Matala - hippie & happy

Matala is on the TO DO-To SEE list in every guide book, next to Knossos Palace, Phaistos Palace, Samaria Gorge and venetian harbours of Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion. Famous caves made already from Neolithic Age, in the cliffs above the sea, were later used in the first christianity centuries as tombs.

pic. from: Culthole blogspot

According to myths, Zeus as huge white bull, seduced princess Europa and brought her exactly to Matala beach.
Matala was also a port village for Gortys.

But what really attracts tourists nowadays is the genius loci of this fishing village which was in 1960's discovered by hippies and occupied by them for a long time.

I  give just a few pictures from Matala BEFORE the high season. 

Place is beautiful, but what makes it special are definately people: guests, wanderers, travellers, neo-hippies, lonely wolves and free birds. 

Since 2011 there were three editions of Matala Beach Festival every June,  details are here  and i hope Festival will develop.

 

pic.from: unique crete blogspot.

This is how Matala looks in high season:

 Because this is not really my thing, i would not stay there to spent my precious holiday time as escape from work and stress. 

You really have to like it and finding yourself well in colorful crowd.

 If you do - well it is perfect destination.


Nevertheless, everyone should absolutely visit Matala, see the caves, get a refreshing drink in one of lovely, crazy places, in the village or on the cliffs and think about graffiti sentence from Matala:

TODAY IS LIFE, TOMORROW NEVER COMES