Unfortunately our geography fieldtrip to Crete had to come to an end. We all had a fantastic time and learnt a lot and were sad when it was time to return to England!
Crete fieldtrip 2009
We have all had our favourite moments which are mentioned below:
Qasim: The walk up Ilingas gorge was possibly something I will never forget. Through the day I had been able to overcome my fear of heights whilst seeing some the most stunning scenery I had ever witnessed. In addition to this I really loved getting to know the group I worked in and with the fieldclass group as a whole. They are completely awesome.
Cheryl: Walking up the Ilingas Gorge was possibly the most challenging part of the week, both physically and mentally. However, it it also one of my favourite days as it was very satisfying to reach the top. Similarly, the coastal walk back from Loutro to Chora Sfakion offered spectacular views and even though the rocky terrain of the last leg of the walk was not something I expected, it felt like a real achievement to finally reach the road.
Laura: I enjoyed the walk up Samaria Gorge the most as I thought the National Park was really beautiful. Also the walk was not to strenuous and there was a nice breeze as we were walking so we could survive the heat! I also enjoyed engaging with the tourists and finding out about their experiences in Crete. Asking business owners about how their income relied on tourism was also an eye opener.
Soph: I found it very satisfying to complete the most challenging walks. They were extremely mentally and physically challenging, especially in 37 degree heat! However, I’ve probably enjoyed getting to know the area and the laid back Cretan way of life the most. The food is fantastic too, all very fresh and local. The work itself was actually quite enjoyable, especially finding out the local business owners’ opinions on the industry on which they rely.
Mike: I found the walks on the first two days up Ilingas Gorge and from Loutro to Chora Sfakion extremely satisfying. The weather, the environment and the food were all a treat as well. However, my main achievement was polishing off a caraffe of Raki to myself because it would have been rude and offensive to the locals if I hadn’t. Good times!
Group 2
During out week in Crete we all learnt so much but most importantly, we learnt from one another. Prior to our fieldtrip to Crete, we didn’t really know each other very well or at all in some cases. However, from day one, we all supported one another and connected as a group. As a result of this, we believe we were able to make the most of our time and experiences in Crete. Not only have we been able to get to know one another personally and individually but we also worked excellently as a team as well. We believe this is an extremely important skill to have.
Finally, we would all like to say a big thank you to Dr Alan Howard, Richard Tegg and Ken Beard for organising, directing and accompanying us on our fieldtrip to Crete. Without their direction we would not have learnt as much knowledge or as many skills as we did on our fieldtrip.
As Peter Trudgill said, Chora Sfakion “was a little paradise on earth” (Trudgill, P. 2008; p.6)
References
Trudgill, P. (2008) In Sfakia: Passing time in the world of Crete, Lycabettus Press, Athens
