When at the beginning of the the 80's Vai was a hot tip for backpackers in Europe the palm forest and the beach became a mixture of chaotic campground and a garbage dump. Finally the ''nature-connected'' Freaks even managed to burn down the whole unique palm forest during a wild celebration and the law guardians reacted rigorous.

Endemic - The palms of Vai

Fence around - off limits for backpackers
Vai was enclosed and explained as a protected area. Campers and the Freaks were cleared away with drastic methods. The forest recovered again, the beach became clean. At the end of the 80's Vai was re-discovered by tour operators from the whole world. The area now is faced with its second "run", which obviously knows no end.

Vai - ''Getting close the each other...''

Vai today
The palm beach is ''the'' overflowed centre of tourism in eastern Crete. Thousands and thousands of visitors each year, expensive and not less chaotically than to the ''Hippie and Freak'' times. Contrary to the latter the place is today a gold mine. In restaurants, on the expensive parking lot and in the obligatory fun- and event circus enormous sums are converted. Whether this concept for this unique place is better than the time when a handful of Hippies were living here is what I leave I to the judgment of the bent reader.