Valley Village

Phaistos 15 km away from Matala

by Evica

By bus u can easily reach the second most important Minoian palace on Crete. Ruler was brother of Knossos king and there are similar or even the same structure of place such as in Knossos. Take bus from Matala, it§s just around 10-15 minutes and costs 1,50 Euro.

George is right ...

by Skipka

"Welcome to Matala :)"

My "welcome to Matala" is worth to mention here. After arrival to Heraklion Airport I jumped to the taxi and headed for Matala. I see, people gave me advice not to take a taxi from airport...but.... if you have lots of luggage and look like ladybird from the back u don't mind it especially if there is 4 am :). Our taxi driver made driving licence in Fitipaldi's garage or so because he went so fast around all those serpentines and curves on the road that I just closed my eyes and muted. Hehe, outside was still darkness so better for us we haven't seen where we go...
Arrival to Matala was amaying. One small circle with fountain at 6 o'clock in the morning near sunrise and no people at all. The whole Matala sleeping just cats said their miaou to us as a welcoming sign.
Quite fascinating...

"Bird's view"

Right after finding the accomodation in Pension Silvia we did a nap of course but I got up first and started to explore the land around. Nice rocks and places, noise in downtown, special smells and beautiful flora... should u sleep in such a surrounding? Me, not...
That afternoon we climbed the first rock because we were searching for the famous Red Beach and just Sun stopped us to go there directly. U see, when the biggest bulb is going to turn the light off u are not safe in the rocks at all. :) So, I did this wonderful view pic to cuddle your eye :)

"And finally Matala in day"

And Matala as a small fishery village about I have read turned to the tourist center in some ways. MIni markets, tavernas and coffee shops (right title in the English not in Greek), souvenirs shops etc. A bit dissapointed but it was still one of the less touristic places on the whole island thought. Pension Silvia is situated at the end of the street of hotels and pensions so u have your own peace there and sometimes u hear the bells of sheep so still romantic place. But I have read about virgin Greek countryside discovered by hippies in 60's so should expect something like that. I would like to find place where I am not tourist but stranger. This is not that place anymore.