredients to accompany our Greek salad for lunch. Of course, everything will be washed down with ouzo, which will remain our favorite drink for the next three weeks—but in moderation!!! A nap is in order after all that effort. In the late afternoon, we drive to Agios Nikolaos, the main seaside resort in Crete. We’re not too enthusiastic about visiting this mass-tourism resort, but the center of Agios, concentrated around the small inner harbor, is pleasant to see despite the plethora of shops and restaurants. We dine a little outside the harbor in the shaded courtyard of the Avli taverna: the oven-baked lamb, squid with spinach, and cuttlefish ink orzo pasta are all highly appreciated. We still stay under a 75 € bill for four.
Mirabello Bay seen from our terrace
Wednesday, 11/09: At 8 a.m., the terrace is already bathed in sunlight, and it’s already quite hot. The small parasol barely gives us enough shade, but we’re not complaining! For our second swim, we head to a tiny beach recommended by our host, just 3 minutes by car from our place. The path leading to it is very discreet, and we don’t find it right away! It’s a small sandy cove with a few welcome tamarisk trees for shade. When we arrive, there are two swimmers, and there won’t be more than five or six in the morning. After lunch and a nap, we head to the beautiful village of Kritsa, just a few kilometers away. It’s too late to visit the beautiful church of Kera Panagia, which is already closed. We settle for the exterior, which is worth a look. The weather is clouding over, and big clouds are gathering. Upon arriving in Kritsa, a heavy shower forces us to take shelter in the Platanos taverna in the village center, and since it’s nearly 7 p.m., we decide to stay and dine there. Good choice—excellent meze: croquettes and stuffed zucchini flowers, gigantes beans, grilled tomatoes and feta, and pancetta as the main dish. The rain stops just as we decide to head back.
Village of Kritsa
Thursday, 12/09: Our terrace faces east, so we get to watch the sunrise around 7 a.m.—it’s truly a beautiful sight we never tire of. Around 9 a.m., we head to the village of Plaka, where boats depart for the island of Spinalonga, located north of Agios Nikolaos. We board the first boat, which sets sail at 10 a.m., and we’re not alone—the boat is practically full. After 10 minutes, we land on the island at the same time as several other boats from Elounda or Agios. Needless to say, there are already quite a few people walking through the streets of the leper village. The visit remains interesting and moving as we read the explanatory panels recounting the island’s history under Byzantine and then Turkish rule, followed by its transformation into a leper colony. As soon as we climb toward the top of the island via more or less maintained paths, there’s almost no one left. The 360° view from up there is stunning.
Spinalonga Island
The heat is now unbearable, and we can’t wait to get back home to have lunch on our terrace and rest. In the late afternoon, we go grocery shopping at the AB supermarket at the entrance of Agios. We had spotted another nice restaurant in our guide, but unfortunately, there’s a different one at the indicated location that doesn’t inspire us. So, we return to the Avli taverna for another dinner just as good as the first.
Friday, 13/09: We repeat yesterday’s successful program: a swim in our little cove, lunch on the terrace, a nap, and then, in the late afternoon, we discover another nearby village, Kroustas, nestled in the olive groves near Kritsa. Much less touristy than Kritsa, it’s mostly inhabited by locals, especially the elderly who are enjoying the cool air on their chairs—if you can call it cool given the still-high temperatures in the late afternoon! We then return to visit Kritsa, which we hadn’t been able to explore due to the rain. Dinner at a taverna in the village center at a very reasonable price.
Saturday, 14/09: Today, we move to our new base further east. We start with a high viewpoint at the Faneromeni Monastery, which overlooks Mirabello Bay. The monastery itself is of little interest as it’s under renovation with excessive concrete work. We continue to the village of Kavoussi to see another exceptional tree after a few kilometers on a dusty, bumpy track. It’s an olive tree said to be about 3,200 years old—impressive, and the countryside is very beautiful. It’s time to find a place for lunch. We find one in the charming little port of Mohlos, where a few tavernas surround a very nice small beach. Our choice falls on the Bogazzi taverna, where we enjoy fried fish. To reach our new base in Zakros, we still have to drive through the mountains before reaching Sitia, Paleokastro, and finally Zakros. The region is beautiful, with olive groves and rows of wind turbines taking advantage of the strong wind near the northern tip of the island. In Zakros, we’re greeted by our very friendly host. Here too, we have all the comforts and a beautiful terrace overlooking the village. The apartment has reversible air conditioners, but the overly simple instructions leave us puzzled. Thinking we’ve set it correctly, we realize a little too late that it’s blowing hot air over 30°C! After numerous attempts and testing several confusing programs, we finally succeed! Dinner on our new terrace.
Sunday, 15/09: This morning, we get up early to hike in the “Gorge of the Dead” while it’s still cool. The sky is blue as usual! We park in the nearest parking lot and start our descent via a beautiful path winding through the olive groves. A little further on, the landscape opens up, and the path, now a stony trail, begins the descent to the dry riverbed. On either side of the riverbed rise beautiful reddish cliffs.
Gorge of the Dead
The trail winds its way through this narrow gorge with difficulty. It was in the many caves visible halfway up the slope that the Minoans buried their dead, hence the name “Gorge of the Dead.” The gorge opens onto a beautiful small pebble beach. A swim is welcome after this hike that made us sweat. The hike took us 1 hour and 25 minutes, and a little less on the way back. Meanwhile, Monique did some shopping and prepared an excellent lunch. In the late afternoon, we go down to dine at Platanakis, a taverna in the small village of Kato Zakros.
Monday, 16/09: This morning, we explore the northern part of the east coast near Palekastro. We start with a dip at the beautiful Hionia Beach near Palekastro. The water is still just as nice, but a light breeze is blowing—not enough to spoil our fun! Seeing all the wind turbines lining the ridges, it’s no surprise.
Grocery shopping in Palekastro and return to Zakros. A little rain in the late afternoon and an excellent dinner at Iannis Mitsakakis’ Taverna in Adravastis. These are the kind of small tavernas we love—unpretentious, a few tables on a terrace, a warm welcome, a short menu guaranteeing freshness, tasty dishes prepared by the server’s mom, and a light bill. What more could you ask for!
Tuesday, 17/09: We head back toward Palekastro to do some shopping, but it’s also the road to the Toplou Monastery. There, we see a collection of magnificent icons dating from the 15th to the 20th century. We can also admire drawings of Orthodox religious architecture. We continue toward the Mavros Akrotiri headland to enjoy the view of the sea and rocky capes. On the way back to our place, we make a small detour to see the famous Vai palm grove. Meh... As for Vai Beach, it’s filled with paid umbrellas and sunbeds, and there are so many people that we flee. Plus, having to pay for parking is another reason to snub this trendy beach. We prefer our Hionia Beach, which we already appreciated the other day. In the late afternoon, Pat and I start the trail that begins at Kato Zakros Beach heading south. The poorly marked path crosses a plateau of sharp limestone. The paint and cairn markings are no longer very visible, and with dusk approaching, we turn back toward Kato Zakros. Dinner at the Platanakis taverna—less good than last time.
Wednesday, 18/09: To avoid the scorching sun, Pat, Mimi, and I get up earlier than usual to hike the Hohlakies Gorge. At this early hour, the sky is quite cloudy, and it’s drizzling. When we arrive in the village of Hohlakies, we park in front of a small chapel, the start of the hike. The sky is now completely clear. The trail starts among the olive groves, then after passing through a gate, we descend into the gorge filled with large rocks. We’re alone in the world, and the landscape is magnificent. A few wild goats clinging to the cliff watch us from above. After 1 hour and 15 minutes, we emerge onto the wonderful Karoumès Beach. A pleasant swim, then back to civilization! A walk in the late afternoon in Zakros to discover the beautiful springs route. Dinner in Adravastis.
Thursday, 19/09: Another move: Before heading to our next stop, we make a detour to see the beautiful Keratokampos Beach and can’t resist a swim in the still-warm, clear water. We continue our journey via Ziros, then reach the south coast and have lunch at the Stephi taverna in Ferma—excellent meal! The south coast is quite urbanized and has much less charm than the east coast we’ve just left! The numerous plastic greenhouses are partly to blame. We stop for groceries in Ierapetra. Around 3 p.m., we arrive at our destination in the small perched village of Anatoli. Our lodging is at the top of the village, and from the path leading to it, we have a magnificent view of the coastal plain, unfortunately overloaded with plastic greenhouses. It reminds us of the landscapes of El Ejido in Andalusia.
View of the Ierapetra coast from Anatoli
Friday, 20/09: A walk and discovery of the hamlet of Anatoli. There are few services—a tiny grocery store, a taverna, and that’s it. Fortunately, the traveling baker arrives and honks. We take the opportunity to buy fresh bread. Leaving the village, we take a path that should lead us to the hamlet of Drygies. The landscape is beautiful. We walk through a lovely pine forest before arriving at the hamlet. The path continues to a taverna that’s closed today, with a superb terrace overlooking the coast. Luckily, the owner arrives and informs us that the taverna will be open next Sunday and that we can enjoy barbecued meat. Noted! We head back to Anatoli via the small paved road with, fortunately, very limited traffic. Lunch on our terrace, then a dip in our private pool! The water is noticeably cooler than at the beach. Dinner at the village taverna: there’s only one menu—meze starters, souvlaki, water, wine, and bread—all for 35 €! We think we’re dreaming—was there a mistake? No.
Saturday, 21/09: We discover the beach of the village of Myrtos, a small seaside resort that’s quite touristy but on a human scale. We swim in the western part of the beach, and once again, we’re alone in the water. The best part: warm water and tamarisk trees for welcome shade. There’s even a shower to rinse off! In the late afternoon, Pat and I decide to go for a hike in the Selakano pine forest. To get there, we take a narrow, winding, and poorly paved road after the village of Christos. Plus, at this altitude, we encounter clouds clinging to the mountain, so it’s drizzling, and visibility is reduced. We decide to turn back and return to Anatoli. As compensation, we take the path that passes in front of the lodging and leads us to the Timios Stavros chapel, which crowns the summit of the nearby mountain. We arrive at the summit just in time for the sunset at 7 p.m. Breathtaking 360° panorama and magnificent colors!
Sunset from Anatoli
Sunday, 22/09: This morning, Pat, Mimi, and I go for a hike in the Sarakina Gorge, located about 12 km from Anatoli via a beautiful road winding through irrigated olive groves. We park in the small parking lot before the trail. At the start, the path follows a levada (small irrigation canal) and quickly enters a very narrow gorge flanked by high cliffs. The riverbed is cluttered with huge rocks blocking the passage. No matter—in the technical sections, ropes or ladders allow us to overcome these obstacles with a bit of skill. You can imagine how quickly the riverbed must rise during a storm, given the narrowness of the gorge!
We progress slowly through this magnificent and impressive rocky chaos. At the exit of the gorge, we take another return path that partly follows the paved road. Back in Anatoli, we go to lunch at the Drygies taverna. We sit at the edge of the terrace under a huge tree that covers almost the entire terrace and order grilled lamb dishes prepared according to the ancient “antikristo” method.
Monday, 23/09: Departure for our last stop before Heraklion. We thought about swimming at Tertsa Beach, but it turns out to be less pleasant than expected, with pebbles and an uneven rocky plateau. So, we return to Myrtos Beach, which we know well and suits us perfectly. We head west, leaving the coast a bit. Around 3:30 p.m., we arrive at our destination in the village of Kamilari, near the famous Matala spot. We’ve rented a beautiful, modern, well-equipped apartment with a lovely shaded terrace. The owner is very friendly and explains everything necessary for a good stay. We explore the quite touristy village with its few tavernas, all full of tourists, mostly Germans.
Tuesday, 24/09: Visit to the village of Sivas, well restored thanks to the Germans, who have invested a lot here. We take the opportunity to scout out “friendly” tavernas, then go for a swim at Kalamaki Beach. Apart from a small sandy access, you have to enter the water via a chaotic limestone plateau—proof of this is that Monique trips slightly when entering the water. A group of very unfriendly German women blocks the sandy passage and doesn’t hesitate to push swimmers they deem too close. Back home, lunch, and a nap. In the late afternoon, we drive to visit the nearby Phaistos site. We benefit from very beautiful lighting. From the elevated site, we overlook the Messara Plain with a beautiful view of the olive grove checkerboards highlighted by the late afternoon sun. The site itself is quite vast, but to appreciate it, it’s better to read the explanatory panels placed throughout the different quarters. At this hour, the site is almost empty, and the beautiful light adds charm to the visit.
Wednesday, 25/09: Departure for the village of Matala, which doesn’t interest us in itself, having been there during the “hippie” era in 1976. However, going to Red Beach, only accessible by taking a path overlooking this area, appeals to us much more. We park in the large parking lot just outside the village and start our climb, which brings us to a pass from where we can admire this beautiful red-sand beach framed by beautiful cliffs plunging into the sea. The weather is magnificent, and at this early hour, there aren’t many people yet. We swim in the free part located near the cliff on the right when arriving at the beach. The sea is like glass, warm, and without a single ripple—a real treat! After half an hour, we turn back, and now there are many people rushing on this path, not at all made for feet in sandals or flip-flops, yet many vacationers venture out like this! Matala lives up to its image—a trendy place, full of shops, bars, and restaurants. You could be in any seaside resort with a standard global urbanism, lacking particular charm. Back home. In the late afternoon, a walk through the olive groves surrounding Kamilari, then dinner at Evangelina’s, who runs the Minoan Parassies taverna in the middle of the olive groves. Evangelina is quite a character: we came to reserve a table for 8 p.m. when it was only 7 p.m., but since we lingered near her restaurant, she prepares a table for us and urges us to sit down! And there she takes our order, and a little later, the meze arrive, followed by the main dishes. We finish this good dinner with several generous glasses of raki, accompanied by Evangelina’s encouragements, repeating “poya poya bravo bravo” in a loop. We’re in great shape too, by the way! We return in the middle of the night, on foot, fortunately, with the path vaguely lit by our phones...
Thursday, 26/09: This morning, we discover a new beach, Kommos Beach, not far from Kamilari either. It’s a long sandy beach, a small part of which is dedicated to paid umbrellas and sunbeds, and the rest is free. We spot a tamarisk tree to take shelter from the still-hot sun, and once again, we enjoy clear, warm water. The few swimmers spread out easily over nearly 500 meters of beach. In the late afternoon, Pat and I go to admire the sunset from the hill near our lodging. The hill, covered with olive trees, is threatened by a planned housing development of large cubic villas—trends dictate. Concrete never stops...
Friday, 27/09: We thought about leaving the car at the Odiyitria Monastery, the end of the paved road, but since the track descending to the cave remains drivable, we park 3 km further at the junction of the track leading to Kali Limenes Beach. We still have to walk for half an hour on a less drivable track, and then we’re at the entrance of the Farango Gorge. It’s a beautiful, easy hike since we follow the dry pebble riverbed. Before arriving at the beach, there’s a very beautiful small chapel sheltered under a large cliff, beautifully lit at this early hour.
Agio Farango Chapel
A few climbers are scaling the cliff, and about ten swimmers are enjoying the sea. Return to the car under the hot sun. In the late afternoon, we all return to visit the interesting Odiyitria Monastery. Last swim at Kommos Beach and an excellent dinner at the Sigelakis taverna in Sivas.
Saturday, 28/09: There’s an end-of-vacation atmosphere... We pack our bags and head north. A short stop to see the village of Vorri, and a little over an hour later, we arrive in the big city of Heraklion. Since it’s too early to check into the apartment, we park in the city center to visit the famous archaeological museum. It’s indeed a must-see highlight of our stay in Crete. All four of us are amazed by the quantity and quality of the objects presented from the Minoan civilization. After more than 2 hours, we come out without having seen everything, but we’re a bit overwhelmed by all these wonders. Lunch at a nice little taverna very close to the Titus Church. We go to take possession of our apartment—the same as on the way there, still just as satisfying. In the late afternoon, I go alone for a walk in the historic district of the city, passing by the Morosini Fountain, which is bustling with people—some seated at café terraces, others standing and chatting. There’s a lively atmosphere here. A little further on are the Venetian loggia and the Agios Titos Church. I walk down to the old Venetian port to stroll along the jetty and admire the fortifications under beautiful late-afternoon lighting, then return to the apartment. Dinner near our place at Kiriakis, a “chic” restaurant but with very reasonable prices and excellent cuisine.
Sunday, 29/09: Wake-up at 3:30 a.m., quick coffee, and drive to the nearby airport. We leave the car in the parking lot. Already a lot of people at this early hour. Since we don’t have checked luggage, we go straight to security, which goes fairly quickly, then it’s waiting time and takeoff on time in an Airbus A321 for a 45-minute flight to Athens. We take off again in another Airbus A321 with a 50-minute delay to arrive in Zurich at 11:10 a.m. local time. Then we have to take the train to Basel and then the one to Colmar. With fewer Sunday services, we won’t arrive in Colmar until around 4 p.m.
Conclusion All four of us returned very satisfied with this stay in Crete for several reasons: - We found superb beaches with clear, warm water and often very few vacationers. - The few hikes we did were magnificent, especially those where the trails went through gorges leading to deserted beaches. - We greatly appreciated Cretan gastronomy—there were so few disappointments that we can count them on one hand. - All the accommodations we booked turned out to be superb, with the icing on the cake being the very friendly welcome from our hosts. - Generally, contacts with Cretans were always very warm despite the language barrier—we speak a little Greek. - We also appreciated the diversity of landscapes in this eastern part of Crete, with plateaus and mountains with splendid rugged reliefs.
Note: The photo album is available by clicking on this link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/hfdjQndA5eXkL5k7 Captions are only visible per photo by clicking on the circled “i” in the top right. Budget: approximately 3,300 € per couple for 21 days, including train and flights Budget details per couple: - Flight Zurich-Heraklion: 440 € - Trains Colmar-Basel-Zurich round trip for 4: 442.40 € (221 € per couple) - Accommodation: 2,431 € / 21 = 115.80 € per night for 4 (1,216 € per couple) - Car rental for 21 days: 684 € + 145 € fuel (1,150 km) (414 € per couple) - Restaurants, food, etc.: 1,009 €
Our 21-day itinerarySunday, 08/09: Once again—and this is the eighth time—we’re setting off, the four of us: Patrick, Michelle, Jacques, and Monique, for the Greek islands. This time, we’ve chosen Crete. No need to wake up at 3 or 4 a.m. to reach Basel-Mulhouse Airport at dawn to catch the first flight to Greece at 6 a.m.! Given the prohibitive prices charged by EasyJet, we found flights that were half the price from Zurich Airport, which is accessible in 3 hours by train from Colmar. Pierre-Paul drives all four of us to Colmar train station, where we take the train to Basel and then, 20 minutes later, the direct train to Zurich Airport. After wandering around the airport, we go for a coffee at 6 € each! We’re in Switzerland, after all. The other dining areas all have vending machines for selecting and paying for meals—soon, there won’t be anyone left to serve you! After a short wait, we take off at 7:45 p.m. (20 minutes late) in an Aegean Airbus A321. Free in-flight meal service isn’t bad either! We land in Heraklion around 11:15 p.m. We pick up our rental car (a red Seat Ibiza) at the airport and head straight to our apartment, located 2 km from the city center. Thanks to the GPS, we find it quickly. It’s a beautiful, fully renovated apartment with all the comforts and well-equipped. On the table, there’s wine, bottles of water, jam, coffee, etc. Given the late hour, we won’t stay up long.
Monday, 09/09: To enhance our breakfast, Michelle and Monique set off to find a bakery nearby. They return with croissants and donuts—yum... Then we head to the west coast. The highway follows the coastline, but we prefer taking the old road to Malia, our first stop. We visit the major archaeological site of this Minoan city under the hot sun. The site covers a vast area, but the ruins aren’t very evocative except for a few beautiful amphorae scattered around. The explanations in a small house at the entrance are interesting and help us better understand the organization of the ancient city with its different districts. From there, we head toward the nearby mountains to see the thousand-year-old plane tree in the village of Krasi. We take the opportunity to enjoy an excellent lunch of moussaka and delicious gemista at the Krassopsychia taverna in the village center. Pleasant surprise: the prices are still reasonable, with a bill of 70 € for four, including wine and water. The friendly tradition of complimentary dessert and glasses of raki continues—great! We’ve set the bar high right away! Let’s hope the rest lives up to it! On the way back toward the Lassithi Plateau, we stop at the Kardiotisa Monastery perched high on the mountain to enjoy a magnificent view of the entire region. Just a little further, we arrive at the Lassithi Plateau: the presence of small windmills used to pump water from the ground is the typical feature of this plateau. We complete a full loop around the plateau, passing by numerous orchards and vegetable gardens that occupy the entire space. At the end of the plateau, we once again cross mountain passes via winding roads that bring us near Agios Nikolaos. Our apartment is located about ten kilometers further south in Amoudhara. The owner, who was notified, waits for us and shows us her superb apartment, whose large terrace overlooks the entire Mirabello Bay. She then gives us valuable information about the different beaches in the area. Dinner will be frugal, given our hearty lunch in Krasi!
Sunset over Mirabello BayTuesday, 10/09: A bit of a gray sky when we wake up around 8 a.m., but the sun will soon triumph over the scattered clouds. For our first swim, we opt for Voulisma Beach, even though our host warned us it was a bit “crowdy.” That’s understandable given the beautiful emerald color of the sea and the lovely curve of the beach. To avoid the big crowds, we move toward the eastern part of the beach, accessible via a steep staircase. The water is very warm, and this first dip is very pleasant. Before returning to the apartment, we stop at the bakery to buy spinach pies, essential ingredients to accompany our Greek salad for lunch. Of course, everything will be washed down with ouzo, which will remain our favorite drink for the next three weeks—but in moderation!!! A nap is in order after all that effort. In the late afternoon, we drive to Agios Nikolaos, the main seaside resort in Crete. We’re not too enthusiastic about visiting this mass-tourism resort, but the center of Agios, concentrated around the small inner harbor, is pleasant to see despite the plethora of shops and restaurants. We dine a little outside the harbor in the shaded courtyard of the Avli taverna: the oven-baked lamb, squid with spinach, and cuttlefish ink orzo pasta are all highly appreciated. We still stay under a 75 € bill for four.
Mirabello Bay seen from our terraceWednesday, 11/09: At 8 a.m., the terrace is already bathed in sunlight, and it’s already quite hot. The small parasol barely gives us enough shade, but we’re not complaining! For our second swim, we head to a tiny beach recommended by our host, just 3 minutes by car from our place. The path leading to it is very discreet, and we don’t find it right away! It’s a small sandy cove with a few welcome tamarisk trees for shade. When we arrive, there are two swimmers, and there won’t be more than five or six in the morning. After lunch and a nap, we head to the beautiful village of Kritsa, just a few kilometers away. It’s too late to visit the beautiful church of Kera Panagia, which is already closed. We settle for the exterior, which is worth a look. The weather is clouding over, and big clouds are gathering. Upon arriving in Kritsa, a heavy shower forces us to take shelter in the Platanos taverna in the village center, and since it’s nearly 7 p.m., we decide to stay and dine there. Good choice—excellent meze: croquettes and stuffed zucchini flowers, gigantes beans, grilled tomatoes and feta, and pancetta as the main dish. The rain stops just as we decide to head back.
Village of KritsaThursday, 12/09: Our terrace faces east, so we get to watch the sunrise around 7 a.m.—it’s truly a beautiful sight we never tire of. Around 9 a.m., we head to the village of Plaka, where boats depart for the island of Spinalonga, located north of Agios Nikolaos. We board the first boat, which sets sail at 10 a.m., and we’re not alone—the boat is practically full. After 10 minutes, we land on the island at the same time as several other boats from Elounda or Agios. Needless to say, there are already quite a few people walking through the streets of the leper village. The visit remains interesting and moving as we read the explanatory panels recounting the island’s history under Byzantine and then Turkish rule, followed by its transformation into a leper colony. As soon as we climb toward the top of the island via more or less maintained paths, there’s almost no one left. The 360° view from up there is stunning.
Spinalonga Island
The heat is now unbearable, and we can’t wait to get back home to have lunch on our terrace and rest. In the late afternoon, we go grocery shopping at the AB supermarket at the entrance of Agios. We had spotted another nice restaurant in our guide, but unfortunately, there’s a different one at the indicated location that doesn’t inspire us. So, we return to the Avli taverna for another dinner just as good as the first.
Friday, 13/09: We repeat yesterday’s successful program: a swim in our little cove, lunch on the terrace, a nap, and then, in the late afternoon, we discover another nearby village, Kroustas, nestled in the olive groves near Kritsa. Much less touristy than Kritsa, it’s mostly inhabited by locals, especially the elderly who are enjoying the cool air on their chairs—if you can call it cool given the still-high temperatures in the late afternoon! We then return to visit Kritsa, which we hadn’t been able to explore due to the rain. Dinner at a taverna in the village center at a very reasonable price.
Saturday, 14/09: Today, we move to our new base further east. We start with a high viewpoint at the Faneromeni Monastery, which overlooks Mirabello Bay. The monastery itself is of little interest as it’s under renovation with excessive concrete work. We continue to the village of Kavoussi to see another exceptional tree after a few kilometers on a dusty, bumpy track. It’s an olive tree said to be about 3,200 years old—impressive, and the countryside is very beautiful. It’s time to find a place for lunch. We find one in the charming little port of Mohlos, where a few tavernas surround a very nice small beach. Our choice falls on the Bogazzi taverna, where we enjoy fried fish. To reach our new base in Zakros, we still have to drive through the mountains before reaching Sitia, Paleokastro, and finally Zakros. The region is beautiful, with olive groves and rows of wind turbines taking advantage of the strong wind near the northern tip of the island. In Zakros, we’re greeted by our very friendly host. Here too, we have all the comforts and a beautiful terrace overlooking the village. The apartment has reversible air conditioners, but the overly simple instructions leave us puzzled. Thinking we’ve set it correctly, we realize a little too late that it’s blowing hot air over 30°C! After numerous attempts and testing several confusing programs, we finally succeed! Dinner on our new terrace.
Sunday, 15/09: This morning, we get up early to hike in the “Gorge of the Dead” while it’s still cool. The sky is blue as usual! We park in the nearest parking lot and start our descent via a beautiful path winding through the olive groves. A little further on, the landscape opens up, and the path, now a stony trail, begins the descent to the dry riverbed. On either side of the riverbed rise beautiful reddish cliffs.
Gorge of the Dead
The trail winds its way through this narrow gorge with difficulty. It was in the many caves visible halfway up the slope that the Minoans buried their dead, hence the name “Gorge of the Dead.” The gorge opens onto a beautiful small pebble beach. A swim is welcome after this hike that made us sweat. The hike took us 1 hour and 25 minutes, and a little less on the way back. Meanwhile, Monique did some shopping and prepared an excellent lunch. In the late afternoon, we go down to dine at Platanakis, a taverna in the small village of Kato Zakros.
Monday, 16/09: This morning, we explore the northern part of the east coast near Palekastro. We start with a dip at the beautiful Hionia Beach near Palekastro. The water is still just as nice, but a light breeze is blowing—not enough to spoil our fun! Seeing all the wind turbines lining the ridges, it’s no surprise.
Grocery shopping in Palekastro and return to Zakros. A little rain in the late afternoon and an excellent dinner at Iannis Mitsakakis’ Taverna in Adravastis. These are the kind of small tavernas we love—unpretentious, a few tables on a terrace, a warm welcome, a short menu guaranteeing freshness, tasty dishes prepared by the server’s mom, and a light bill. What more could you ask for!Tuesday, 17/09: We head back toward Palekastro to do some shopping, but it’s also the road to the Toplou Monastery. There, we see a collection of magnificent icons dating from the 15th to the 20th century. We can also admire drawings of Orthodox religious architecture. We continue toward the Mavros Akrotiri headland to enjoy the view of the sea and rocky capes. On the way back to our place, we make a small detour to see the famous Vai palm grove. Meh... As for Vai Beach, it’s filled with paid umbrellas and sunbeds, and there are so many people that we flee. Plus, having to pay for parking is another reason to snub this trendy beach. We prefer our Hionia Beach, which we already appreciated the other day. In the late afternoon, Pat and I start the trail that begins at Kato Zakros Beach heading south. The poorly marked path crosses a plateau of sharp limestone. The paint and cairn markings are no longer very visible, and with dusk approaching, we turn back toward Kato Zakros. Dinner at the Platanakis taverna—less good than last time.
Wednesday, 18/09: To avoid the scorching sun, Pat, Mimi, and I get up earlier than usual to hike the Hohlakies Gorge. At this early hour, the sky is quite cloudy, and it’s drizzling. When we arrive in the village of Hohlakies, we park in front of a small chapel, the start of the hike. The sky is now completely clear. The trail starts among the olive groves, then after passing through a gate, we descend into the gorge filled with large rocks. We’re alone in the world, and the landscape is magnificent. A few wild goats clinging to the cliff watch us from above. After 1 hour and 15 minutes, we emerge onto the wonderful Karoumès Beach. A pleasant swim, then back to civilization! A walk in the late afternoon in Zakros to discover the beautiful springs route. Dinner in Adravastis.
Thursday, 19/09: Another move: Before heading to our next stop, we make a detour to see the beautiful Keratokampos Beach and can’t resist a swim in the still-warm, clear water. We continue our journey via Ziros, then reach the south coast and have lunch at the Stephi taverna in Ferma—excellent meal! The south coast is quite urbanized and has much less charm than the east coast we’ve just left! The numerous plastic greenhouses are partly to blame. We stop for groceries in Ierapetra. Around 3 p.m., we arrive at our destination in the small perched village of Anatoli. Our lodging is at the top of the village, and from the path leading to it, we have a magnificent view of the coastal plain, unfortunately overloaded with plastic greenhouses. It reminds us of the landscapes of El Ejido in Andalusia.
View of the Ierapetra coast from AnatoliFriday, 20/09: A walk and discovery of the hamlet of Anatoli. There are few services—a tiny grocery store, a taverna, and that’s it. Fortunately, the traveling baker arrives and honks. We take the opportunity to buy fresh bread. Leaving the village, we take a path that should lead us to the hamlet of Drygies. The landscape is beautiful. We walk through a lovely pine forest before arriving at the hamlet. The path continues to a taverna that’s closed today, with a superb terrace overlooking the coast. Luckily, the owner arrives and informs us that the taverna will be open next Sunday and that we can enjoy barbecued meat. Noted! We head back to Anatoli via the small paved road with, fortunately, very limited traffic. Lunch on our terrace, then a dip in our private pool! The water is noticeably cooler than at the beach. Dinner at the village taverna: there’s only one menu—meze starters, souvlaki, water, wine, and bread—all for 35 €! We think we’re dreaming—was there a mistake? No.
Saturday, 21/09: We discover the beach of the village of Myrtos, a small seaside resort that’s quite touristy but on a human scale. We swim in the western part of the beach, and once again, we’re alone in the water. The best part: warm water and tamarisk trees for welcome shade. There’s even a shower to rinse off! In the late afternoon, Pat and I decide to go for a hike in the Selakano pine forest. To get there, we take a narrow, winding, and poorly paved road after the village of Christos. Plus, at this altitude, we encounter clouds clinging to the mountain, so it’s drizzling, and visibility is reduced. We decide to turn back and return to Anatoli. As compensation, we take the path that passes in front of the lodging and leads us to the Timios Stavros chapel, which crowns the summit of the nearby mountain. We arrive at the summit just in time for the sunset at 7 p.m. Breathtaking 360° panorama and magnificent colors!
Sunset from AnatoliSunday, 22/09: This morning, Pat, Mimi, and I go for a hike in the Sarakina Gorge, located about 12 km from Anatoli via a beautiful road winding through irrigated olive groves. We park in the small parking lot before the trail. At the start, the path follows a levada (small irrigation canal) and quickly enters a very narrow gorge flanked by high cliffs. The riverbed is cluttered with huge rocks blocking the passage. No matter—in the technical sections, ropes or ladders allow us to overcome these obstacles with a bit of skill. You can imagine how quickly the riverbed must rise during a storm, given the narrowness of the gorge!
We progress slowly through this magnificent and impressive rocky chaos. At the exit of the gorge, we take another return path that partly follows the paved road. Back in Anatoli, we go to lunch at the Drygies taverna. We sit at the edge of the terrace under a huge tree that covers almost the entire terrace and order grilled lamb dishes prepared according to the ancient “antikristo” method.
Monday, 23/09: Departure for our last stop before Heraklion. We thought about swimming at Tertsa Beach, but it turns out to be less pleasant than expected, with pebbles and an uneven rocky plateau. So, we return to Myrtos Beach, which we know well and suits us perfectly. We head west, leaving the coast a bit. Around 3:30 p.m., we arrive at our destination in the village of Kamilari, near the famous Matala spot. We’ve rented a beautiful, modern, well-equipped apartment with a lovely shaded terrace. The owner is very friendly and explains everything necessary for a good stay. We explore the quite touristy village with its few tavernas, all full of tourists, mostly Germans.
Tuesday, 24/09: Visit to the village of Sivas, well restored thanks to the Germans, who have invested a lot here. We take the opportunity to scout out “friendly” tavernas, then go for a swim at Kalamaki Beach. Apart from a small sandy access, you have to enter the water via a chaotic limestone plateau—proof of this is that Monique trips slightly when entering the water. A group of very unfriendly German women blocks the sandy passage and doesn’t hesitate to push swimmers they deem too close. Back home, lunch, and a nap. In the late afternoon, we drive to visit the nearby Phaistos site. We benefit from very beautiful lighting. From the elevated site, we overlook the Messara Plain with a beautiful view of the olive grove checkerboards highlighted by the late afternoon sun. The site itself is quite vast, but to appreciate it, it’s better to read the explanatory panels placed throughout the different quarters. At this hour, the site is almost empty, and the beautiful light adds charm to the visit.
Wednesday, 25/09: Departure for the village of Matala, which doesn’t interest us in itself, having been there during the “hippie” era in 1976. However, going to Red Beach, only accessible by taking a path overlooking this area, appeals to us much more. We park in the large parking lot just outside the village and start our climb, which brings us to a pass from where we can admire this beautiful red-sand beach framed by beautiful cliffs plunging into the sea. The weather is magnificent, and at this early hour, there aren’t many people yet. We swim in the free part located near the cliff on the right when arriving at the beach. The sea is like glass, warm, and without a single ripple—a real treat! After half an hour, we turn back, and now there are many people rushing on this path, not at all made for feet in sandals or flip-flops, yet many vacationers venture out like this! Matala lives up to its image—a trendy place, full of shops, bars, and restaurants. You could be in any seaside resort with a standard global urbanism, lacking particular charm. Back home. In the late afternoon, a walk through the olive groves surrounding Kamilari, then dinner at Evangelina’s, who runs the Minoan Parassies taverna in the middle of the olive groves. Evangelina is quite a character: we came to reserve a table for 8 p.m. when it was only 7 p.m., but since we lingered near her restaurant, she prepares a table for us and urges us to sit down! And there she takes our order, and a little later, the meze arrive, followed by the main dishes. We finish this good dinner with several generous glasses of raki, accompanied by Evangelina’s encouragements, repeating “poya poya bravo bravo” in a loop. We’re in great shape too, by the way! We return in the middle of the night, on foot, fortunately, with the path vaguely lit by our phones...
Thursday, 26/09: This morning, we discover a new beach, Kommos Beach, not far from Kamilari either. It’s a long sandy beach, a small part of which is dedicated to paid umbrellas and sunbeds, and the rest is free. We spot a tamarisk tree to take shelter from the still-hot sun, and once again, we enjoy clear, warm water. The few swimmers spread out easily over nearly 500 meters of beach. In the late afternoon, Pat and I go to admire the sunset from the hill near our lodging. The hill, covered with olive trees, is threatened by a planned housing development of large cubic villas—trends dictate. Concrete never stops...
Friday, 27/09: We thought about leaving the car at the Odiyitria Monastery, the end of the paved road, but since the track descending to the cave remains drivable, we park 3 km further at the junction of the track leading to Kali Limenes Beach. We still have to walk for half an hour on a less drivable track, and then we’re at the entrance of the Farango Gorge. It’s a beautiful, easy hike since we follow the dry pebble riverbed. Before arriving at the beach, there’s a very beautiful small chapel sheltered under a large cliff, beautifully lit at this early hour.
Agio Farango Chapel
A few climbers are scaling the cliff, and about ten swimmers are enjoying the sea. Return to the car under the hot sun. In the late afternoon, we all return to visit the interesting Odiyitria Monastery. Last swim at Kommos Beach and an excellent dinner at the Sigelakis taverna in Sivas.
Saturday, 28/09: There’s an end-of-vacation atmosphere... We pack our bags and head north. A short stop to see the village of Vorri, and a little over an hour later, we arrive in the big city of Heraklion. Since it’s too early to check into the apartment, we park in the city center to visit the famous archaeological museum. It’s indeed a must-see highlight of our stay in Crete. All four of us are amazed by the quantity and quality of the objects presented from the Minoan civilization. After more than 2 hours, we come out without having seen everything, but we’re a bit overwhelmed by all these wonders. Lunch at a nice little taverna very close to the Titus Church. We go to take possession of our apartment—the same as on the way there, still just as satisfying. In the late afternoon, I go alone for a walk in the historic district of the city, passing by the Morosini Fountain, which is bustling with people—some seated at café terraces, others standing and chatting. There’s a lively atmosphere here. A little further on are the Venetian loggia and the Agios Titos Church. I walk down to the old Venetian port to stroll along the jetty and admire the fortifications under beautiful late-afternoon lighting, then return to the apartment. Dinner near our place at Kiriakis, a “chic” restaurant but with very reasonable prices and excellent cuisine.
Sunday, 29/09: Wake-up at 3:30 a.m., quick coffee, and drive to the nearby airport. We leave the car in the parking lot. Already a lot of people at this early hour. Since we don’t have checked luggage, we go straight to security, which goes fairly quickly, then it’s waiting time and takeoff on time in an Airbus A321 for a 45-minute flight to Athens. We take off again in another Airbus A321 with a 50-minute delay to arrive in Zurich at 11:10 a.m. local time. Then we have to take the train to Basel and then the one to Colmar. With fewer Sunday services, we won’t arrive in Colmar until around 4 p.m.
Conclusion All four of us returned very satisfied with this stay in Crete for several reasons: - We found superb beaches with clear, warm water and often very few vacationers. - The few hikes we did were magnificent, especially those where the trails went through gorges leading to deserted beaches. - We greatly appreciated Cretan gastronomy—there were so few disappointments that we can count them on one hand. - All the accommodations we booked turned out to be superb, with the icing on the cake being the very friendly welcome from our hosts. - Generally, contacts with Cretans were always very warm despite the language barrier—we speak a little Greek. - We also appreciated the diversity of landscapes in this eastern part of Crete, with plateaus and mountains with splendid rugged reliefs.
Note: The photo album is available by clicking on this link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/hfdjQndA5eXkL5k7 Captions are only visible per photo by clicking on the circled “i” in the top right. Budget: approximately 3,300 € per couple for 21 days, including train and flights Budget details per couple: - Flight Zurich-Heraklion: 440 € - Trains Colmar-Basel-Zurich round trip for 4: 442.40 € (221 € per couple) - Accommodation: 2,431 € / 21 = 115.80 € per night for 4 (1,216 € per couple) - Car rental for 21 days: 684 € + 145 € fuel (1,150 km) (414 € per couple) - Restaurants, food, etc.: 1,009 €
Huit jours en Alsace avec un enfant de 23 mois en août English translation pending
Bonjour,
Nous pensons faire Montpellier-Mulhouse en train, puis location de poussette et voiture pour prendre une location dans une résidence à Colmar une semaine.
Pour faire une partie dans un parc nature ou parc d'attraction: le parc Cigoland, la montagne des singes, le centre de réintroduction des cigognes, le parc du petit prince, europapark le village estival de l'éco-musée etc..qu'avez vous pensé de ces endroits? Je favoriserai plus Cigoland, la montagne des singes et peut-être le parc du Petit Prince. ..il me semble.
-Ensuite pour la magie: le palais du pain d'épices à Gertwiller, la boutique féérie de Noel à Riquewihr.
- une journée à Strasbourg avec la ballade en Bateaux. et une journée Le lac Titisée forêt noire .
- Colmar bien sur et des villages voisins avec le musée Hansi et musee du Jouet.
- Connaissez vous une ballade sympathique en louant un vélo ou vélo cargo dans les environs? cela pourrait être sympa si il ne fait pas trop chaud.
J'aurai peut être rajouté quelques jours à notre séjour pour être plus souple et mixer les logements: en logeant par exemple deux jours sur Strasbourg et un hôtel résidence sur Colmar et un hôtel plus typique..ou arriver d'abord à Strasbourg.. mais cela risque d'être plus fatigant et comme nous louons aussi une voiture, il faut regarder le budget global. que pensez vous de ce découpage?
merci par avance de tout vos renseignements.
Nous pensons faire Montpellier-Mulhouse en train, puis location de poussette et voiture pour prendre une location dans une résidence à Colmar une semaine.
Pour faire une partie dans un parc nature ou parc d'attraction: le parc Cigoland, la montagne des singes, le centre de réintroduction des cigognes, le parc du petit prince, europapark le village estival de l'éco-musée etc..qu'avez vous pensé de ces endroits? Je favoriserai plus Cigoland, la montagne des singes et peut-être le parc du Petit Prince. ..il me semble.
-Ensuite pour la magie: le palais du pain d'épices à Gertwiller, la boutique féérie de Noel à Riquewihr.
- une journée à Strasbourg avec la ballade en Bateaux. et une journée Le lac Titisée forêt noire .
- Colmar bien sur et des villages voisins avec le musée Hansi et musee du Jouet.
- Connaissez vous une ballade sympathique en louant un vélo ou vélo cargo dans les environs? cela pourrait être sympa si il ne fait pas trop chaud.
J'aurai peut être rajouté quelques jours à notre séjour pour être plus souple et mixer les logements: en logeant par exemple deux jours sur Strasbourg et un hôtel résidence sur Colmar et un hôtel plus typique..ou arriver d'abord à Strasbourg.. mais cela risque d'être plus fatigant et comme nous louons aussi une voiture, il faut regarder le budget global. que pensez vous de ce découpage?
merci par avance de tout vos renseignements.
Balades à vélo en Alsace English translation pending
bonjour,
Nous serons en visite en Alsace à la fin du mois de septembre. Nous prévoyons faire des balades à vélo dans la région de Strasbourg et Colmar :
Strasbourg : - Canal de la bruche - Canal de la marne - Piste des forts
Colmar : - Route des vins - Colmar - Munster
Ma question porte sur la meilleur façon de suivre lesdits trajets. Pour ce qui est des trajets "canal de la bouche" et "canal de la marne", j'imagine que je n'ai qu'à suivre le canal alors je n'ai pas besoin de carte et/ou GPS ! Pour ce qui est des autres, est-ce que vous pouvez me dire si une carte est suffisante ? est-ce que la route des vins et la piste des forts sont clairement indiqués. Si j'ai besoin d'une application avec la géolocalisation, laquelle me suggérez vous car je ne suis pas très familière avec ces applications.
Merci
Nous serons en visite en Alsace à la fin du mois de septembre. Nous prévoyons faire des balades à vélo dans la région de Strasbourg et Colmar :
Strasbourg : - Canal de la bruche - Canal de la marne - Piste des forts
Colmar : - Route des vins - Colmar - Munster
Ma question porte sur la meilleur façon de suivre lesdits trajets. Pour ce qui est des trajets "canal de la bouche" et "canal de la marne", j'imagine que je n'ai qu'à suivre le canal alors je n'ai pas besoin de carte et/ou GPS ! Pour ce qui est des autres, est-ce que vous pouvez me dire si une carte est suffisante ? est-ce que la route des vins et la piste des forts sont clairement indiqués. Si j'ai besoin d'une application avec la géolocalisation, laquelle me suggérez vous car je ne suis pas très familière avec ces applications.
Merci
Séjour en Alsace en septembre English translation pending
Bonjour,
Nous envisageons de passer 5 à 6 jours en Alsace du Sud ; nous arriverons, en voiture, par le sud depuis Dôle. Puis nous séjournerons 3 jours à Strasbourg.
La route des vins, les paysages, les villages typiques, etc ... nous attirent (nous ne prévoyons pas de grande randonnée). Et ne souhaitons pas changer de lieu d'hébergement tous les soirs : si possible, nous resterions plus volontiers 2 ou 3 nuits au même endroit.
Quelles villes nous conseilleriez-vous ? Faudrait-il privilégier Mulhouse ou Colmar ou autre ? Puis plus au Nord (mais avant Strasbourg) ?
A partir de ces 2 étapes, nous aurons la possibilité de nous déplacer en voiture.
Une bonne adresse de logement dans ces villes ne serait pas de refus non plus.
Merci de vos conseils.
Cordialement, Christelle
Une bonne adresse de logement dans ces villes ne serait pas de refus non plus.
Merci de vos conseils.
Cordialement, Christelle
Consigne à la gare de l'Est English translation pending
bonjour,
Je suis à planifier mon voyage en Alsace. Pour la dernière nuit, nous allons loger dans un hôtel à proximité de l'aéroport puisque notre vol de retour est tôt le lendemain.
Je vais prendre le TGV de Colmar à Paris (gare de l'est). J'entends passer la journée dans ville et me rendre à l'hôtel en fin de journée via le RER.
Il faudrait que je laisse mes bagages en consigne à la gare de l'est. J'aimerais savoir si c'est sécuritaire selon vous ?
Je crois comprendre qu'il s'agit d'une consigne automatique mais je ne trouve pas comment ca fonctionne.
Merci de votre aide !!
Je suis à planifier mon voyage en Alsace. Pour la dernière nuit, nous allons loger dans un hôtel à proximité de l'aéroport puisque notre vol de retour est tôt le lendemain.
Je vais prendre le TGV de Colmar à Paris (gare de l'est). J'entends passer la journée dans ville et me rendre à l'hôtel en fin de journée via le RER.
Il faudrait que je laisse mes bagages en consigne à la gare de l'est. J'aimerais savoir si c'est sécuritaire selon vous ?
Je crois comprendre qu'il s'agit d'une consigne automatique mais je ne trouve pas comment ca fonctionne.
Merci de votre aide !!
Hébergement sans air climatisé en août dans l'est de la France? English translation pending
Bonjour,
Ma petite famille visitera l'Est de la France en août 2018. Nous partirons de Lyon, ferons un petit détour par la Suisse, puis nous irons faire la route des vins d'Alsace pour terminer notre voyage à Strasbourg.
Je suis à l'étape de trouver les hébergements pour notre famille. Pas si facile de trouver des chambres pour 4, particulièrement sur la route des vins d'Alsace. J'ai trouvé un endroit près de Colmar, mais je cherche maintenant un hébergement un peu plus au Nord (Sélestat ou Le Hohwald). La majorité des endroits n'ont pas l'air climatisé.
Je me demandais si c'était de la folie prendre un hébergement sans air climatisé dans ce coin? Ou est-ce que les soirées/nuits sont plutôt fraîches?
Merci.
Ma petite famille visitera l'Est de la France en août 2018. Nous partirons de Lyon, ferons un petit détour par la Suisse, puis nous irons faire la route des vins d'Alsace pour terminer notre voyage à Strasbourg.
Je suis à l'étape de trouver les hébergements pour notre famille. Pas si facile de trouver des chambres pour 4, particulièrement sur la route des vins d'Alsace. J'ai trouvé un endroit près de Colmar, mais je cherche maintenant un hébergement un peu plus au Nord (Sélestat ou Le Hohwald). La majorité des endroits n'ont pas l'air climatisé.
Je me demandais si c'était de la folie prendre un hébergement sans air climatisé dans ce coin? Ou est-ce que les soirées/nuits sont plutôt fraîches?
Merci.
Grèce - France à vélo via l’EuroVelo 8 English translation pending
Bonjour à tous,
En mai 2019 l'idée est de faire Athènes-Selestat à vélo. Mode camping, vélo randonné chargé, classique avec sacoches avant et arrière. Je compte suivre la trace de la veloroute 8 (EV8) jusqu'en Italie. En Italie (région Venise) je monte direction Ulm (Allemagne) en suivant la Via Augusta. Ensuite Lac de Constance, Titisee, Friburg, Colmar-Selestat. L'EV8 va d'Athènes à Patras et ensuite va suivre grosso modo la côte Adriatique jusqu'en Italie.
voir lien: http://fr.eurovelo8.com/
Est-ce un bon plan, ou est-ce que vous me conseiller une autre route?
Merci d'avance pour vos conseils.
Errio, Selestat France
En mai 2019 l'idée est de faire Athènes-Selestat à vélo. Mode camping, vélo randonné chargé, classique avec sacoches avant et arrière. Je compte suivre la trace de la veloroute 8 (EV8) jusqu'en Italie. En Italie (région Venise) je monte direction Ulm (Allemagne) en suivant la Via Augusta. Ensuite Lac de Constance, Titisee, Friburg, Colmar-Selestat. L'EV8 va d'Athènes à Patras et ensuite va suivre grosso modo la côte Adriatique jusqu'en Italie.
voir lien: http://fr.eurovelo8.com/
Est-ce un bon plan, ou est-ce que vous me conseiller une autre route?
Merci d'avance pour vos conseils.
Errio, Selestat France
Marché de Noël de Strasbourg English translation pending
Bonjour je pars faire le marché de noel de Strasbourg dans 2 semaines sur un week end de 2 jours et je voudrais savoir quelle sont les plus beaux endroits à faire sachant que sa va passer très vite..
Merci beaucoup!
Grand tour de l'Allemagne en camping-car en 2017 English translation pending
Bonsoir,
Nous sommes partis cette année (2017) avec notre fourgon aménagé de Toulouse vers l'Allemagne, première halte à Rodez pour voir la cathédrale, Paray le Monial, Colmar et Freiburg I B en Allemagne. Il vous est possible de suivre notre périple : le grand tour de l’Allemagne avec une incursion en Tchécoslovaquie sur nos blogs: - allemagne-en-car-1parti-2017.eklablog.com - allemagne-en-car-2parti-2017.eklablog.com
Bonne lecture
Jack
Nous sommes partis cette année (2017) avec notre fourgon aménagé de Toulouse vers l'Allemagne, première halte à Rodez pour voir la cathédrale, Paray le Monial, Colmar et Freiburg I B en Allemagne. Il vous est possible de suivre notre périple : le grand tour de l’Allemagne avec une incursion en Tchécoslovaquie sur nos blogs: - allemagne-en-car-1parti-2017.eklablog.com - allemagne-en-car-2parti-2017.eklablog.com
Bonne lecture
Jack
De Meaux à Vitry à vélo English translation pending
Bonjour à tous,
j'ai envie de repartir vers l'est cette année, canal de l'ourq au départ de Paris jusqu'à Meaux, et la marne jusqu'à vitry-le-françois où je choppe le canal de la marne au rhin.
Mais entre Meaux et vitry j'avais super galéré sur les bords de marne il y a quelques années...
Quelqu'un aurait-il connaissance d'un chemin de halage (j'évite la route au maximum) sur cette portion ?
En fait j'ai envie d'aller visiter colmar.
Merci,
Jo.
Passeport thaïlandais: validité English translation pending
Je n’arrive pas à joindre l’ambassade de Thaîlande en France, pouvez-vous m’aider SVP, URGENCE.
Voici ma demande :
Je suis mariée en France avec une femme Thaïlandaise depuis 14 ans.
Nous partons en vacances chez ses parents comme tous les ans, du 27 janvier au 24 février 2017.
Le passeport de ma femme Thaïlandaise est valable jusqu’au 16 juillet 2017.
Est ce qu’au retour de Bangkok pour aller en France cela pose problème pour mon épouse ?
Est ce que il faut que je refasse son passeport avant d’aller Thaïlande, ou je peux le faire à Udon Thani ?
Merci de votre réponse URGENTE.
Wathana Schillinger (Thor Nor Phet) et Jacky Schillinger de Colmar en Alsace.
Visiter l'Alsace en octobre English translation pending
Bonjour,
j'envisage de faire un petit séjour Mi Octobre sur l'Alsace ,
Avez vous des conseil sur ce que je dois visiter ( 3 jours sur place)
et je recherche des conseils pour la location
Merci de votre aide
j'envisage de faire un petit séjour Mi Octobre sur l'Alsace ,
Avez vous des conseil sur ce que je dois visiter ( 3 jours sur place)
et je recherche des conseils pour la location
Merci de votre aide
À vélo en Alsace - Allemagne en juin English translation pending
bonjour
j'étudie un périple en Alsace à vélo entre le 15 et le 30 juin 2016 environ, au départ de Strasbourg ; à ceux qui connaissent bien cette région, quelles sont les plus belles routes pour un voyageur à bicyclette ? et les routes proches pour une petite échappée en Allemagne, sur quelques jours ? à vous lire
cordialement Patrice
j'étudie un périple en Alsace à vélo entre le 15 et le 30 juin 2016 environ, au départ de Strasbourg ; à ceux qui connaissent bien cette région, quelles sont les plus belles routes pour un voyageur à bicyclette ? et les routes proches pour une petite échappée en Allemagne, sur quelques jours ? à vous lire
cordialement Patrice
Route des vignobles à vélo en Alsace English translation pending
Nous programmons une découverte de l'Alsace à vélo au mois d'aout 2016 .
Projet à 3 en camping (donc assez chargés) sur 6 à 7 jours. Avec pour démarrer la véloroute des vignobles de Thann à Marlenheim en 3 journées .
Les 2 départements du Haut-Rhin et du Bas-Rhin ont été généreux pour fournir documents et les cartes des nombreuses voies cyclables de la région ; Hélas aucune indication sur les difficultés des parcours ( pente et pourcentage) et quasiment rien sur les kilométrages : dommage !!!
Je n'ai pas encore trouvé non plus de guides tels que ceux que nous avons utilisé pour l'EV6, la Bretagne, la Normandie, etc...
Nous sommes donc preneurs de toutes les infos concernant cette région : difficultés sur la véloroutes des vignes ( vallonnée, pentue ? ) fiabilité de la signalétique . Quant à l'attrait des paysages , nous n'avons pas de souci !
Expériences récentes bienvenues ... Notre objectif est de faire une boucle et passer aussi par Saverne, canal de la Bruche, Strasbour, Colmar .
Merci !
Pierre, de Lorient
🙂
De Bâle à Rotterdam à vélo English translation pending
Bonjour,
j'envisage d'effectuer la "descente" du Rhin à vélo, de Bâle à Rotterdam, sans effectuer l'intégralité du trajet en pédalant car il semblerait que tout l'itinéraire ne soit pas d'un égal intérêt... puis-je solliciter un retour d'expérience, à ce sujet, et surtout, mon rêve serait de sauter les étapes moins passionnante en faisant du "péniche-stop"!... Y a-t-il possibilité de voyager avec des vélos sur le Rhin par transport fluvial (frêt) autre que la navigation touristique?
Merci pour votre aide.
Zog
Itinéraire de 3 semaines en France: Alsace, Périgord, Loire et Paris English translation pending
Bonjour,
Je suis en train de planifier un voyage de 3 semaines avec mon copain pour le mois de septembre.
Ce voyage serait notre lune de miel. Nous voulons donc aussi du temps de repos : petites visites de villages, farniente (piscine ? lacs? ), bonne bouffe mais nous aimons également la randonnée, la nature, les musées, les chateaux (renaissance et médiéval)
Nous passerions quelques jours en Alsace : Strasbourg, route des vins, Colmar et Mulhouse puis nous irions passer quelques jours pour visiter les châteaux de la Loire puis 1 semaine à Paris.
Voici mes questions :
Est-ce un itinéraire trop ambitieux pour le temps dont nous disposons?
Je voulais ajouter le Perigord pour les villages médiévaux, 3-4 jours au repos et la bonne nourriture. Y a-t-il l'équivalent dans une autre région plus près comme la Bourgogne ?
Ou rester pour visiter les chateaux de la Loire? Y-a-til de petits villages médiévaux dans ce coin?
merci pour vos réponses! Je me rends compte que toutes les régions méritent d'être visitées dans ce pays!
Je suis en train de planifier un voyage de 3 semaines avec mon copain pour le mois de septembre.
Ce voyage serait notre lune de miel. Nous voulons donc aussi du temps de repos : petites visites de villages, farniente (piscine ? lacs? ), bonne bouffe mais nous aimons également la randonnée, la nature, les musées, les chateaux (renaissance et médiéval)
Nous passerions quelques jours en Alsace : Strasbourg, route des vins, Colmar et Mulhouse puis nous irions passer quelques jours pour visiter les châteaux de la Loire puis 1 semaine à Paris.
Voici mes questions :
Est-ce un itinéraire trop ambitieux pour le temps dont nous disposons?
Je voulais ajouter le Perigord pour les villages médiévaux, 3-4 jours au repos et la bonne nourriture. Y a-t-il l'équivalent dans une autre région plus près comme la Bourgogne ?
Ou rester pour visiter les chateaux de la Loire? Y-a-til de petits villages médiévaux dans ce coin?
merci pour vos réponses! Je me rends compte que toutes les régions méritent d'être visitées dans ce pays!
Week-end à Strasbourg et environs English translation pending
bonjour,
je vais passer 2 jours à starsbourg.
est-il possible de visister la ville en un jour et profiter de la 2e journée pour voir les environs?
il ya un chateau ou la route des vin à faire dans els environs je crois...
merci
merci
Restaurants en Alsace English translation pending
Nous partons 10 jours en Alsace à compter du 24/07.
nous avons un point de chute à Munster où nous avons loué un gîte et nous comptons écumer la région.
nous sommes à la recherche de bons petits restos bons et pas chers mais aussi typiques.
Tous les endroits insolites nous intéressent
je compte acheter le guide du routard mais les adresses données par les locaux nous intéressent vivement.
merci
Route Paris - Strasbourg en voiture English translation pending
Bonjours à tous
Voilà nous partons ma copine et moi découvrir la région d’Alsace début juillet. Nous louons une voiture à CDG et direction Strasbourg. Nous nous arrêtons en chemin à Épernay pour 2 jours. Nous ne sommes pas pressés et nous aimerions découvrir quelques belles routes où nous pourrons nous arrêter en chemin. Le but est d'éviter les autoroutes, que nous emprunterons au retour sur Paris.
Je vous remercie à l'avance!
Syl de Québec
Voilà nous partons ma copine et moi découvrir la région d’Alsace début juillet. Nous louons une voiture à CDG et direction Strasbourg. Nous nous arrêtons en chemin à Épernay pour 2 jours. Nous ne sommes pas pressés et nous aimerions découvrir quelques belles routes où nous pourrons nous arrêter en chemin. Le but est d'éviter les autoroutes, que nous emprunterons au retour sur Paris.
Je vous remercie à l'avance!
Syl de Québec
Beautés alsaciennes English translation pending
Enchanté par une semaine passée fin octobre en Alsace, qui m'était alors inconnue, j'ai éprouvé l'envie de partager des images prises en différents endroits.
Route des vins:
Entre Riquewihr et Kientzheim
Vue de Riquewihr
Vendanges manuelles
(fin acte 1)
A bientôt 😉
Route des vins:
Entre Riquewihr et KientzheimVue de RiquewihrVendanges manuelles
(fin acte 1)
A bientôt 😉Visite de l'Alsace English translation pending
bonjour nous désirons partir sur 4 jour en camping car visiter l' alsace , depuis chez nous la haute saone , que nous conseiller vous comme site a visitez ormis les grande villes
merci