The Samaria Gorge, Crete.

This is the entrance to the Samaria Gorge, Europes longest and southernmost ravine. Every vistor to Crete just has to walk through the Samaria ravine at least once. This was my second time. I did it the first time in 1982. That time I almost didn't make it (my knees went on strike early on in the ravine). Thought I just had to do it once more, before getting to old and stiff to be able to make it again. So I did it on July 29th, 2001 again.

The Samaria ravine is 18 kms long. You start at about 2000 meters above sea-level and walk down to sea-level through the ravine. It is stony and steep and very hard walking. Doing it in the middle of the summer heat (around 35 centigrades) doesn't make it any easier. But with good shoes, taking it easy and drinking a lot of water, it is possible.