Destination Crete: The largest of the Greek Isles situated as the Aegean Sea meets the Mediterranean Sea surrounded by clear sapphire waters. One of my favorite trips due to the variety of entertainment and friendly culture. A diverse island of urban areas, olive plantations, mountainous hills, rocky coastline and beaches. Filled with mixes of history dating back to the 1000’s BCE. Yet you can find all the modern amenities from simple hotel accommodations to lavish resort stays. Any level of taste and/or desire for entertainment can be found here from daytime activities or relaxation to evening dining or clubbing.
Beaches:
Take your pick of well traveled sand or secluded beach fronts, there is more than enough places to spread a towel in Crete. The south side is more well known for their beach resorts however the north side has theirs as well. The sand is a little coarse and can turn rocky the further out you get in the water. A good pair of water shoes should be brought along. If you are adventurous, there are quite a few secluded small beaches away from the hustle and bustle of the main towns and city areas. The waters are warm and refreshing without rough surf. Make note of ancient stone walls or ruminants of coast lined structures when traveling the country side.
Knossos:
A must see for any history buff, architectural student or those curious of ancient times the palace at Knossos is a absolute wonder. This partially excavated palace was 5 levels deep at the time of our visit. Built between 1600 and 1400 BCE and discovered in 1900 by Sir Authur Evans. A true artifact of the level of engineering and artisan techniques used in ancient times.
The stone work, mosaics and ceramics on display throughout the palace are far more sophisticated then one would believe. With ornate columns, stairwells from one level to the next, and even plumbing are all present and on display. There is an off site museum where the pottery, tools and other art work from the palace are exhibited including a scale rendition of the complete palace. The amount of manpower needed to create such a structure must have been enormous.
How to Travel:
The more traditional ways to travel around Crete are all available. Rental cars, city bus, and tours can be found all depending on your budget and purpose of your trip. One manor of travel is especially useful when you wish to explore to get the lay of the land or experience as much as possible in a short period of time. Hire a taxi driver for the day. In this manor you can avoid large groups and crowded tour buses. You can also tailor your experience to your particular interest.
We were interest in historical sites, cathedrals or ornate churches, local food and architecture. Our party had 3 adults and two small children. The hotel concierge found a driver who owned a 4 door Mercedes sedan who drove us for the day for an upfront negotiated fare. We had a fantastic time toured Knossos, two churches, a seaside fort, the Olympic soccer stadium and had an amazing lunch at a local taverna where our driver use to waiter. (about taverna below). And of course we paid for our driver’s lunch.
During the entire day our driver pointed out interesting other sites and gave us historical information such as the German occupation during WWII. He was very considerate informing us of many customs of the island and what gestures to avoid when walking around amongst other people.
So glad we used an all day taxi driver for this trip. The traffic in Crete is crazy. Many small streets with cars parked on both sides and barely enough room for one car to go down. Signage is difficult to read and see. Many travel sites caution you about renting cars in Crete for these reasons.
Taverna:
A Taverna or local tavern are great places to experience the local flavors of Crete. Crete food is different from mainland Greece. Feta is not a staple here. Graviera, a hard cheese (similar to Swiss gruyere) aged in caves in the White Mountains and a soft, ricotta-like cheese, mizithra are Cretan mainstays. Being on the coast snails are in most of the more popular local cuisine.
You can get many of the more known Greek dishes like dolmades , souvlaki and rice pilaf. Another quintessentially Cretan dish is dakos, a twice-baked hard bread sprinkled with tomato, cheese, oregano and olive oil. Make sure to try the raki, an alcoholic beverage distilled from leftover wine grapes. Many of the taverna have their own stills. You will find taverna friendly to tourist and very reasonably priced. If your not sure where to go ask a local or your cab driver. The people of Crete are friendly and can speak English.
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