Greece is one of the most treasured travel destinations in the world. Excellent food, incredible history, and some of the best islands and beaches in Europe make it both an exciting and romantic place to visit. Although I’ve technically been to Greece myself, I have to admit that my brief trip wasn’t much of a cultural experience. At the time I was living aboard my aircraft carrier, and we stopped at Souda Bay on the island of Crete. Since it was New Year’s, my fellow countrymen were far more interested in consuming as much alcohol as possible than exploring the island, despite my protests. We definitely had an adventure I’ll never forget, but I still need to return to Greece and experience the country properly. When I do, I’d love to start in Athens and explore its ancient ruins before visiting places such as Corfu and returning to Crete.
The few random photos I have to offer were taken in late December more than two decades ago. The weather was still relatively mild despite it being winter, and the only snow I could see was high in Crete’s White Mountains. The two photos above are seriously the only images I captured around Souda Bay! I remember the area being busy and lively, with plenty of shops, restaurants, and people going about their day. I wish I had more to say about the trip, but it was definitely more of a crazy New Year’s celebration than a cultural experience.
One thing I do remember clearly is how beautiful the scenery around the harbor was. The White Mountains rose behind the coast, and Souda Bay had some of the most impressive sunsets I had ever seen. These last photos were taken from the deck of my ship as the sun dropped behind the surrounding mountains. I definitely look forward to returning to Greece someday and making up for lost time.
