THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND OF CRETE
I was lucky enough to spend a bit more time on the gorgeous island of Crete than most tourist do. Because of my husband’s job, we were there for a whole year and it was absolutely worth it. The apartment we were renting was situated right on the shore, on a cliff overlooking the charming town of Chania. So everyday I had this picture-perfect view from my balcony.
Chania is the second largest town on the island and it lies along the north coast of the island, about 70 km west of Rethymno and 145 km west of Heraklion. It is a city, as much as the whole island of Crete, highly influenced by many civilizations and cultures, including Byzantine, Venetian, Turkish and Greek. The most visible influences are in architecture and those are mainly Venetian. The harbors in both Chania and Heraklion are picturesque and remind strongly of Venice itself. Moreover, Chania’s Old Town and its harbor are considered the most beautiful on Crete.
The existence of civilization on Crete dates back over four thousand years to the Minoan society(circa 2600-1400 BC), the oldest European civilization that occupied the island. Therefore it is pretty amazing to walk down the streets and look upon the same sea people so many centuries ago gazed upon.
Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and with many amazing views and a few gorges, it is definitely worth seeing. The towns are not only charming, with their Old Towns and tiny streets, but also provide a fair amount of entertainment, which includes bars and restaurants on nearly every corner, night clubs, pubs, museums and plenty more… Thus, it is not surprising that Crete attracts numerous tourists each season (usually April till October).
However, if you would like to experience the life and the island itself without bumping into noisy and yes, sometimes annoying tourists (especially if they are accompanied by children, and many are), you should probably opt for out of seasons tickets. Besides, it may cost you a lot less. And if you happen to find yourself in Chania, strolling down the harbor, sit down in one of many cafés around the square and order Spanish Coffee. It is a delicious coffee drink that I have not gotten a chance to taste anywhere else. At least not the way it is prepared in Chania.