Crete
Saturday 25th May to Sunday 2nd June 2024
Star Beach Village & Waterpark, Heraklion
Saturday
My research for this holiday was relatively limited, obediently following the stereotypical male way of booking or ordering something. Although, to be fair, the resort looked so good in the photos it was hard to look at anything else after that. Daisy was worried that all the Greek holidays would be sold out so that also lent itself to relatively quick booking (although I did sit on it for a while, hence the worry).
Flight times were an issue but ultimately I accepted that there was no avoiding a (very) late night flight on the way back. However, on the way there it was a leisurely start as the flight wasn't until 4.05pm. That left scope for a park run and plenty of packing time. In time-honoured tradition, I had a beer (or two) at the airport while we kept track of the FA Cup final (which led to a disappointing result for the City-supporting Daisy, as United triumphed, although we didn't find that out until we landed).
The flight was slightly sluggish to take off, there was a bit of turbulence and a seemingly never-ending toilet queue (not helped by the seatbelts being on during the turbulence; the eternal line of people was commented on pithily by one of the air stewardesses, as I just squeezed in before the descent started in earnest), but otherwise it was a fairly smooth flight.
We were first on the transfer coach and therefore had to wait for everyone else to get on. The convoluted route for multiple drop-off locations meant that, although we were very close to our hotel at times, we looped round a few times to drop others off first, before we reached our destination at a little after midnight (albeit we were two hours ahead on time zones). We declined the offer of a complimentary buffet and went straight to our room. Daisy, being a teenage girl who naturally needs her own space, claimed the single bed while Gregory and I got the double bed. Her first act was no doubt putting in the wi-fi password.
They made us welcome with a complimentary plate of fruit and sweets, not to mention a bottle of red wine that I wouldn't touch.
Sunday
Grey skies and drizzle greeted us in the morning. It had been forecasted but was not what we had come to Greece for.
The questionable weather on top of our late night lent itself to chilling in the hotel room for most of the morning after a buffet breakfast (which would be somewhat of a theme). Whilst it was still a bit drizzly, I went for a mid-morning run and took the following picture, from the westernmost point of my run.
Finally ready for action, we picked up our free towels from the main pool bar and went to the pool. Gregory was definitely rocking the look, although he had unfortunately face planted whilst playing football at school the week before - you can still see the marks of this on his forehead.
The poolside bar offered an array of nutritious and refreshing drinks, full of naturally occurring colours.
For lunch, we had some random bits of pizza and chips on request from a moody server and some drinks before a flash of lightning and almost immediate thunder sent us scurrying back to our room. We decided to top up the food intake at the Taverna that was just below our room (and where we'd had our breakfast), particularly since we could stay undercover getting there. After chilling out in the room for another while, the sun finally came out. This is much better!
With the blue skies fully in operation, we marched over to the nearby and inclusively free waterpark (although having said that the bars required VIP access, which we did not have - but we were interested in slides not drinks). It was time for the obligatory knees photo.
OK, let's get those hairy monstrosities out of the way to take in the loveliness of the view out to the sea.
Gregory had some brief respite from the unlimited slide action.
Gregory and I then popped down to the beach for some wave dodging action.
Given Gregory's travel sickness, there was not much chance of me taking them for a boat tour. Nevertheless, this might have been the vehicle of choice should we change our minds. (We didn't.)
We hadn't booked anywhere for tea so that meant defaulting to the main restaurant. It was a little chaotic. Gregory was pretty chuffed with his watermelon and chocolate dessert combination.
We went to the hotel bar area for a bit, supping lemonades (mostly) whilst watching the go-karting next door.
Here is some go-karting action. Will he make the apex of the corner?
Why yes, yes he will. Not bad. There were a random assortment of drivers on going at very different speeds. It was slightly hypnotic to watch.
We had wondered where everyone was and where the action was happening. The answer was at the pool bar we had visited earlier. We were all set up for some homoerotic acrobatics. It centred initially around this tall pole, which had them clinging on with their legs, both upright...
...and upside down. The crowd were a little hard to please but we were waiting for something to truly take our breath away.
Gregory watched on from a better vantage point.
This perhaps wasn't the spectacular action we were hoping for, but it had clearly got a bit warm with his top off.
All bow down and hail the weird twisty jumping man with no top. He cleared him with plenty to spare, which was reassuring.
He then got three semi-willing volunteers to do something similar. He made it over them too. Phew, eh!
They both got into the action on the ring...
...actually getting into some pretty artistic symmetrical positions. All in all, it was an entertaining enough way to spend the evening.
Monday
We shuffled downstairs to the Taverna for breakfast due to its convenience, and it actually hammered down with rain for a brief time while we ate. It remained cloudy as we went for a post-breakfast stroll. We encountered this fairly sinister character. I got the well-rehearsed "we're having a great time, Dad" looks from the kids, right on cue. Could they look more unimpressed?
This was another shot from our walk. Looking pretty unsettled.
Given the weather, the kids set up camp playing Mario Kart on the Switch, which I had connected to the room's TV.
As they were entertained, I headed for a mid-morning run, this time heading east along the coast. It was already starting to brighten up considerably...
...and if I looked one way I could get complete blue sky.
It was still a bit cloudy, though, as we went to the pool with the pirate ship for some mini-slide action.
The mini-slides just whet our appetite for the real thing, though. So, after lunch at the Taverna (obviously), it was back to the waterpark for us.
After sliding ourselves silly, we went back to the pool bar. Daisy had spotted some football action on the nearby pitch, so joined in with some randoms. Gregory prioritised pool-based ball action but then decided he wanted to join in, but by the time we fetched his trainers it was too late, sniff.
We had booked the Asian restaurant for tea (they were all free and buffet-based, but advance booking was required in all but the main restaurant, presumably to manage numbers). On the way back, I got this picture as the sun was going down.
We eschewed the evening's entertainment, though, and headed instead to the hotel bar, with Daisy perhaps trying out a non-alcoholic cocktail.
And given all the pool action during the day, it was time for pool action of a different sort. This involved lots of shots, a decent number of fouls, the occasional pot and a crazy amount of bickering, as I watched on, supping beer and offering the odd piece of unwanted advice.
The theme of the hotel bar was nautical. Meanwhile, Daisy lost her bag and, consequently, her mind, but we got both back. (I think she had left it lying around a little way from where we played and someone had handed it in to reception, or a member of staff had collected it in. Anyway, "all's well that ends well" and "keep track of your stuff" were two good mottos.)
Back in the room, Gregory decided to be cool in bed. You can see his all-inclusive wristband here.
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