Week 5 – Time Off, and Island Life
Week five on Crete was all about slowing down and making the most of our unexpected time off after the car accident.
On Monday, since we got the week off to recover, we decided to stay one more day in Malia. We spent the day walking through the city and relaxed by the pool, just enjoying a stress-free atmosphere. In the late afternoon, two colleagues picked us up and drove us back to our Airbnb in Episkopi. We caught the last rays of sunshine and went to bed early.
Tuesday me and my girlfriend took a trip to the beach, relaxed and went swimming. We also grabbed coffee and had food at a local restaurant. It was a very nice summer day with a lot of relaxing and sunny weather.
Wednesday was a lazy day back at the Airbnb. The weather was amazing, so we spent most of the time in and around the pool. A small but useful upgrade: I got a new eSIM from a colleague, which made staying connected much easier.
On Thursday, we had a slow start and then went to Heraklion with my girlfriend. We walked through the old town, did some sightseeing and shopping, and had lunch together. In the evening, we ended up at the Airbnb yard, having a few drinks and good conversations.
Friday was a full chill day. I spent most of the time in bed watching shows and NBA Playoffs games. Later, we made a quick trip into Episkopi to get groceries and cooked spaghetti carbonara together.
The weekend brought another trip—this time to Rethymno. We stayed in a nice hotel, explored the beautiful old town, walked along the beach, went shopping, and ate at a traditional taverna. It was a really enjoyable and relaxed getaway. On Sunday around noon, we headed back to Episkopi.
Overall, this week felt like a mini vacation within the Erasmus experience—less work, more exploring, and lots of time to enjoy Crete and the people around me.
