The new season is in gear in Sfakia. As always at this time of year, the locals are happy to see new faces. Most of the restaurants and businesses are open, and every day more tourists are expected. A group of canoeists from Ireland have been here since before western Easter.
In Loutro, friends report that only one restaurant is open (at the far end of the bay), and coffee/snacks are being served at the Daskalogiannis café for the moment, but at least 3 more restaurants should open by the weekend.
The winter was mild here, so there are plenty of flowers and greenery along the paths in the village, and lemon trees are heavy with fruit.
There are many new things in village which show that it was a busy winter here:
At the Xenia hotel, they have put a large sun awning over one of their sun terraces.
At the Lefa Ori, they have extended and nicely renovated the restaurant (to the right on the photos), including very nice new toilets, and they are in the process of finishing a new room over the extension.
An old-style room over hairdressers (next to Despina’s) is being turned into tourist accommodation.
At the Ombrosgialos restaurant, they have extended their kitchen and put in new cooking appliances, plus added a window and a bigger extraction fan for their comfort.
On the back street, the old ruined butcher shop has been cleared out and boarded up, with renovations scheduled for the winter; and the old souvenir shop under Sophia's rooms is being prepared for a new business.
The Panorama hotel at the corner of the road overlooking the new harbour is being totally renovated, and they hope to have it open in the summer.
We will be here all month, so will send in reports about other news as we explore beyond the lower village.
