Greece is one of the most treasured travel destinations in the world. Excellent food, extraordinary history, and some of the most beautiful islands and beaches in Europe make it both an exciting and romantic place to visit. Although I’ve technically been to Greece myself, my brief trip wasn’t much of a cultural experience. At the time, I was living aboard an 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 certainly had an adventure I’ll never forget, but I still want to return to Greece and explore more of the country. When I do, I’d love to start in Athens and visit its ancient ruins before exploring places such as Corfu and returning to Crete.
These photographs were taken in late December more than two decades ago. Despite it being winter, the weather was relatively mild, and the only snow I could see was high in Crete’s White Mountains. The two photographs above show the scenery around Souda Bay, where I remember a busy, lively atmosphere with plenty of shops, restaurants, and people going about their day. Most of our time ashore revolved around the New Year’s festivities rather than sightseeing, so my memories of the island are quite different from those of a typical visit to Greece.
One thing I remember particularly well is the beautiful scenery surrounding the harbor. Crete’s White Mountains rose behind the coast, and Souda Bay offered some of the most impressive sunsets I had ever seen. These final photographs were taken from the deck of my ship as the sun dropped behind the surrounding mountains. More than twenty years later, Greece remains a country I look forward to revisiting, particularly to experience its ancient history, islands, and landscapes beyond Souda Bay.
