Crete island – heaven on earth
Crete is a paradise on earth, which is why it is one of the most popular resorts. No wonder the island was a favorite resting place of the ancient Greek gods. There is everything here: both the sea and the mountains. The island is washed by the Aegean, Ionian and Libyan seas. The landscape of the island is mainly mountainous with numerous caves and gorges. It was in one of the caves of Crete, according to myths, that Zeus was born. And then, turning into a bull, he brought his beloved Europa to the island, whom he kidnapped.
They had three sons: Minos, Radamanth and Sarpedon. Even today, many local residents believe that if you follow the example of Zeus and Europe and conceive a child under a sycamore tree, a boy will be born. The locals show this famous plane tree to all comers, which, in their opinion, grows in the fortress of Gortyna. The ancient fortress has one of the oldest constitutions in Europe. The code of laws in ancient Greek was carved on the palace walls in the 5th century BC.
In the first millennium BC, a unique Minoan civilization arose here, the flourishing of which is evidenced by the numerous monuments preserved on the island. This is the ancient city of Ierapetra and the city of Knossos (which contains the same labyrinth where the minotaur lived), as well as the island-fortress of Spinalonga. The island of Crete and its favorable location in the Mediterranean has always attracted the attention of many peoples, so it constantly passed from one conqueror to another. At one time, Crete belonged to the Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Venetian merchants and the Ottoman Empire, and even Napoleon. The culture and traditions of these peoples, of course, left their mark on the appearance of the cities of Crete. To see all this beauty, you just need to order excursion tours around Europe in our company.
Столица острова Ираклион — гармонично сочетает в себе старое и новое. Так, маленькие церквушки Наполеоновских времен соседствуют с мечетями и с современными зданиями банков и супермаркетов, сверкающих яркими вывесками. Напоминанием о Европе здесь служат пробки на дорогах и арабы-гастарбайтеры, которые характерны и для другого большого города — Хании. Местный рыбный рынок может любого удивить своим разнообразием. А вот дорожным знакам с дырками от пуль удивляться не стоит, так как это всего лишь свадебный обычай местных жителей — стрелять по дорожным указателям.
The city of Agios Nikolaos is called Golden. This is due to the stone of a special shade, from which most of its buildings are built. All streets lead to the city center where the lake is located. There are few lakes on the island, so the residents of the city are more proud of them than the Bay of Mirabello, one of the most beautiful and amazing places in the world.
Almost all cities in Crete are characterized by a calm, unhurried atmosphere. The favorite pastime of the inhabitants of the island is to drink coffee on a quiet street overlooking the sea. This calm atmosphere is transmitted to everyone who happens to be here. And without hurrying anywhere, you will enjoy your coffee on the terrace overlooking the sea. A cup of coffee will cost you 5 €, but it's worth it.
There are also places in Crete where civilization has not yet reached. These are shepherd villages where life has not changed at all since the time of our ancestors. After all, it is in Crete that you can taste delicious juicy lamb with spices, which is prepared according to an old recipe. The islanders still crush the tart wines from the local grape varieties with their bare feet, as their great-grandfathers did. Only here you will be able to taste the salty zucchini flowers, yoghurt with olive paste, rabbit legs fried on oleander twigs, and feta cheese made from sheep's milk with herbs from alpine pastures. You will also be amazed by the wide variety of fish and seafood dishes. In a village tavern, a typical lunch lasts about two hours. It consists of five to six courses and will cost 20-25 €, which is about half the price of the city.
If you don't know Greek, this will not be a problem for you. In any case, you will be served all the tastiest things in the house, or they will bring you a menu made of sheep's skin, where the caring owner himself drew all the dishes. Many tourists buy this menu as a souvenir, but the owners are reluctant to part with it, as they have to paint everything from scratch.
Another must-see is Santorini – a small island on which, after a volcanic eruption in 1500, a caldera appeared – a large funnel that occupies the main part of the island. The black and red beaches of Santorini are very popular, so there are practically no vacancies here, despite the fact that hotels cost from 300 € per day. It is in Santorini that wine “Saint Vincent” is made from grapes that grow only here. The price and uniqueness of this wine can be judged by the fact that it is delivered to the Vatican for the Pope. But the usual beaches of Crete resemble paradise, only here there is an excellent infrastructure, free Wi-Fi and the hospitality of the islanders for whom you are a friend, even if you are meeting for the first time.