This past summer I had the opportunity to travel to Greece for my cousin’s destination wedding. While most destination weddings are rather small this one had over 50 people travel from all over the world to attend. Hanna (my cousin) and Devin are world travelers. They have been to nearly every continent, countless countries and so so so many adventures. This passion for traveling and adventure is what led them to their careers at Backroads, an adventure tour company. While at Backroads Hanna and Devin met each other and their love blossomed in, you guessed it, Crete. They both worked as trip leaders for a few years together on the Greek island of Crete.
With them being professional trip leaders that gave me and the rest of the wedding guests a truly unique experience. All Hanna and Devin said was to get to the airport on Crete and then the rest of the trip was taken care of. Just like that, we all made our ways to Crete to see what the island had in store for us!
We started the trip off in the Old Town of Chania. It was like we were instantly transported back in time hundreds of years. The tight cobblestone streets, Venetian and Ottoman-influenced architecture and winding alleyways all came together making Chania, unlike any place I have ever been too.
Chania Lighthouse at the Old Harbor of Chania
After a few days in Chania, it was now time for Hanna and Devins wedding! The reason we had all assembled on this beautiful island. They took us to Marathi Beach, about 30 minutes outside of Chania. It was a secluded beach surrounded by beautiful blue water and mountains on the horizon. For this wedding I got to do something that I rarely get to do — actually be a guest and enjoy the wedding ceremony. It was a beautiful ceremony with a little bit of Greek culture and traditions sprinkled throughout.
Local musician who played the Lira at the wedding, Lefteris
The next day we made our way to Rethymno where their wedding reception party was to be held later that evening.
We got to Rethymno earlier in the day so I went off exploring the city.
After my exploration, we got ready for the reception dinner, followed by a whole night of dancing and a lot of Raki ;)
The next day we drove to the remote town of Hora Sfakia on the south coast of Crete along the Lybian Sea. From Hora Sfakia we had the choice to either take the boat or just a “short” hike to Loutro. Hanna and Devin are both super athletic people, and that is why I say “short” — it was short to them. While it is only around a 5-mile hike, it was all along a goat path on the side of a mountain with a sheer rock cliff hundreds of feet down to the ocean below. Yikes! That being said it was one of the most amazing hikes I have ever done in my whole life. Even lugging around a 35-pound camera bag :)
Sweetwater Beach on the hike to Loutro
We spent the remainder of our time in Loutro for the “Family-moon.” It was an absolute paradise.
Back in Chania for our last day.
We flew home on my birthday, and after telling the Flight Attendant, he came back and gave us champagne from First Class.
All in all, this was the best vacation I have ever been on :)
