horn-week-three/
The third week of my Erasmus stay in Crete carried a different feeling — a quiet sense of arrival. What once felt new and unfamiliar slowly began to turn into routine, and the island started to feel a little more like home.
Monday still belonged to the Easter holidays, giving us one last slow and easy start. We returned to Heraklion, enjoyed a relaxed lunch, and treated ourselves to a milkshake afterward. Later, we wandered down to the harbor, walking along the long wall that stretches far into the sea — a place where time seemed to slow down. Back at our Airbnb in Episkopi, we soaked in the final hours of freedom. As the evening settled, Ali and I noticed a group of local kids playing football on a nearby pitch. Without hesitation, we joined them. Under the bright floodlights, it turned into one of those simple but unforgettable moments. I ended the night with a call to my brother in Berlin — a small reminder that home is never too far away.
From Tuesday to Thursday, the rhythm of work returned. At Psifiakos Kosmos, we focused on configuring a template for a 15-inch monitor and continued testing. The days themselves were structured and familiar, but the evenings gave each one its own character. On Wednesday, all the Berlin colleagues gathered outside in the yard. Under the warm air of the Cretan night, we swam in the pool, shared drinks, and even had a small barbecue. Thursday carried the same lighthearted energy — a spontaneous water fight broke out, followed by another jump into the pool, despite the slightly cooler weather. Later, we cooked together and enjoyed dinner outside on the porch, surrounded by laughter and conversation.
Friday marked a small milestone. We completed the terminal configuration and wrapped up the final tests — a satisfying end to the workweek. That night, we returned to Hersonissos, where the energy of the Irish pub pulled us in once again. Surrounded by music and new faces, including some people from Berlin, the night quickly turned into another memorable experience.
The weekend invited us to slow down. Saturday began quietly, with hours spent relaxing by the pool, and ended with a barbecue in the evening. For me personally, it carried an extra highlight: the start of the NBA Playoffs, something I had been looking forward to for months. I stayed up through the night watching the games, fully immersed, and I already know it will become part of my routine here.
Sunday followed the same calm rhythm. I spent time outside, adapted my workout to the pool since a slight knee injury kept me from running, and let the day fade out with yet another barbecue and more NBA action.
Looking back, week three wasn’t defined by big events, but by something quieter — the beauty of everyday life. It was about settling in, building connections, and finding a steady rhythm here on Crete.
