http://www.crete-holiday.org/sunshine-village-crete-hersonissos/
Dear David, A series of letters to an old friend in February 2008
Hersonissos,
Crete
Greece
February 2008
Dear David,
Really do not know what possessed me to think about doing this, but never beyond Sitia, east of Heraklion, I decided I was going for a walk to Kato Zakros on the eastern coast of Crete. I guess I do have the advantage of being able to travel anywhere on the island at any time without the tourist traffic during the summer months, so it was a good time as any to go! And guess even gay accommodation owners are allowed to leave for the day sometimes.
Leaving my home in a bright and sunny, but rather windy February morning, I went to St. Nicholas, a trip that takes about 25 minutes along the main road. Summer time it takes a little longer, because Malia is a bit of a bottleneck, a problem soon solved when the next stage of the National Road opens the new version that will bypass Malia. (My last road map is being a little optimistic and showing it as complete and inevitably this will lead to more of they lost tourists during the next couple of years!)
Beyond Saint Nicholas road becomes a single-track case, but it is still quite fast as a path is still the main road to Ierapetra. There are few villages along this road, but as the road climbs and twists are some wonderful views over Mirabello Bay, and, of course, the stunning blue sea! From the union Ierapetra, in Pachía Ammos, the road goes inland and around and around, passing through some villages en route to Sitia. It is a time I've been to places so it was good to see some of the corners have been "corrected and final plunge down on site will be completely renewed! Kanalbaumaßnahmen are still in place including what will be spectacular line an overpass on one of the pits, now all there are some of the pillars that support rapid road!
I arrived in Scythia, shortly after noon, so about two-hour drive from home, at a convenient time to stop to eat and drink coffee.
Sitia has not changed much since my last visit about five years, but why should he? It is a busy place, even in winter, because a lot of people live there and the main city in the extreme east of the island. In a way is a bit predictable as many other beach towns in Crete, with a road that runs along the shore, lined with cafes, shops and hotels. Tents and of course the proverbial "between the road and along the water for summer use as resting places.
Beyond the site begins "wild country" seriously, there are only a couple of villages between Sitia and Palekastro, a large village with tourist facilities and population local supermarket and tavernas. Surprisingly, there were few foreign-registered vehicles and car hire on, according to the man in the booth they belonged foreigners who own property there and in a way that I can understand why someone wants to come here for a "get away from it all" holiday!
You will remember from our travels around Scotland in the Mini Cooper that I like at least two important things in one day, so I decided that I should also get to see Vai Beach, while I was out this way.
You know me and beaches, not "do" the beach and that's all that there, but when they are far from one of the most famous beaches of Crete have to go to have a look! I must say I can see the attraction. A long stretch of sand in a curve of beautiful proportions and palms behind to give everyone the impression of a tropical beach, which is probably why it was used for the Bounty Bar 'ads every year! There are some facilities in the back of the beach and although these were closed because it was winter. And, of course, I was not the only person there was a joint venture also stationed. It never ceases to amaze me that you can go all over this island, even in the most desert have a car parked in the middle of nowhere – this belonged to a fisherman who was risking their lives and rise above the cliffs, not far above where the waves broke. I suppose in a day summer, the beach would be very busy despite the long journey to say, Hersonissos, but if you're on the beach then it's worth the effort.
Back to Palekastro Zakros and south, the road is surprisingly good, although by no means a fast track, but then Kato Zakros is one of the major settlements Minoan Crete, it is still good forty-five minutes and more than Vai. At this time the wind had picked up and it was getting very windy! Passing through several small towns, including Zakros, the source of one of our most popular mineral water, it is obvious that some tourists come to this point, since there are several types of accommodation and around several taverns and shops.
The final installment in Kato Zakros was something of an experience as the road hangs on the edge of a mountain until he appears headed open pit (probably even more afraid of a passenger), and then I realized it is a curve to the left, and suddenly I could look down and see huge rollers comes from the east, and below a sheltered cove with Kato Zakros sitting on the edge of the beach. The road descends very quickly with a couple of corners and along the way I met Full guard dog with the kennel, despite what he was guarding was not very clear.
Of course, everything was closed, or seemed to be, the store and tavern of the beach and then were also the Minoan site (I suppose I could have climbed over the fence) but then I realized that a couple of signs advertise open apartments throughout the winter and had a couple of cars parked car hire, which is neither a soul in sight. I do not know if the vessel aground on the beach is a "permanent element 'As there was nobody to ask! I remember our trips around Scotland, I could have had a holiday here, as it is without doubt a bit the remote end, and if we had a place in the winter here which had a nice big fireplace that I could probably have a good time. There are few pubs around this area, and certainly requires a car to get around and driving on the winding roads could be a hazard after a few rakis. There are also caves in the area and a throat and a couple of guns that you can download it would be enough to make your stay a few days in the area. This is a long way since the airport and although no one would have to come here to shop in Sitia on the way through!
I've become insanely jealous of George, who lives in town! Once again I helped plant the potatoes, (if this seems early, then remember that the gardening season begins two months before the UK), and spending two mornings in a slope of two lines in an olive grove, I had muscle pain in the places where I forgot I had muscles! But why should make me jealous? Well first of all that has oceans of space to plant crops, which would only be for me too, but it is the fact that a plow the tilth and more wonderful in its soil. That particularly makes me jealous plow, rather than a plow, but a big rotary hoe, diesel engine, which whipped through the ground to a fairly respectable pace and not I who have to dig my garden by hand! Like all rotary hoes here this also seems likely that Noah used here nobody ever seems to have a new and even a shop in the city that renews and restores them. Actually, I must admit that things are very useful as most farmers around here have one and they even have trailers with a double seat in the front to move through the area in royal style.
The last time I planted George potatoes did about six rows, this time more like sixteen as the mother of George, who is responsible for seed potatoes cut into two large, storage, while 'chit', cut the potatoes even though they were just small enough to be planted around. It did not work when I heard he also has a new tractor that is somewhere between a rotary hoe and a Massey Ferguson! I guess I fell a bit jealous when I heard that He has the same problem with his autumn sown beans like me – not many flowers and beans!
This was during the second day of the planting of a man came the field, in a large tractor, looking for George. He greeted me with a big wave was asked where George and I could not help thinking that seemed very familiar, but what struck me more than anything was the fan letters ISH on the grill of the tractor and said 'Lamborghini'. Having my camera with me as always, I decided a quick shot of the grid would not hurt, like someone was obviously with a laugh, and let's face the tractor is a bit of a piece of museum itself. It is only after you finish laughing at myself that I realized sharing the word "Lamborghini" in the gearbox and I realized that was actually a Lamborghini tractor! Hands up those who never learned that besides being very expensive sports car Lamborghini are also tractors.
I realized later that the man's tractor was, yes, the local priest, but of course use "civilian" clothes, so I did not recognize him. It reminds me the old joke about not recognizing that in his clothes.
No doubt you heard about our foul weather? Three days of cold, as it was four when he got here. February is never a good month in the best of times, and I can not understand why everyone thinks they enjoy Eternal Sunshine all year round after all we are in the northern hemisphere, even if we are near the southernmost point of Europe, that honor goes to the island of Gavdos off the south coast of Crete. Seven hundred people affected by the chamber's website on 18 February, a record for any time of year, they could not see more than the snow, sleet and rain moved horizontally in front of the camera. Fortunately, it has warmed up a bit since then. I do not know what the few tourists who were thinking about it, but give them the opportunity to take photos of snow in the mountains just behind the house. And probably died of cold in the night as their apartments are almost certain that is heated by reverse cycle air conditioning, and have double glazed windows to test-fire and central heating, as I do at Villa Ralf!
Naturally, we had normal rainfall in February. The river near Aposelemis has more water than I've seen in recent years and has even broken the sandbank at the western end of Analipsi running toward the sea, wind and current, then swept eastward so that all along Hersonissos was a fringe of brown muddy river water.
For every plus there is less and there are a promise of spring with wild anemones in the fields and the almond blossoms protected sites. As the days and nights still fresh memory of Laughing Tennyson "Coro"
''Oh, the pretty, brave things! Through the coldest days,
Imprisoned in walls of brown, never lost heart when the explosion of cry, and hail and rain fell, but patiently each wrought her beautiful dress, or fashion your beautiful crown, and now come to clarify the world, still frowning shadow of winter, and is likely to happily laugh, "ha, ha!" In a chorus soft and low, the millions of flowers hid under the ground – Yes – millions – beginning to grow. ''
Usually in February, could give a report on the carnival season, as well, but as our Easter is later this year (last weekend in April) will have to wait until next month.
As always, I have a picture of each other pieces of information, find in www.villaralfa.com / zakros.html.
Yours, as always,
Note: This article first appeared on the website of the now defunct 'gaylinkcontent.com in February 2008. It is here again to the many fans who enjoyed before. It is free for publication provided you include a link to my website and the source of the article. Please do NOT splatter any of those horrible 'online' links to sites that have nothing to do with me
About the Author
Born in England (in spite of the name!), in the last half of the last century when Sussex was Miss Marple country and you could leave yours door unlocked for days, the author is unashamedly gay and everyone seems to know in spite of the fact that he never ‘came out’!