Crete
- Thread starter DeeKie
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Our first family holiday in the sun was to Crete where we stayed in Gouves. Crete is a beautiful Greek island with plenty of historical places to explore and some beaches too. Most of the beaches there are manmade (although they don't look it). Bring plenty of money because you'll need it. There is nothing like the Cretan to suck the money out of you and smile while doing so. Crete is small and every corner of the island is accessible to you with daily tours.
The food in Crete is excellent and you have plenty of choice. There will probably be a "Crete" night where your family can attend a farmyard in the mountains where the local (beautiful and radiant) maiden is preparing for her marriage the following weekend for the 250th time. Nothing like a bit of Cretan culture.
Knossos:- If you do not visit, you might as well not go to Crete. Once a great city destroyed by tidal wave or earthquake (or both) discovered in the early 20th Century by a guy named Evans who had some restoration done. Interesting history though where you learn of the Minoans, their culture, language, sport etc.
Spinalonga:- Leper island (I'm not from there). Worth a visit where you learn that in the 1920's all the lepers of Greece were gathered and lived. Spinalonga had running water and electricity while most of the mainland was fairly desolate and poor. The lepers courted, married and had children (free of leprosy) and were adopted by childless couples all over Greece.
Lasithi Plain:- Probably the most agriculturally productive part of Crete. Beautiful scenery.
Mountains:- Beautiful and tours are available where you are given plenty of free time to explore and walk the Samaria Gorge.
Boat Trips:- Sail along south of Crete and visit the occasional visit only accessible by sea.
WW2:- German paratroopers used in mass for the first time. Interesting history of Cretan (Greek) resistance.
I could go on and on . . . but don't miss Knossos (free admission on Sundays, I think)
The food in Crete is excellent and you have plenty of choice. There will probably be a "Crete" night where your family can attend a farmyard in the mountains where the local (beautiful and radiant) maiden is preparing for her marriage the following weekend for the 250th time. Nothing like a bit of Cretan culture.
Knossos:- If you do not visit, you might as well not go to Crete. Once a great city destroyed by tidal wave or earthquake (or both) discovered in the early 20th Century by a guy named Evans who had some restoration done. Interesting history though where you learn of the Minoans, their culture, language, sport etc.
Spinalonga:- Leper island (I'm not from there). Worth a visit where you learn that in the 1920's all the lepers of Greece were gathered and lived. Spinalonga had running water and electricity while most of the mainland was fairly desolate and poor. The lepers courted, married and had children (free of leprosy) and were adopted by childless couples all over Greece.
Lasithi Plain:- Probably the most agriculturally productive part of Crete. Beautiful scenery.
Mountains:- Beautiful and tours are available where you are given plenty of free time to explore and walk the Samaria Gorge.
Boat Trips:- Sail along south of Crete and visit the occasional visit only accessible by sea.
WW2:- German paratroopers used in mass for the first time. Interesting history of Cretan (Greek) resistance.
I could go on and on . . . but don't miss Knossos (free admission on Sundays, I think)
galway_blow_in
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am i the only one who this past several years could see no saving from visiting greece over spain or portugal , despite the country being in real trouble , accommodation was not especially cheap ?
It’s an interesting observation. I was hoping it wouldn’t be more than our last Spanish holiday.
galway_blow_in
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neither are the folks in bulgaria or turkey presumably but those countries are also significantly cheaper even allowing for weak currencies etc.
Just over a year ago you would get 2 Turkish Lira for a Euro, now you'll get over 7 TL for a Euro. Some great places in Turkey and not too far away from Greece. The added bonus is they love children and are brilliant with them in restaurants, etc. Oh, the Turkish men love the fairer sex too and treat them like Goddesses and the ladies love the attention. Then again, we're supposed to be talking about Crete
A couple of things to watch out for when you visit Crete:-
1. The ol' length of string on the shelf trick:- You enter a souvenir shop. There are signs like "You break it, you buy it" all over the place. You are shuffling through aisles of rubbish you wouldn't buy in a million years. Suddenly, a shelf collapses and you must buy the broken items. You say you never touched the items, but the local policeman (brother-in-law of the shop owner) just happens to walk in the door. You pay up not knowing that the innocent little lady behind the counter just pulled some twine to ensure the shelf collapsed. Works nearly every time.
2. The lace table decorations put in the back of the car trick:- You hire a car and drive into the mountains and see a craft shop. You love the lace and you see nimble fingered Cretan maidens working diligently producing craft like you never knew existed. You buy nothing and return to your car and drive back to your hotel. You don't notice the lace items placed in the back of the car. The police arrive at your hotel and find the lace items in the back of your car and you must pay up. And glad you are to do so.
Be careful and don't get caught out.
1. The ol' length of string on the shelf trick:- You enter a souvenir shop. There are signs like "You break it, you buy it" all over the place. You are shuffling through aisles of rubbish you wouldn't buy in a million years. Suddenly, a shelf collapses and you must buy the broken items. You say you never touched the items, but the local policeman (brother-in-law of the shop owner) just happens to walk in the door. You pay up not knowing that the innocent little lady behind the counter just pulled some twine to ensure the shelf collapsed. Works nearly every time.
2. The lace table decorations put in the back of the car trick:- You hire a car and drive into the mountains and see a craft shop. You love the lace and you see nimble fingered Cretan maidens working diligently producing craft like you never knew existed. You buy nothing and return to your car and drive back to your hotel. You don't notice the lace items placed in the back of the car. The police arrive at your hotel and find the lace items in the back of your car and you must pay up. And glad you are to do so.
Be careful and don't get caught out.
Hi Leper. I find your immediately preceding post and the quote above from an earlier post quite offensive. (In a similar vein as "all Travellers are thieves/all Paddies are thick") etc.
We lived in Crete for 10 years, and I haven't met a group of people more generous, either in spirit or materially, anywhere else in the world.
I have many Cretan friends who would be really upset by your take on their culture.
Paul
HI Paul, Both experiences quoted by me are as a result of personally witnessed experiences while in Crete.Item number 2 was tried on a detective and his policewoman partner from the UK and when he and she showed their police identification to the Cretan police at the hotel the situation was suddenly resolved. I have found the Cretans to be a really friendly people. However, there are some who see an innocent tourist as a foil to be used to gain extra money by any means. I've seen this at least twice too often.
I am not condemning Cretan culture; I am merely pointing out some unsavoury tactics used by some inconsiderate people there. We have some inconsiderate people in Ireland too. I think my initial post on the thread covers the positive aspects of a visit to Crete. I would not be telling the truth if I neglected to highlight what I have seen.
So Paul, you found my post to be offensive and I think you understand how offended Mrs Lep was when she was forking out for some broken goddawful glass objects not caused by her. In fact, I witnessed the lot (as I had been informed beforehand about the scam). It was easier to pay up and skid-daddle.
Hi Leper.
I don't doubt your own unpleasant experiences, nor am I looking to pick a fight. I am suggesting that what you found is far from the norm in Crete, and probably equally likely to happen in Marbella, Blackpool or Temple Bar. My own experiences in Crete are the polar opposite to yours. For the OP's benefit, and for the sake of balance, let me share them. We built this place https://www.footscapesofcrete.com/en/home in 2005 and ran it until we sold it and left in 2014. During that time, we welcomed hundreds of clients from all over the world. Our "thing" was to provide accommodation and take our clients on guided walks through the Cretan countryside. Naturally, this would entail meetings with lots of locals. Our clients were gobsmacked at the abundant generosity of our Cretan hosts, frequently returning with corners of rucksacks filled with gifts - honey, cheese, bread, fruit, wine, raki etc. All offers of payment would invariably be turned down firmly but politely. This is the real Crete, summed up by the Greek word φῐλοξενῐ́ᾱ (filoxenia - roughly translates as kindness to strangers).
Balance restored for my many Cretan friends and time to move on.
Paul
I don't doubt your own unpleasant experiences, nor am I looking to pick a fight. I am suggesting that what you found is far from the norm in Crete, and probably equally likely to happen in Marbella, Blackpool or Temple Bar. My own experiences in Crete are the polar opposite to yours. For the OP's benefit, and for the sake of balance, let me share them. We built this place https://www.footscapesofcrete.com/en/home in 2005 and ran it until we sold it and left in 2014. During that time, we welcomed hundreds of clients from all over the world. Our "thing" was to provide accommodation and take our clients on guided walks through the Cretan countryside. Naturally, this would entail meetings with lots of locals. Our clients were gobsmacked at the abundant generosity of our Cretan hosts, frequently returning with corners of rucksacks filled with gifts - honey, cheese, bread, fruit, wine, raki etc. All offers of payment would invariably be turned down firmly but politely. This is the real Crete, summed up by the Greek word φῐλοξενῐ́ᾱ (filoxenia - roughly translates as kindness to strangers).
Balance restored for my many Cretan friends and time to move on.
Paul