ali harper photography

More of my favorite things from Crete…

…listening for hidden kri-kri along the trail into the gorge… discovering monasteries left behind, thousands of years old… devouring giant bowls of grecian yogurt covered in their local honey for breakfast… sun-kissed faces… spring colors popping along the winding roads… weaving through quilted patterns of vineyards and olive groves when we took the long way home from the palace of knossos… and the decorative whismy that greeted us each morning during our stay at Avli. I miss it so.

A few of my favorite things…

… finding sweet Avli amongst a maze of multiple century-old row houses after an adventurous boat ride… our first meal there of pork & plums in front of the cave-like wine cellar… exploring the neighboring castle on the windiest day… having our own car, we lovingly nicknamed “the shiat”… winding through the shops by day… discovering bakeries, gelato, gyros, and cretan olive oil…

Ran into this guy along our intense hike down into the Samaria Gorge in Crete. He’s a working horse — the only way the folks who work on the many structures, footholds and bridges can get their tools and supplies up and down the 11 mile hike to the sea.

More favorites from Santorini…

… renting a 4 wheeler on a whim and discovering the city of Fira… finding the black rock beaches… lounging poolside… the clip clop of my sandals on the pebble pavement… eating sesame peanuts purchased from a local grocery… wearing bright sundresses… discovering delicious saganaki… and finally, leaving on a catamaran in the afternoon to begin our next adventure…

A few of my favorite things…

… arriving at nightfall, waking at noon to find the bright caldera just below our massive balcony… a kitty to greet me at one of our many doors… the sweet stray dogs of santorini, taken care of by the locals with bowls of food and water left by entrances to their shops… local wine, olives and cheese lunches… hiking the rim of the caldera as far as we could go, carefully watching our steps and exploring found monasteries… pastel doors and bright pink succulents… the bright white of the houses bouncing off sunlight, cooling off only upon sunset… and dipping my toes into the indescribable blue of the sea.