What a fantastic way to end my two-week vacation in Greece! By the time I got to Heraklion, I was sufficiently tired and sunburnt from all of the island hopping we had been doing, so it was so nice to have a place to wind down and enjoy the simpler things that Greece has to offer. I really felt like we got a taste of the real local lifestyle away from the tourist destinations that we had been visiting (Mykonos, Santorini, Athens), so it was a welcome contrast. This is not a place for the resort types, but if you are looking for something more humble and authentic, this is definitely the place for you.

Upon our arrival, the room was set up with a case of water (tap water is not potable), fruits, a loaf of bread, croissants, and coffee, and a family meal of roast goat, potatoes, and greek salad was shared with the family and friends. Papa Nikos and Mama Fofo were the most amazing hosts I could have ever asked for, they were so welcoming and giving, from home cooked dinners to transportation, to addressing any issues or requests (I locked myself out twice).

The accommodation was a little outside of the city, but only a 15minute bike ride to a beautiful beach (bikes provided) and walking distance from the bus. Nikos also offered us a ride into the city on his way to work and even asked if we needed to use the car, but we were content with taking it easy on the farm.

Each day, we were provided with fresh milk from the goats and eggs from the chickens when available. We were welcome to pick fruits and vegtables from the garden and even got a personal tour from Nikos and watched him milk the goats.

Pickup from the port was arranged and we also got a ride to the airport when we were leaving, which was a big help. When we left, we were encouraged to come back again soon. In the end we only ended up paying for lunch when we went out, otherwise most of whatever we needed was graciously provided for us. You could really tell that hosting visitors is just something that this family genuinely enjoys doing and is not for the profit of having a vacation rental. Nikos and Fofo have left me feeling like a part of their family, and have really inspired me to want to share my own home with others the way that they have shared their home with me. This is a family I hope to stay in touch with and meet again in the future. (And maybe meet George as well)