Have you noticed that in some many countries they drive like they’re refugees escaping from the police? *giggles*
When we were on our honeymoon to Crete, the biggest island in Greece, we certainly experienced that.
In Crete all the roads are very curvy, up and down the mountains all the time, except when driving on the upper north side where the only straight way, the national road, goes.
Those curvy roads does have some surprises for you, because sometimes there are sheep’s or kri-kri goats (or dogs) crossing or laying in the middle of the road. (Kri-Kri goats are wild mountain goats that only exists in Crete).
There can also be other cars (or even buses!) coming in a very high speed around a road curve and since the roads are narrow and many hundreds of meters up, it really is a breathtaking experience in double meaning. There use to be a rule of honking the car horn before the curve to warn possible other drivers around the corner, but it’s not always followed.
Just think about it, meeting a bus here! *shivers* You can’t see how high up this is, but the blue you can spot in the lower left area is the Sea, which gives you some clue. No wonder I was covered in sweat every time we arrived to our destinations and Mr L had nightmares…. *giggles*
The funny thing is, that the Cretan people are very calm and nice as long as they don’t sit in their car, but it seemed to us that at once they got into the car, they transformed to rally drivers. Full speed and crazy passing. No wonder there were so many cross placed in some roads – for road victims.
All I can say is that it’s contagious. After being there for a while you’re starting to get used to it… Even the high curvy roads. In the beginning you’re almost creeping forward and in the end you can clearly noticed you’ve speed it up a lot!
We stayed in a small fishing village, Almyrida, about 15 km from Chania towards Rethymnon. We did choose a small, quiet fishing village because we were on a honeymoon.
Though when it comes to us, we should have known that we couldn’t stay only there for two whole weeks…. So we rented a smaller jeep to explore this big island. I can highly recommend it!
One evening we decided to go to Georgioupolis, about 35 km from Chania, to have a nice evening out since they had a bit more to offer over there. Georgioupolis is a very nice little village, we loved it even more than Almyrida since the beach were better – and very big with several beach bar’s.
Normally Mr Lifecruiser is a cautious driver, driving in a pleasant speed, but now since we took a “shortcut” over the mountains which weren’t so frequent used, suddenly he changed into rally Harry, driving like a real rally driver.
This way normally took him about 35 minutes to drive, as we had been there a couple of times before, but this time we clocked it to 21 minutes and on those curvy roads it’s quite an achievement – especially with a small open jeep!
We arrived in Georgioupolis with screaming tires! *giggles*
Every one there did stare at us, wondering what we were up to and luckily for us, the police didn’t saw us then…. but we saw them later… Phew!
After that we kind of continued in the speedy sign – I did speed up people to dance at a bar there. Why isn’t people dancing and have fun? I had a hard time getting people up dancing and this time I succeeded very well.
It was so hard work I had to get my shoes off and dance barefoot and boy, were my feet black after that…
When we arrived there, it was all dead. I even got free drinks from the bar since I got some action going there and when we left it were full speed!
You know what they say: leave it while it’s as most fun 
Lifecruiser ♥ Crete
A great harry story…I’m thinking ‘hairy’ as in adventurous, right? It certainly was —with screaming tires and all.
Hootin’ Annis last blog post..
great story…
Will you visit mine Thanks
picturings last blog post..My routine activities every day
You should visit Poland – drivers here are really crazy. going 80 (km/h, not miles) in a 40 zone is quite common and despite a huge lack of quality roads and highways, it is not uncommon to have people going over 120 km/h on a 2 lane road .. Does this make them better drivers ?
Not participating, but wanted to comment. I love those kinds of roads. The views are always awesome. I would love to sit out on that beach and have a couple of cocktails. Just saying. Have a great day.
Comedy Pluss last blog post..Riddles…
I can almost picture that road! Me and hubby went on vacation last week and part of it was driving through mountains. The road was so curvy and went so high up that it took us almost three hours to only go about 85 miles. It was nerve racking for the driver (me lol) but such a beautiful view.
Greece is one place I’ve always wanted to visit. Thanks for sharing!!!
Oh and way to go on getting the locals up and dancing.
Skittless last blog post..Heads Or Tails #38 – Any Tom, Dick Or Harry
Hi!
I really enjoy reading your blog, and you’re such a good storyteller.
I see that I have a lot to learn from you, and I want to say “Thank you” for making my day a good place to be in!
Anders
Anderss last blog post..Nytt jobb och ilskna tankar
What an adventure! Happy Tuesday.
WOW! All I could imagine was the feeling! Reminded me of those car commercials where they are travelling up the steep curvy roads going fast.
Thanks for stopping by Penny Lane and leaving a comment.
From the pictures, it looks just like the curvy roads in the mountains at the west part of Norway
Didn’t knew Mr Lifecruiser ever could be a Harry of any sorts, but know you could be a party queen – great story!
RennyBAs last blog post..A guided tour in Oslo with David Gurteen
Awesome story! Enjoyed that very much.
Sandy Ms last blog post..Heads or Tails
Sounds you had a nice trip full of adventures! Now Mr Lifecruiser can participe to the international races! Love the picture with the beach and the bar of course!
claudies last blog post..Wild flowers of south!
My husband seems to think he’s Taking part in a rally when driving around these sorts of mountain roads too, your post brought back many memories!!!
Inspiration Alleys last blog post..Any Tom, Dick or Harry
Rally Harry? That’s funny.
Hope rally Harry didn’t have the free drinks too and then drive…That would be a bit too much fun.
Lings last blog post..Let’s Eat (and Eat Some More)! My Favorite Restaurants in Los Angeles
I love those views but not the roads! nice story and great shots, Captain!
Mars last blog post..wordless wednesday [92] and the letter N
Hi, I write you from Greece the keyboard is awful, for the first time in my life I can t even read the street names it’s all in greek letters ! I’ll answer when I am back even Google is in greek letters and I can only guess were I have to click !
I am rather disappointed of Greece ! people very unfriendly everything is very expensive and the rest I will write when I am back.
Gattinas last blog post..
Filipinos, too, drive like crazy…but not me. there are also many roads like that here that zigzag around mountains…
would love to visit that island someday
Rally Harry, what a great expression;-)). And even Mr L turned out to be one of the kind. Would have loved to see him in action and Mrs Lifecruiser’s anxious face besides. LOL.
It was good you did not hit one of the animals at these curvy roads. Luckely for drivers who does, the animals are not as big as the Mooses we do have here in Scandinavia.
Great post and pictures.
PS. Got a new PC today: Lenovo ThinkPad T61. To be used when working here:
http://www.datateam.no/
oh i know what you mean with those roads in crete, we were there 2 years ago – and in giourgiopolis itself
you are right the beach is fantastic, you can have so much space without any bloody tourist watching your shoulders and we also had so much fun in the centre (giorgiopolis) we got a bit drank -we forgot our bags with camera, money and lots of olive oil! but the locals were such honest people, when we got back to the restaurant after more than an hour, the waiter was just laughing (probably thinking to himself bloody , drunken tourists 
) and gave me immediately the bag.
Tonis last blog post..Greetings from The V.
Lifecruiser, I enjoyed reading about this trip and learning a little more about another country.
I also loved seeing all the tulips in your other post. I do love flowers and those tulips were beautiful..