What I See With Peter Fiorenza: Overseas travel can be a hard slog but worth it to arrive in place like Greece

Did you know that in Greece you cannot flush toilet paper down the toilet after using it? The reason I’m aware of this unusual fact is because I am currently in Greece. As I write this, I arrived on the island of Crete via Athens yesterday evening after being locked in travel for some 25-plus hours. That’s the reality for us Australians if we want to travel to Europe, because it’s just so far away. Firstly, you have to wait at Perth Airport for hours before leaving on the first 11-hour leg of the journey, only to have to lay over another five or so hours, before taking off again for another five. Then there is all the security and passport checks and the fact I really find it hard sleeping on a plane. But for me, these First World problems are all worth it once you arrive at your destination. Chania, on the north-western coast of the Mediterranean island of Crete is a gem, to say the least. My little Airbnb could not be more ideal. It’s located in what I can only describe as an old picturesque village near the beach. The front door of my beautifully renovated 14th century one-room apartment opens onto a cobblestoned street filled with shops, restaurants and endless taverns. You know the term “it’s just like the pictures in the brochure”? Well in my opinion, where I’m staying meets all expectations and then some. I’m here in Greece to spend time with good friends, but I’ll still be doing my own thing and having restaurants and endless taverns metres from my front door is certainly my cup of tea. I’ve already sampled a couple of places and told the lovely lady that served me breakfast this morning that I’ll definitely be back tomorrow. For me, holidays are about relaxing — and this place oozes relaxation. My plans are pretty loose too. A week here, then off to another island, is all I’ve really locked in. I learnt early in my travels to keep things pretty open and I’m glad I have again here in Greece. Just a day in and I can feel adventure in the air. Peter Fiorenza is a City of Greater Geraldton councillor and presenter on Radio MAMA