Within a few days of arriving on Crete, I was assigned to Able Flight and met Jim Desjardins and Walt Mikula, both ditty bops (my roommates). I was also in the right place at the right time and was able to purchase a Jeep from someone who was returning home.
Without personal transportation, it was exceedingly difficult for G.I.'s to get around. The base bus didn't help much with exploring and, besides, who wanted to have the restrictions necessitated by using military transport? Immediately, I suggested to Jim and Walt an inaugural trip for the jeep to check out Malia. We had heard there was a nice beach and a small hotel with a taverna in it. They were game.
Jim Desjardins (l) and Walt Mikula (r) pictured at Malia. Both were ditty bops on Able.
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Malia Beach is an easy drive east of base and did, indeed, have a small hotel - the Moonspinner. It was owned by an American ex-patriot who chose to live out his life in Malia rather than back in the U.S.
HARRIS PARKELL - Malia Trip
Moonspinner Hotel
Mallia, Crete 1964
In 1964-1966, Gournes, a short walk from base, was little more than home to my laundry lady, a taverna and a handful of other houses. Today, it is a hectic tourist destination with numerous restaurants (all with excellent food) and tourist shops, car rentals, etc. In addition to the "old road" that goes through Gournes, you may now go from the base beach west all the way to the mountain on a road that follows the coastline and that also includes numerous restaurants.
Gournes - 2005
(L to R) Barry Tone, RU (Doug Robertson) and Don Oakes
