Crwydro a Mwydro

Chwilio am le tawel i ymweld ag yr haf hwn? Dwi’n awgrymu Agia Pelagia, ardal Heraklion yng Ngogledd Crete, Groeg.

Mae’r dref dawel, Agia Pelagia tua 30 munud o faes awyr Heraklion ac arhosom yng ngwesty Blue Bay lle’r roedd y staff, y bwytai, bariau â’r holl gyfleusterau yn berffaith i ni fel cwpl ifanc oedd yn edrych ymlaen at ymlacio ac archwilio ein Hynys Roegaidd cyntaf (gobeithio’r cynta’ o lawer). Mi wnaethon ni ymweld â’r dref ar ddiwedd tymor yr haf, yr wythnos gyntaf ym mis Medi. Roedd y tywydd yn berffaith drwy’r wythnos, ond mi wnaethon ni rywsut benderfynu mynd i hwylio ar y diwrnod mwya’ gwyntog…Typical!

Top tip: Peidiwch â gadael eich drws patio yn agor yn rhy hir yma, efallai gewch chi ymweliad gan gecko lleol fel y ni!

Mae Blue Bay yn westy hardd sy’n eistedd ar ben bryn ac yn edrych allan am y môr ac Ynys Dia. Mi dreulion ni ein diwrnod cynta’ yn archwilio’r ardal ac yn torheulo ar draeth cyfagos; Paralia Mononaftis. Dim ond 5 munud ar droed ydi Mononaftis (i lawr allt eitha’ serth) hefo dŵr clir, perffaith ar gyfer nofio a deifio. 80 metr o hyd ydi’r traeth caregog neilltuedig, gyda naws hamddenol iawn (ond mae angen talu €10 am wely haul). Mae popeth sydd ei angen yno, marchnadoedd, siopau bach, gwahanol fathau o chwaraeon dŵr a thafarndai ar lan y traeth. Gan gynnwys Taverna Bar Vasilis, cafodd ei argymell yn fawr gan staff Blue Bay, tafarn bach Groegaidd traddodiadol hefo awyrgylch diwylliedig…ond cofiwch, rhaid archebu bwrdd yma ymlaen llaw.

Mi dreulion ni’n ail fore yn darllen a chwarae cardiau wrth y pwll oedolion yn unig, un o 6 bwll sydd ar gael yn Blue Bay. Ar ôl cinio ym mhrif fwyty’r gwesty, aethom draw i Quad Safari Peninsula am brynhawn o antur o amgylch ynys fwyaf Groeg.

Yn ystod ein taith hanner diwrnod ar y Quads, fe ymwelon â’r “Ghost Village”, Pentref bach sy’n dyst i dreftadaeth a diwylliant cyfoethog Crete. Mae’r pentref gwag (gan eithrio un neu ddau o bobl leol hŷn) yn arswydus ac yn adrodd hanes effaith twristiaeth ar yr ynys yn berffaith wrth i’w thrigolion adael i ddechrau busnesau ar y glannau, lle oedd twristiaeth yn dechrau ffynnu.

Stop nodedig arall ar y daith oedd pwynt uchaf Agia Pelagia a oedd yn cynnwys golygfeydd syfrdanol o dirwedd naturiol Crete. Mae Pentref yr Orenau, sy’n cael ei adnabod fel man geni El Greco, y peintiwr Groegaidd, yn gerflunydd ac yn bensaer y Dadeni Sbaenaidd (Spanish Renaissance), yn fan prydferth hefo llwyni o orenau yn addurno’r lonydd.

Ar eich ymweliad â Crete, fe welwch lot o gapeli bach maint tŷ dol ar hyd ffyrdd, yn sicr mi welon ni lwythi. Er eu bod yng nghanol nunlla, hyd yn oed i fyny yn uchel yn y mynyddoedd, roeddent yn cael eu cadw’n berffaith. Mae’r “shrines” yn ddiolch i Seintiau Groeg, wedi’u hadeiladu gan oroeswyr damweiniau, yn aml yn ddamweiniau car, ger lleoliad y ddamwain.

Mae pob gwyliau da yn cynnwys ymweliad i’r parc dŵr agosaf, felly dyma ni’n mynd ar ein trydydd diwrnod. WaterCity ydi parc dŵr mwyaf Crete, ychydig i’r dwyrain o Heraklion ei hun. Treulion ni drwy’r dydd yna a chael amser bril yn trio bob un o’r sleidiau a gweithgareddau, gan gynnwys “Tarzan’s Game” (peidiwch â hongian o’ch traed)! Mae digonedd o ddewis o fwyd yn y parc, a hyd yn oed mwy o fariau diodydd, peidiwch ag anghofio trio eu smwddis blasus ar eich ymweliad.

Treuliasom ein pedwerydd diwrnod yn ymlacio yn y llety wrth ymyl y pwll oedolion ac yn un o fariau Blue Bay, gyda golygfeydd godidog yn edrych allan am y môr. Ar ôl cinio fe wnaethon ni fwynhau rhai o gyfleusterau y gwesty a chwarae tenis, er ei fod ychydig yn rhy boeth i wneud hyn!! Yn y prynhawn fe wnaethom ymweld â’r dref gyfagos, Agia Pelagia, mewn tacsi a ddarperir gan ein gwesty. Mae’r dref ei hun yn gartref i lond llaw o dafarndai lleol a digon o siopau cofroddion. A oedd yn berffaith ar gyfer taith gerdded i ddod i nabod y gymuned yn y prynhawn.

Ar ein 5ed diwrnod, fe adawon ni Blue Bay yn gynnar yn y bore gan ddal bws mini i Hen Farina Fenisaidd Heraklion, lle aethon ni ar fwrdd ein cwch hwylio am ½ diwrnod. Gyda 4 cwpl arall, pob un o wahanol genhedloedd, mi gychwynnodd y cwch am Ynys Dia, taith fer ond gwyntog. Ar ôl treulio’r 15 munud yn ystyried neidio i’r môr, mi nes i benderfynu peidio a defnyddio’r grisiau yn lle. Oni ‘di rhyfeddu at weld y bywyd gwyllt o dan wyneb y dwr, ond wedi fy nychryn gan y draenogod y môr ar hyd y creigiau! Treulion ni’r bore yn nofio, snorcelu ac yn dysgu am yr ynys gan ein tywysydd/capten lleol. Mi gawsom ginio traddodiadol ar y cwch, salad Groegaidd cartref gyda chyw iâr – anfarwol. Cawsom amser gwych a dwi’n argymell y profiad yma i bawb!

Treulion ni’r noson honno yn gorwedd a snorcelu ar draeth caregog tawel arall – Paralia Psaromoura, taith gerdded fer arall o’n gwesty, i fyny at Peninsula Resort & Spa ac yna dilyn y llwybr i lawr cyfres o risiau i’r traeth delfrydol.

Treuliwyd ein 7fed diwrnod yn Heraklion ei hun. Mae Heraklion yn gartref i nifer o amgueddfeydd, gan gynnwys yr Amgueddfa Archeolegol. Treulion ni’r rhan fwyaf o’r diwrnod yn archwilio’r marchnadoedd a’r siopau, gyda’r ddau ohonom yn gwario ar ddarnau newydd o emwaith i ychwanegu at ein casgliadau. O bob siop mi wnaethom ni ddod o hyd i Zara…yn amlwg mi oedd rhaid i mi fynd i gael sbec! Mae’n wir be mae pobl yn deud, mae Zara dramor yn well na’ rhai ni.

Stopion ni am ginio mewn bwyty o’r enw Veranda. Roedd y bwyd yn swmpus ac yn flasus dros ben – 10/10! Mi ges i bwdin anfarwol, sef fondue siocled gyda ffrwythau a wafflau, ella ddylwn i wedi darllen y fwydlen yn iawn, gan ei fod yn blatiad i ddau – ond mi nes i’w fwyta i gyd mewn un!

Fe wnaethom barhau i grwydro’r ddinas ar ôl cinio a phenderfynu mynd adref ganol prynhawn. Mi oedden ni’n lwcus iawn i gael lle ar y bws, y tro nesaf byddwn yn ystyried archebu tacsi o flaen llaw.

Ein diwrnod olaf ar ein hymweliad â Crete oedd fy ffefryn. Treulion ni ein bore gyda Safari Club ar daith dywys i Nida, gan archwilio calon Crete. Gan rannu ein taith gyda 3 chwpl arall, treuliasom y diwrnod mewn Jeep yn crwydro’r mynyddoedd.

Ein stop cyntaf ar y daith oedd i Krousonas, lle buom yn ymweld â dynes hyfryd sydd yn gwneud olew olewydd, a raki cryf iawn (diod alcoholig) ei hun, mi wnaethom ni i gyd roi cynnig arno (atgoffwch fi i ddweud na pan mae ‘na rywun yn cynnig raki i mi tro nesaf). Ar ôl treulio dipyn o amser yma a phrynu cofroddion i’r teulu, dechreuom ar ein taith i lawr y mynyddoedd caregog tuag at Lwyfandir Livadi lle daethom ar draws band o eifr mynydd.

Nida Plateau oedd nesaf, gyda golygfeydd o gopaon uchaf Crete sydd, coeliwch neu beidio, wedi eu gorchuddio ag eira rhan fwyaf o’r flwyddyn! Y prif stop ar y daith oedd Ideon Andron, a elwir fel arall yn Ogof Zeus, lle yn ôl mytholeg, cymerodd y “God of Thunder” Groegaidd loches fel babi, gan guddio rhag ei ​​dad, Cronos.

Roedd y grŵp yn hyfryd, a chawsom y cyfle i sgwrsio gyda phâr cyfeillgar o’r gwesty cyfagos yn ystod ein cinio mewn arhosfa leol oedd yn gweini bwyd traddodiadol Crete. Stopiom unwaith eto am goffi (can o lemonêd yn fy achos i) mewn pentref bach cyn mynd yn ôl am adref, lle buom yn cuddio rhag yr haul cryf am weddill y prynhawn.

Rhaid i bopeth da ddod i ben, fel y gwnaeth ein hymweliad cyffrous â Crete. Mae’r daith hon yn un y byddaf yn ei chofio am byth, fy ymweliad cyntaf â Gwlad Groeg. Mi ddylai Crete fod ar restr gwyliau pawb – fedrai ddim disgwyl mynd yn ôl. Mae’r ynys yn cynnig llawer o bethau diddorol i’w gwneud ac mae ganddi nifer o westai mawreddog i’r rhai sy’n dewis mynd i ymlacio.

Mi welwn i chdi eto Crete x

English

Looking for a quiet place to visit this summer? I suggest the Agia Pelagia, Heraklion area of Northern Crete.

The quiet town of Agia Pelagia is about 30 minutes from Heraklion airport. The staff, restaurants, bars and amenities at the Blue Bay Resort Hotel were perfect for us as a young couple, looking to relax and explore our first (hopefully of many) Greek Island. We visited towards the end of the season in the first week of September and the weather was perfect the whole week, although we somehow ended up on a sailing boat on the windiest day…Typical.

Top tip: Don’t leave your patio door open for too long here, you might get a visit from a local… gecko! Just like we did!

Blue Bay is a beautiful resort that sits atop a hill looking out at the sea and Dia Island, which we got a chance to visit! We spent our first day exploring the resort and lounging around at the nearby beach; Paralia Mononaftis. Mononaftis is only a 5 minute walk away (down a relatively steep hill) with perfect clear water for snorkelling and diving. The pebbled beach is only 80 metres long and secluded, with a laid back vibe. Everything you need for a beach bum kind of day is here, mini markets, souvenir shops, an array of watersports and taverns on the beachfront, including the highly recommended Taverna Bar Vasilis, remember to book in advance for a table here.  

Our second morning was spent at the adults only pool reading and playing cards. There are a total of 6 pools available at Blue Bay. After lunch at the main restaurant we headed over to Quad Safari Peninsula for an afternoon of exploring the largest of the Greek Islands. 

During our half day tour, we visited the Ghost Village, a testament to Crete’s rich heritage and culture. The abandoned village (bar one or two elderly locals) is beautifully haunting, and tells the tale of the effect of tourism on the island wonderfully as its inhabitants left to conduct business on the waterfront, where tourism was, and still is thriving. 

Another notable stop on the tour was the highest point of Agia Pelagia which harboured breathtaking views of Crete’s natural landscapes. The village of the oranges which is famously known as El Greco’s birthplace is a picturesque spot with orange groves adorning the streets.

On your visit to Crete, you might find little doll-house sized chapels along busy roads, we certainly did. Although they were almost always in the middle of nowhere, some even up high in the mountains, they were immaculately kept and tended to. These shrines are a thank you to Greek saints, as they were built and placed by survivors of accidents, often car accidents, at the scene of the ordeal.

Every good holiday includes a visit to the nearest waterpark, and that’s what we did on our third day! WaterCity is Crete’s largest waterpark, just East of Heraklion itself. We spent all day here and had a blast trying all of the slides and activities, including Tarzan’s Game (just don’t hang from your feet)! There’s plenty of choice of food at this park, and even more drink bars, don’t forget to try their delicious smoothies on your visit!

We spent our fourth day relaxing at the resort by the adults pool and at one of Blue Bay’s bars with amazing, scenic views looking out to the sea. After lunch we enjoyed one of the hotel’s many amenities and even played tennis, although it was a little too hot for this!! In the afternoon we paid a visit to the nearby town, Agia Pelagia, via a taxi provided by our hotel. The town itself hosts a handful of locally owned taverns and multiple souvenir shops, perfect for an afternoon stroll.

On our 5th day we left Blue Bay early in the morning via a minibus transfer to Heraklion’s Old Venetian Marina, where we boarded our sailing boat for ½ the day. Along with 4 other couples, all different nationalities, we sailed the short (windy) distance to inhabited Dia Island. After spending the first 15 minutes contemplating jumping from the boat into the sea, and eventually chickening out and using the steps, I was breath taken to see the wildlife beneath the surface but terrified of the sea urchins along the rocks. We spent the morning swimming, snorkelling and taking in information from our local guide/captain, before being called in for a homemade Greek salad with chicken skewers for lunch. We truly had the best time and would highly recommend this experience.

We then spent the evening lounging and snorkelling on another quaint pebbled beach – Paralia Psaromoura. This was a short walk from our hotel, up to Peninsula Resort & Spa then following the path down a series of steps to the idyllic beach.

The 7th day of our visit to Crete was spent in Heraklion itself. Heraklion is home to multiple museums, including the Archeological Museum, a visit not to be missed by archeology lovers. We spent the majority of the day exploring the markets and shops, the both of us walking away with new pieces of jewellery to add to our collection. Obviously, we visited the local Zara as I simply cannot walk past without wandering in, it’s true that the Zara’s abroad are better than the ones at home…

We stopped for lunch at a rooftop restaurant called Veranda. The portions were hearty and delicious – 10/10! Honourable mention to the to die for dessert, a chocolate fondue with fruit and waffles, which was apparently meant to be for 2? I didn’t get the memo!

We continued to explore the city after lunch and decided to head home mid afternoon. We were lucky to get a space on the coach, next time we’ll consider booking a taxi ahead of time.

Our last, full day on our visit to Crete was my favourite. We spent our morning with Safari Club on a guided tour to Nida, exploring the heart of Crete. Sharing our tour with 3 other couples, we spent the day crammed into an off-roading jeep which thankfully had air conditioning.

Our first visit was to Krousonas, where we visited a lovely old lady who made her own olive oil and very strong raki (an alcoholic beverage) that we all tried as soon as we stepped into her home. Remind me to say no when offered raki next time. After spending some time here and buying souvenirs for the family, we made our way up and down the rocky hills towards Livadi Plateau where we came across a band of mountain goats.

Nida Plateau was next, with views of Crete’s highest peaks which are apparently covered with snow most of the year! The main stop on the tour was to Ideon Andron, otherwise known as Zeus’ Cave, where according to mythology, the Greek God of Thunder took refuge as a baby, hiding from his father, Cronos.

The group was lovely, and we especially had the chance to chat with another couple from our neighbouring hotel during lunch at a local stop serving traditional Cretan food. We stopped once more for coffee (or in my case a lemonade) at a small village before heading back home for the day where we hid from the burning sun for the rest of the afternoon.

All good things must come to an end, as did our eventful visit to Crete. This trip is one that I will always remember, my first visit to Greece. Crete should not be missed and crossed off your list, I can’t wait to be back. The island offers many interesting things to do for explorers, and has multiple grand resorts for those who prefer to chill.

We’ll see you again Crete x