Matala 2014:- The Weekend of Love!

Greyrocks made its annual pilgrimage to Matala from June 19th.  Fortunately we had been told that the date would not be Greek Pentecost (as previously) but the solstice and so were able to book a hotel some time ahead, and it was a good one, very near the stage, beach and restaurants and with easy parking! We travelled straight to Rethymon and had a night booked with Lefteris. In the afternoon we went to the beach (with free sunbeds) and in the evening ate at The Noodle Bar getting in some beautiful duck.Next day we got off fairly early and as we headed south over the mountains the clouds gathered. It did rain:- not much, but sufficient to cause anxiety, but in fact it was wind and high seas that were the problem over the weekend! The date change (allegedly something to do with the election) did adversely affect the festival. There was no "big act" - other than a return gig by Tonis Sfinos, which is amazingly popular with Greeks of all ages, and a complete mystery to everyone else! Other acts were mostly tributes: Doors, Muse, Bob Marley, Police and Beatles, and were of variable quality!

It was arguably not as good a line-up as in previous years and there was less music going on formally in the village itself, but we came across some great busking and went to one of the bars that have developed at the extreme end of the bay. Most time was however spent - as usual - at The Lions where we greeted as old friends, and we were hailed within minutes of arriving at the hotel by B&J from Kalives, and spent a good few hours with them and their friends.

A good few had travelled from Paleochora for the weekend, including three women running a clothes stall. The pavements had been painted shortly before and the themes were predictable. There was a good vibe despite the fizzling-out by Sunday evening.

On Monday Greyrocks decamped and went to the Nea Hora in Chania for an afternoon in the sun and a night at our favourite hotel. It would have been an afternoon on a sunbed but no discount was being offered for our very late arrival so we petulantly walked off to a taverna and spent at least that much on a miso-kilo aspro krassi! We went back there for supper and Ruth enjoyed a section of one of the octopus seen hanging earlier. Next day it was delicacy- and bargain-hunting in the big supermarkets and back to Paleo.