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Crete, Greece – The Jewel of the Mediterranean
The Greeks will tell you that when the gods created the world, to be distributed throughout the dry land every race at the end there was a pile of rocks on the left, and these are released to the Mediterranean Sea, and this became Greece. If the story is true or not, remains Greece country rock, which probably explains why the Greeks are so good to move the rocks around, but a lot of rocks in particular, the island of Crete is a jewel between the rocks.
From the fertile coastal plain barren rugged mountains, smooth stone houses to modern concrete rigid, heavy traffic capital hill peoples dream, Crete, the largest of the Greek islands, is an island of contrasts.
With more than 500,000 people and several million olive trees, the island always remains popular with visitors from northern Europe, other parts of Greece, and indeed, visitors from around the world.
Many visitors never venture beyond the beach, pool, or the nearest tavern, and still (happily?) aware of how big the island is! Unlike the Greek islands you can not handle (or in some cases on foot) around the island in one day, but having said that, four or five days is sufficient to allow time to sample some of the "pleasures of the islands and places of interest, and 3 weeks will allow time for a full blown tour. Driving around the island is an experience in itself, road signs appear in both Greek and Latin letters, spelling yet has a certain eccentricity map reading gives a fresh angle. And sometimes, tortuous bends on mountain roads can be a challenge to any rally driver. Add to this the occasional appearance of a goat nothing, and the odd big truck that can occur at any time, and you'll soon discover your driving skills have improved a lot and very slow speed according to the rhythm of life we experience here!
To many Crete: the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur, and many cruise visitors only stop of the day to give passengers time to see Knossos and the Minoan Palace and the Museum of the capital Heraklion. For ordinary people the agriculture of many thousands of years ago, the 'city of Knossos, in fact, have seemed like a maze! But outside the city are more remains of interest, and simplicity, which leads to greater understanding knowledge and more to the story behind the ruins.
The interior of the island has many surprises, with spectacular scenery, the gorge of Samaria, the longest in Europe, and the traditional hill villages, churches and monasteries, where little has changed in many years, and where they are as likely to see someone in traditional Cretan costume donkey ride as you are a tourist riding a scooter. Even in the resort development has taken place around agriculture, and the olive and potato field behind her apartment block is still an active part in the life of Crete. Wake to the sound of bells and singing of the roosters can remain goat a fact of life, even when surrounded by concrete and glass.
Throughout the island the remnants of occupation by invaders from the Romans, from by the Turks, can still be seen, with aqueducts and architecture still plainly visible. But throughout these invasions the Cretan people have remained relatively safe and retain their justifiable pride in their island and their culture. With English widely spoken throughout the island to ask a Cretan a question is invited to sit with you, and eventually measured differently here are likely to sit for awhile! Long conversations naturally require food and beverages, and eating or drinking coffee here is as much art as a necessity, with long leisurely meal often prepared in the house of the owner of the coffee grown produce with his own people " wine. larger restaurants in the resorts serve "international" menus, but I came here to try Crete right?
Of course, We have wonderful beaches, choose the right place and you can have a creek almost all to himself even in August, and our crystal-clear sea, turquoise is ideal for swimming, diving and other water sports. (Often I have a sneaking suspicion, even after all this time, someone puts dye in water to make the blue!). Add with this horseback riding, climbing, paragliding, and a round gold golf "desert" the hole 18 and their stay can be as active or inactive as you like.
Many prospective visitors ask me about the night life for gay people in Crete. The Greeks, of course, do not admit that there can be gay all the Greeks, most of the time although this is changing slowly (like everything else in Greece). Not that I ignored as a way of life that just seem to ignore it! In the busy resorts little attention is likely to be taken from a remarkably gay couples, but it is advisable to be like the Greeks and be discreet, but this applies to most locations in the villages quieter than it may raise an eyebrow or two! We have a bar that is openly marketing itself 'Gay', and we have a nude beach occupied This is often of interest, and yes, there are Greek gay, believe me, I live here!
Having said that, there are great bars and clubs that serve the "population mixed "during the summer months and if your idea of a holiday is disco every night from 10pm until 5am, with their length of stay in recovery, then up to you, but I always suggest you try to get to visit Crete one day!
During the summer months in transport links with northern Europe are excellent, with many flights each week that comes straight to the island. Ferries to the mainland and other islands are frequent and make Crete an excellent choice for visiting Island or as a side trip over a general European itinerary. Many of my clients come to Crete via Santorini (which can be expensive!) And Mykonos (I say that is no longer the almost exclusively gay hotel it used to be. I personally have not been there since the late 70's!), And let the ferry back to Athens. In the winter, ferries still sailing, as they are the source of the chain of islands. Flights can be a bit more complicated than in most cases, will have to come through Athens. An off-season trip to Crete Crete reveals the community really is, as they will be few tourists around and many attractions are closed. On the other hand you get to see the island dressed in a robe of green and olive covered with wildflowers, especially in March and November, instead of barren hills and red earth of summer visitors will see. The result of the temperatures to the mid 40 degrees Celsius and hardly any rain from May to September!
Trying to describe Crete, the birthplace Zeus, the seat of the Minoan civilization, and the house of the culture of olives, in 1500 words is like trying to put a boat in a bottle, but much more difficult, but I hope this brief article has given you some ideas and hope to see in Crete, the jewel of the islands of the Mediterranean!
Some notes about me, the author. I was born in England and has traveled extensively in Europe, including Eastern Europe and Russia, when the "Iron Curtain" still exists. In 1981 I went to Australia where lived and worked in Perth and Kalgoorlie before being deported, because they have no taste! Returning to Brighton, England, worked in the electrical industry until I started my own catering business. In 2002, after many happy moments in Crete on holiday, I decided it was time to spend here. With movable packaged and after a long trip through Europe and three ferry trips later, I arrived in Crete in February 2004, and bought a couple of weeks 'Villa Ralf' later, as the opening of a gay-oriented guest house in September 2004. Since then I have had visitors from Australia, USA, New Caledonia (!), France Italy, Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, and of course the UK. You can find my web site http://www.villaralfa.com/ and if you need any suggestions for traveling to Crete then you're welcome to contact me by email through the website.
About the Author
Crete August 2008