Greta’s family was on vacation in the mountains of Crete when she was 6 months old. baby: “lazy those who think it is impossible” Life

“My husband and I are a tireless and adventurous duo. Since we were little, we ride motorcycles together, hike in the mountains, climb rocks and are open to new experiences. So it is not surprising that we maintain our lifestyle and rhythm. even after the baby is born in January. ” 15 minutes he tells Greta.

Grant, the son of Gretai and Mantas, in his hands or on a luggage rack, does not interfere with the continuation of his hikes in the mountains, intoxicating walks through the gorges, enjoying the coast or settling in a remote Greek village. It sounds incredible, but in a month the family has traveled 200 km and climbed the highest mountain on the island.

“The most pleasant thing was to see how quickly and willingly the baby adapts, learns, is interested in how it has changed and grown in a month. At home, the son reluctantly bathed or in the pool, and here we can hardly get him out of the sea. It’s amazing how travel and new experiences help you improve. We took the baby, we brought the child ”, smiles the woman from Kaunas.

– Also, how did you come up with the idea of ​​using parental leave in a completely different way than many, not sitting in Lithuania, but going abroad?

– When I learned that my parents in Lithuania receive a month of paid vacation, which can be taken during the first year, I told my husband that we must dedicate this time in a meaningful way. I decided that after the birth of a child, I would take care of myself for the first few months. After all, only a born baby eats, sleeps, so I often hear from friends that at that time the man is on vacation at home “on the couch.” It turned out to be a waste of time for us, so we decided to evaluate the possibility of leaving and spending that month together for everyone in a different way.

– Others would say – you are lucky, not everyone could make a trip like this, a child and that is why it requires more expenses, and those vacations are not a cheap pleasure. How was your case?

– I think there is no success in life, there is only hard work. And people see what they want to see. A month of vacation abroad is not as luxurious as it sounds. I would say that a family on vacation 1 or 2 times a year can really afford it.

Planning a vacation in advance saves a lot, and in most places accommodation costs a week for two weeks. For long stays 40% discounts apply in some places, which means you spend as much on a flight as you do for a week or two, the accommodation offers discounts, you also buy food while you are in Lithuania. Of course, the more you spend on car rentals, discounts are rare. But, in principle, the cost probably reaches the budget of the usual annual vacation abroad.

– What are the prices? How much do you spend per month in Crete?

– Remember that this is not just a parental leave benefit, but also a parental leave benefit. Whether it is sufficient or not depends on its size and, of course, on the needs. You can live and eat very luxuriously and on average.

When evaluating a mid-level holiday in Greece, Crete, I can say that a large newly furnished country house for a family of 3-4 people by the sea, with a swimming pool, two rooms, terrace, all the necessary domestic and technical equipment is You can rent for about 1000 EUR per month. However, you can also find really decent apartments for 500-600 Eur (the price includes all services).

Food in both stores and cafes costs very similar to Lithuania, so you can estimate the average costs. Car rental per month starts from 600 Eur (with all insurances, taxes), but you can do without it or rent for a shorter period of time when you plan to travel around the island. So it all depends on the needs of the family.

– It was probably during the pregnancy that I had to do a serious task to prepare for that trip with my son?

– Regarding the changes in our personal life after the birth of a child, my husband and I have always known and had the opinion that children do not interfere with active leisure, but only increase the joy of discoveries and new experiences. After all, however you like, so be it! Well prepared, well thought out, any family hike or challenge is possible and easily achievable.

So I carefully planned this getaway for our parental leave month, thought, searched for information for a long time, chose the right place for accommodation, put together a travel plan. Of course, the plan has been changed quite a few times since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

– Have you traveled to Crete before?

– We planned to go to Crete as soon as Grant was 3 months old, but that’s when the unexpected pandemic started. The trip was delayed. Only when the situation improved did we decide to seize the opportunity and not wait for the second wave. We went with a 6-month-old baby to the remote Cretan village of Karoti, where, as we joked, the threat of the virus is zero compared to Kaunas or the tourist-filled Lithuanian resorts.

The journey with the baby went as smoothly as possible, beginning with the flight and ending with the heat. After all, it used to heat up to 40 degrees here for days. The most important thing is to plan all your excursions in the morning or in the evening and spend the hot afternoon by the pool in the shade.

So it can be said that everything was easier and simpler than we expected. Greeks are very sincere and helpful, and with such a small baby we feel even more loved here.

In Grant’s town there is a real light, everyone knows it, and both children and the elderly flee to pass. We get pleasant surprises: the hostess brings the cake, the neighbor brings her homemade eggs, fresh olive oil, and even her own soap. Living here with a baby is just good!

– Is this your activities there?

– We wanted to live as much Greek life as possible, so we chose a traditional village with only 200 inhabitants, everyone knows each other (now we), the closest shop is 4 km away, farmers come three times a week with their own products (fresh fruit and vegetables), so we really have the opportunity to feel not only like tourists, but also, in a sense, part of the community.

In the village we will stay in a restored traditional house. When traveling with a family for an extended period, I always recommend choosing just a cabin or cabin rather than a hotel as more space is needed. In summer it is necessary to have a terrace, swimming pool or nearby sea. We are the first residents of this house, so the hosts were quick to greet us and greet us on arrival (fruit, wine, cake), there was a very pleasant trust and communication throughout the trip.

Our days are dedicated to relaxation, family time, and island exploration. Although we are visiting Crete for the third time, there are still endless places to visit. As the owner says, it would not be enough to see Crete even for a year if you travel daily. We agree.

– Crete is also comfortable when traveling with a child, why did you choose it?

– We have considered several travel destinations, but Greece has proven to be the most suitable choice for a vacation and family time from past memories. Nice people here, delicious food, friendly atmosphere, beautiful nature. Also, Crete is big, so we will be able to see a lot. Our choice was fully confirmed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as Greece remained the only country for low-risk travel and is currently the only holiday destination.

– Besides, weren’t you afraid of leaving with a baby in your arms? After all, this is a new stage for you, you are learning the responsibilities of parenthood that you have not yet known, and here you are also in a foreign environment …

– In six months we get to know and understand the baby perfectly. It seems that we are together for life. So we weren’t concerned at all about parental responsibilities. To avoid unpleasant events, we found out in advance that there is a large medical institution on the island, if we needed help, we took out medical insurance. This is the most important thing and you can deal with everything else, just like home.

The only thing we couldn’t prepare for is the baby’s reaction to the flight. However, we are very happy that the flight went smoothly, we just did not cry without landing during the landing. But we won’t run from him, at least not yet.

We walked more than 200 km, we climbed to the highest peak of the White Mountains. The greeted passersby jokingly said that he simply wouldn’t be the youngest traveler to make it to the mountain.

– You actively travel: mountains, gorges, waterfalls … A rare parent who dares to take a small child to those places not only because it sounds risky, but also has the opinion that it is difficult to travel with babies in general, such They may grow better for that. to travel. What you think?

– Definitely yes, we travel a lot and actively! During the 28 days of vacation, 20 of them traveled. We drove 2,500 km, we covered more than 200 km. We climbed to the highest peak in the White Mountains (Pachnes, 2453 m). Passersby smiled kindly, jokingly saying that he would not be the youngest traveler to reach the mountain, and in the future, a true daredevil.

Together we cross three beautiful gorges, we overcome hiking along the coastal roads, we visit the most beautiful places on the island. And we couldn’t say it was complicated. As we joke with my husband, it is much more difficult to travel with some adults …

It is important to prepare properly for night trips and walks. To assemble not only yourself, but most importantly, the things that a child needs, food, water, clothes, everything that he should have nearby. Of course, you need a comfortable carrier and strong hands when the child wakes up. Well prepared, these trips become a great pleasure, since reaching a summit or overcoming a gorge brings much more joy when the whole family does it together.

The most fun is seeing a baby interested in the world and exploring nature, trying to touch the rippling water of the mountain, stretching the legs towards the waterfall, looking at the mountain tops and the seemingly limitless expanse of the Mediterranean. Therefore, we believe that the travel age is not the limit. They fill you with the best emotions, experiences both small and large.

– Were there stressful situations?

– And what without them … There have been no trips that are not accompanied by surprises (and not always pleasant). We didn’t get along on this trip, either. One of the most memorable was a trip to take a walk through the palm grove and the gorge of Preveli beach. It is a completely tourist-friendly place, with only one trail and a nearby river. But … we missed each other. And completely unexpectedly.

Stopping to look at the end of the road, I decided that it was still small for us and we had to march to the end of the gorge. We agreed to do it. I, along with a backpack with food, water, telephones, ran along the coastal path to see if there was a passage, and the man with the baby, meanwhile, went into the gorge of the riverbed. So we pass. Returning with the good news that the road is there, I did not meet my men, and when they traveled down the river, they did not agree with me. The result is that we are not on the path lined with tourists for 1.5 hours. Instead of a short 3km walk, we had a 12km running track. Glad to be in a stressful state, Grant slept peacefully with Dad on the trunk as we tried to find ourselves in the 35-degree heat.

Surprises are always scary and cause mild stress, sometimes not all, but there is something to remember later on. Most importantly, a happy ending.

– Your experiences sound really simple and fun, so why do you think other parents avoid trying the same? Tingi? Or maybe just scared?

– I know and see that parents who actively traveled without children do it even more intensely with them. Parents are even more willing to show, experiment and discover together. Lovers of passive life only have the opportunity to justify themselves and discover many reasons why they cannot travel, have active leisure (well, you know: “the child is sick”, “restless”, “it was a bad night”, etc.).

We believe that the age to travel is not the limit. They fill you with the best emotions, experiences both small and large.

I think the most important thing to think about is what kind of life you want. If you are fascinated by new and undiscovered experiences, the desire to know and discover, you must first set yourself an easy challenge, for example, visit a new place in your own country every week. Then, once you feel safe traveling with your baby, it won’t be difficult to take more trips or active walks. As long as you’re in a safe area, your home seems to be here for the better, getting used to it, getting stuck, starting to freak out, not knowing what, and staying to watch a late night movie. I want to avoid that.

And I myself was of the opinion that small children, and even more so babies, do not need to travel, because they still cannot remember. Yes, they will not remember where they were or what they saw, but what they experience, taste, shape their personality, nurture them, and help them grow at simply uncontrollable speeds.

If you are tormented by the fear of determination, answer all the “buts” and “yeses”, I have no doubt that they are all easy to solve and overcome. And then I want to dare and stop!