Day 1: Off to Crete - A Pearl Anniversary Begins

The time has finally come.

We’re off on our journey to Crete, one of our favorite places, to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary — the Pearl Anniversary.

We departed fairly early to catch our 7:55 AM flight and arrived around noon, giving us plenty of time to enjoy the rest of the day.

After picking up our rental car, we set off toward our first destination: Elafonisi, known for its famous pink beach.

On the way, we stopped at a small local restaurant for lunch. The traditional Cretan food was delicious, and the view was just as good — a perfect start to our journey.

As we continued toward Elafonisi, we made a short stop at an old, abandoned caravan — left untouched for who knows how long. It wasn’t a tourist spot by any means, but somehow it felt special. A silent witness of time.

Since we still had some time before check-in, we decided to go straight to the beach, eager to see the famous pink sand.

But… where was the pink?

All we saw was a regular white beach — beautiful, yes, but not what we had imagined.Was it a timing issue? Was the lighting not quite right?

We felt disappointed.

Later we learned that the pink color came from microorganisms, and in the past, the sand had indeed been a vivid pink. Sadly, over the years, so many visitors took the sand home as souvenirs that the ecosystem was damaged. Now, the pink is gone.Never mind… it's a reminder of how fragile beauty can be.

After checking in at Glykeria Hotel, we followed their suggestion and visited Voulolimni.It was not only beautiful, but also wonderfully quiet — a hidden gem.

The rocks there looked like a puma, or maybe a cheetah… or even a giant lizard basking under the sun, which lit the turquoise waters below like a dream.

We had dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, watching the sea and the sunset. The seafood was excellent. The setting was peaceful. And our hearts felt full.

Glykeria Hotel