July 2018, Issue No. 12 www.cretepost.gr
the RETHYMNO POST
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your local FREE newspaper Offering a selection of local interest articles, interviews, news and ther views from around the region of Rethymno and Western Crete
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Holidays 2018
Save money at the airport with these simple tricks
Airports play a major role in most summer holidays, with numerous travellers eating, drinking and shopping before the flight. But holidaymakers need to be careful not to accidentally spend a chunk of their travel budget at the airport.
TUI: Crete is the most poular destination and Greece second most popular country-destination in 2018
Holidaymakers will be able to experience agricultural products at their hotels
Porta Guora of Rethymno in Crete
Rethymno POST
Your local free paper by FTP Publications 73, El. Venizelou str., Chania, 73100 Tel. +30 6977 295075 Owner/Publisher: FTP Publlications Web: http://www.cretepost.gr E-mail: info@ftp-publications.gr FB: http://www.facebook.com/chaniapost Twitter: @chaniapost Editors: Pandelis Giaitsis, Pandelis Spiridakis, Miltiades Markatos, Petros Marinakis, Giorgos Atsalakis, Stavros Tsihlis, Katerina Polizou. Advertising: FTP Publications 73, El. Venizelou str., Chania Tel. +30 6977295075 http://www.ftp-publications.gr DTP: FTP Publications Printed in:
Rethymno photo of the month...
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editorial
Repeaters are the super power of Tourism that locals created... This is a mini been coming at the very same
– miracle people nowby Pandelis Spiridakis adays realize. Journalist All these touristic visitors that don’t want changes. They choose every single year the same hotel , the same town and the summer habits that make them enjoy their personal escape! Rethymno firstly and then Hersonisos and Agios Nikolaos keep the highest percentage of repeaters: touristic visitors that insist on the same choice for their holidays. The most unbelievable thing is that there are some tourists that have been coming here over 50 years. This is a huge quality profit. There are people that have
hotel, at the very same room. They feel that they are coming back home. If they don’t find back the same staff working, they get mad and they are looking for them. Because they are connected after all these years. “Repeated” Tourists: * 46% of the visitors of Crete * 2 - 3 visits per year * 10 times average Nationalities of REPEATERS: - Germans : all over Crete -British : all over Crete -French : Rethymno, Heraklion, Lasithi -Belgians : Rethymno, Heraklion, Lasithi -Swedish : Chania -Finlands : Chania
-Russians : Rethymno, Heraklion -Israeli : Rethymno, Heraklion -Dutch : all over Crete -Polish : Rethymno, Heraklion This is certainly Rethimno POST Acting...! We are here , we are ready and
you are Reading The BeST Summer STAFF Pantelis Spiridakis spiridakisp@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/pantelis. spiridakis.7 https://twitter.com/spiridakispante https://www.instagram.com/spiridakispantelis/
Kreta Eiendom is one of the most reputable property developers and real estate agents on the island of Crete. Our personal service includes guiding you through the whole property purchasing process and beyond.
We offer various investments:
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Greece is offering residence permit to anyone who buys a property over €250,000. The residency permit is granted for five years and it is renewable for as long as the property remains in the possession of the owner.
Contact us for obligation-free consultation
Preparing your car for a road trip You’ve packed yours bags, Nothing causes cranky passen-
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booked the hotel and put together that all important driving playlist; you’re ready to hit the road for a long overdue road trip, but is your car? Part of the excitement of going on a road trip is that you never know what might happen, but nothing dampens the mood like breaking down somewhere unfamiliar. We’ve put together a quick checklist to help you prepare your car before the trip, so that instead of being stuck in the middle of nowhere next to your broken-down on s click ost.gr w e n car, you can make the re ep for mo ttp://cret h most of your getaway. 1.Fluid levels. Before any long trips, it’s always worth making sure that fluids such as engine oil, brake fluid and antifreeze are topped up. 2. Tyres are one of the most important parts of your car to check before setting off. Brakes. If brakes feel soft when applied, your brake pads might be too thin and will need replacing. Lights. Get a friend or family member to help you check that all the lights work before taking off. 3.Pack for a worst-case scenario. In the event of an unexpected breakdown - items such as jump leads, first aid kit, high-vis vest and duct tape could be what gets you out of a tight spot. If you’re travelling abroad, check the rules for driving in that particular country as you may have to carry specific items, such as a breathalyser in France for example.
gers faster than low blood sugar or being too hot and thirsty. Packing your own snacks ensures you have your child’s favorite items when hunger strikes and can help your family eat healthier when on the road. Here are some items we like to bring when we hit the road: Durable fruits and vegetables – Apples, oranges, carrots, grapes, cucumbers and strawberries packed in a cooler kept in the back seat provide necessary fruits and vegetables to snack on as kids get hungry between meals. Frozen water bottles – Filling reusable bottles halfway with water and freezing them the night before provides ice cold water for the ride and keeps cooler contents colder. Healthy versions of favorites – If bringing along snack items like crackers or chips, opt for multi-grain varieties since they tend to be healthier. 4.Secure your home. Before you leave for your road trip, take precautions to secure your home to discourage thieves. Arrange lawn care, connect interior lights to timers, leave exterior lights on, hold your mail and newspapers, and have a neighbor monitor your front door for any unexpected packages that may arrive to make it appear as if you’re home. 5.Do some research about where you ‘re staying. Wheth-
er staying with friends or relatives, renting a house or condo, or occupying a hotel room during your trip, it’s helpful to know where you’re staying and what kinds of things are at your destination to know what to pack in the car. If you’re renting a house or a condo, get in touch with the property owner or rental management company to see what items will be provided. Even though laundry machines, a dishwasher, and a stove may be provided, you may need to bring laundry detergent and dish soap or pick some up when you arrive.Hotels will furnish linens but rental properties may ask you to bring your own sheets and towels. Be sure to ask what size the beds are so you can bring the right size sheets from home. If staying with friends and relatives, bring a gift to thank them for their hospitality and be sure to send a nice note when you return home.Family road trips can be a fun way to experience the country thanks to different scenery and interesting stops along the way. Even though your first car trip may seem daunting, by keeping an open mind, exercising patience, being flexible, and preparing, you can ensure it is a success for every family member. 6.Emergency Kit and Mobile Phone.
Again, in the spirit of taking precautions, having an emergency kit in your car with all the essential tools to circumvent foreseeable troubles. Your kit should contain jumper cables, a knife, a flashlight, a multipurpose tool, tire sealant, and duct tape. What if your car breaks down after all? What if you run out of gas in the middle of the desert? Keep a cell phone for emergencies (along with a charger); not to chat with buddies or pick up messages every hour. 7. Get breakdown cover. Even if you and your vehicle are prepared, accidents and breakdowns can still happen. There’s no point wasting precious travel time by the side of the road, so you should ensure you’ve got breakdown cover before setting off. If you’re driving abroad, you should also check your car insurance extends to where you’re travelling through. ‘’Driving is an everyday task for most of us, and it’s easy to just jump in the car and go - without considering any potential problems that may arise later on. However, carrying out these simple checks could save you a lot of grief further down the road. All that’s left to do now is sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery!’’
TUI: Greece second most popular destination in 2018 Crete is TUI’s top holiday destination for European travellers this year and Greece is the second country of choice after Spain, according to the holiday bookings made through the largest leisure, travel and tourism company in the planet. According to an announcement on Wednesday, TUI vacationers from Europe this year rank Greece’ largest island Crete first in the destination list. The other top destinations include Majorca, Antalya, Rhodes and Larnaca in Cyprus. Greece is very popular with Germans, Austrians, Swedes, Danes, Norwegians and Finns but also with the Polish, and French. Three of the five most popular destinations for Germans are
found in Greece: Crete, Rhodes and Kos islands.Other most popular holiday regions of TUI holidaymakers from Germany include Majorca and Antalya.
The regional manager for Eastern Mediterrenean of TUI Destination Experiences Michalis Mavropoulos noted that the ranking of TUI’s clientele for
2018 points to Greece rising to become the top tourist destination in Europe. Greece ranks as top destination in seven of 12 TUI.
‘’Kournas Lake - Dare to live the legends all over ...’’ Lake Kourna is the only lake
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with fresh water in Crete. It is situated in a magnificent location, just 4km away from Georgioupolis Chania. It is a rather small lake, known from antiquity with the name Korisia. Lake Kournas is a remarkable destination for an afternoon walk or a day trip. The relaxing and beautiful landscape is ideal for nature lovers. In Lake Kournas, there are two fountains with only one of them being visible, especially during the end of the summer: the Eye, as on s click ost.gr w e n the locals call the founre ep for mo ttp://cret h tain. This natural lake was created by the holdback of the underwater that comes from the White Mountains, the resistant rocks and the lie of the natural cavity. Home to a large number of birds and animals, Lake Kournas is the place where you can encounter moorhens, ducks, geese, herons, cormorants, eels, water snakes, goldfish and rare species of turtles who are permanent residents of this friendly wetland. Basically the lake is a huge hollow which is fed from the southeast side with water due to its soil. Lake Kournas is an important part of the Greek ecosystem, as it is one of the few areas in Crete where there is abundant fresh water throughout the year. This is one of the reasons that the Lake Kournas is a protected area by the Natura 2000 Network. The lake is surrounded by a greenery environment with rare plants and trees. The dark color of the lake is caused from the seaweeds coming from the depth of the lake. Many animals find shelter here. SOME LEGENDS ABOUT KOURNAS The lake has dark water and inspires awe to everyone who visits it. Thus, in the past, locals believed that the lake is bottomless. This myth has been broken, since the maximum depth of it has been estimated at 22.5m. A second myth states that there was a village in the position of the lake, where a beautiful girl lived with her father. One day, while they were walking to the fields, they stopped to rest for a while. The young daughter began to comb her hair and her father admired her. How-
ever, this admiration turned to erotic love and her father tried to seduce his daughter. The desperate girl starting shouting “Lake come and I will be the ghost of the lake”. The area immediately sank and flooded with water, creating the lake. The locals say that many visitors have seen a fairy combing her hair in the moonlight, sitting on a rock in the middle of the lake. They say that the fairy protects the animals and the
ducks of the lake. A sub-myth of the fairy myth says that the God got angry about the sinful behavior of locals and caused a flooding to punish them. The residents were all drowned, except the daughter of the priest, which is the fairy that has been seen by locals Lake Kournas is a favorite destination for both locals and tourists. It is the ideal location for a relaxing walk around the trans-
parent water of the lake. On the one side of the lake there are cafeterias and taverns, offering a remarkable view to the lake. You can swim in the magnificent small beaches with white sand, located next to the cafeterias. Also visitors can do pedals here to explore the lake. Due to its dark water, there are many myths associated with this lake. An old myth said that the lake has no bottom.
Holidaymakers will be able to experience agricultural products at their hotels TUI and Greek Tourism Min-
ister Elena Kountoura announced the launch of the TUI Care Foundation project on Crete that connects local farmers with local hotels. One year later, at ITB Berlin 2018,GTP Headlines caught up with Thomas Ellerbeck, Member of the Group Executive Committee and Director of Corporate & External Affairs of the TUI Group, to find out how the project is on progressing. s click re new st.gr o m r “We have now entered fo po /crete http:/ the second year of implementation and are happy to see it growing,” Ellerbeck said on the sidelines of the ITB Berlin 2018 trade show. Last year, when TUI announced the project, some 40 Cretan farmers were participating.Today there are 190 olive farmers and wine growers. “Therefore, we expanded the project with a ‘train the trainer’ program in order to provide even better support to the farmers in applying sustainable farming,” Ellerbeck said.
First sustainable wines ready in 2018 summer season This summer,holidaymakers on Crete will already be able to experience sustainable agricultural products at their hotels. Last year’s harvest produced thefirst eight types of sustainable winesfrom indigenous Cretan varieties. “With the production of the first sustainable wines – a big milestone has been achieved,” Ellerbeck told GTP Headlines. The wine varieties are now
available to the public and ready to be tasted.Seven hotels supporting the initiative will be offering these wines to their customers at the beginning of this summer season. Among them, are the TUI Magic Life Club Candia Maris and the TUI Sensatori Resort Crete by Atlantica. According to Ellerbeck, the project fits to TUI’s understanding of sustainable development in tourism creating real value for the local environment, the
culture and the people in the destinations it operates in. “Especially in Greece, where tourism is one of the most important sectors, we as the market leader want to continue to contribute to further growth,” he said. “TUI Cares for Crete – Sustainable Food”is a joint project by TUI Care Foundation and Futouris which has the objective of linking the most important economic factors of the island – tourism and agriculture.
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The Venetian Harbour is the No1 ‘’place to be’’ for the visitors
The
Venetian Harbor. This picturesque little harbor, less than 100 meters in diameter, is enclosed on its east side by the mole the Venetians built in the 13th century. At the end of the mole is the charming Egyptian lighthouse, built in 1830, after the Turks had given Crete to the Egyptians. At 9 meters, it is the second-tallest Egyptian lighthouse on Crete, after the one in Chania. The quay itself is lined with tavernas, cafes, and restaurants occupying the ground floor of two and three-story Venetian-style buildings with later, Turkish-influence structures
making for a colorful, pleasing-looking whole. Docked fishing boats bob along the quay, along with some oldstyle wooden ships, including a fake pirate ship or two, used for local cruises. Heading inland from about the center point of the harbor is an alleyway which leads, after a few meters, to the Venetian Loggia. A loggia is a building with an arched facade, with the building proper set back. The space created between the arches and the front of the building is used as a space for people to relax in the shade and take in the street view. The Loggia at Rethymno, over 400
years old, is in almost perfect condition. A mosque during Ottoman rule, the Loggia now belongs to the Greek Ministry of Culture. From the Loggia, if you continue on Paleologo Street, you’ll shortly come to Platanos (Plane Tree) Square and the Rimondi Fountain. The water flowing from the 3 lions’ heads set in the dressed stone, Corinthian column-decorated facade wall of the fountain, has been a source of refreshment for thirsty passers-by since 1626. THE HISTORY Rethymno was known in antiq-
uity as Rhithymna. Rhithymna’s history goes back to Minoan times, whose acme as a civilization was about 2000-1500 BC. The place name changed to Arsinoe Arsinoe was either next to ancient Rhithymna, or right on top of it. The name reverted back to Rhithymna sometime after the birth of Christ. After several centuries of Byzantine rule, the Venetians took control of Rethymno in 1204, but other than putting up a number of buildings in the present Old Town, the busy Venetians were too occupied elsewhere in the Mediterranean to provide adequate defense and the city suffered from periodic attacks , most notably by the pirate Barbarosa (Redbeard) in 1538. This led to the construction of defensive fortifications. The city really began to flourish in the latter 16th century, when its Cretan-Venetian character was established, particularly in its architecture. The Venetians made Rethymno an intermediate commercial port between Heraklion and Chania. After it was razed in 1571 by Uli Ali, Pasha of Algiers, who attacked with 40 galleys and easily overran the town, the Venetians pretty much rebuilt the entire city.
The tip ...to succeed the proper hotel attitude for your own dreams! weekly theme evenings. One of the most important
things, when you travel, is to find the proper hotel. Therefore, it is essential to learn some useful prompts to be sure that your choice would be correct. Research the reputation of the hotel. You ought to be sure that the hotel you are going to stay in is trustworthy. You will need the one with a high reputation so that you knew that you will get quality service and all necessary conditions for your comfort. Rethymno Residence is a n o well know hotel in cous click ost.gr re new ep for mo ttp://cret ples but also to families h and awarded by HolidayCheck (2014, 2015) and Zoover (Silver Award 2014, Gold Award 2015). SUPERIOR Rooms are fully renovated, have private balcony or patio, bathroom with shower, satellite plasma TV 32’, direct –
The hottest meeting point of the evening is the Lobby Bar, near the Reception, where you can say goodbye to the sun with an ouzo or champagne, or enjoy a cool summer cocktail after dinner. • Sport & Leisure -Three (3) swimming pools for families - One (1) swimming pool Adults only - One (1) swimming pool for children (70cm) - One (1) swimming pool for Baby (15cm - -40cm) with dial telephone, music channels mushroom game (through TV), fridge, bath ame- Why Rethymno Residence? - One (1) swimming pool with nities and hairdryer in the bath- The WorldCuisine Restaurant kid’s water slides (60cm octoroom, slippers, bottle of wine & offers American breakfast buf- pus game) mineral water upon arrival, 24h fet with fitness food, local cor- • Kids Club, A/C individual control, Mini Bar ner and late continental break- - kids pool, playground, spe(on request, extra charge), pool fast, Lunch with self-service cial water sports program for towels (free of charge), Free Wi- buffet, Dinner with a variety of children and a wide variety of Fi in all rooms. The third person cold & hot starters, soup, sal- babysitting services can be accommodated in nor- ads, main courses, cheese and Adelianos Kambos - Crete, Greece, desserts. Live show cooking & (+30) 28310 72633/4 mal bed or a sofa bed.
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Kreta Eiendom: You have just discovered the best villas for your dream holidays! not available does not In terms of the amount of space you get for your money, villa holidays are hard to beat. But prices still vary enormously, depending not only on the country you are visiting, but the region, the distance from the beach, the degree of privacy, whether or not there is a private pool and so on. Villas with good-size gardens and private pools will normally cost significantly more than the properties quoted. But these figures, along with some additional guidance from Kreta Eiendom specialists, will allow you to work out both the countries and regions offering the best value. Kreta Eiendom was established by Ellen Hansen in 2002, Kreta Eiendom has rapidly become one of the most reputable property developers on the island. In 2004 Kreta Eiendom formed its own construction company: Estia Construction. This ensures that Kreta Eiendom retains complete control throughout the entire building process on both multiple developments and individual private homes.
mean that the dates are 100% unavailable, it just means they are not available. Sometimes experts will block select dates so they have more control over their calendars • Tip number 4 Do I need a rental car? Ask your agent whether you are going to need to rent a car. Because villas were usuThey can even suggest you the reviews! ally built by wealthy best villas for your dream hol- • Tip number 2 people to use as their summer idays. Your “go-to” Person homes away from the congesKreta Eiendom is one of the In most cases, you will never tion of the cities, most of the most reputable property devel- need to make contact for an nicest ones tend to be in rural opers on Crete. Our employees emergency areas. There are a few nice vilhave one aim: to make our cus- In the odd chance that the elec- las within walking distance to tricity goes out, the hot water town, but they are generally tomers happy! disappears or the refrigerator highly in demand • Tip number 1 Know your vocabulary stops running, then you are go- • Tip number 5 To be clear, property owners ing to want help... and quickly. Decide if you really, truly do not set out to “trick” their • Tip number 3 want to be in the countryside guests. Most of them they real- Pick your Dates Think about the location of the ly want their guests to be hap- Just because the “booking” villa and what you plan to do py. Happy guests write happy says your desired dates are each day. If you’re focused more on cooking meals with local fresh ingredients, lounging in the garden and swimming in the pool, being deeper in the countryside, the result will be fascinating. KRETA EIENDOM Arkadiou 1, Réthymno Telephone: 2831 021430,
Μail: post@kretaeiendom.com Website: www.kretaeiendom. com
INDICATIVE D FROM RETHEYSTINATIONS MNON TO:
e choice l b a i l e r e h T tations r o p s n a r t r in you
Scan the QR code to book online your ticket !
Kydonias & Parth. Kelaidi, Chania 73100 Info: 2821 093052 |Storehouse : 28210 97497
CHANIA 6,80 € HERAKLION 8,30 € BALI 3,80 € ARKADI 3,10 € PREVELI 5,00 € ANOGIA 6,00 € AGIA GALINI 6,80 € CHANIA AIRPOR T 8,00 € ELEFTHERNA M USEUM 3,30 € www.e-ktel.com email: info@e-ktel.gr Kefalogiannidon Street, Rethymnon 74100 Info: 2831 022212 |Storehouse : 2831 022659
What about Hammam Relaxing ?Visitors love to spend their special time here! ances the flow of energy and Walking on the Rethymno
Old City’s you will not manage to resist watching , taking photos and getting in the unique historical buildinh with the ston surface and the wooden parts. The best architecture instant travel through the years... This is a Venetian building of the 16th century by Ottoman elements , in the heart of the old town of Rethymnon, where now is placed the Swan Beauty & Spa. A personal care area , relaxation and wellness... All visitors love to spend here the most different and special time of their tour... What about Hammam RELAXING ? HAMMAM – Skip the Line Enjoy a unique experience of the renovated old Turkish Hammam of a bygone era and enjoy all its beneficial properties. (The hammam is not include treatment) Our hammam room is private for you and your company. Follow the internal voice by stepping inside SWAN beauty and spa enjoying it The baths are beautifully designed with resplendent venetian decor featuring candle-lit walkways, vaulted ceilings, benches and atmospheric chambers. Sure, there’s a lot to do in sum-
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on s click re new tepost.gr o m r fo /cre http:/
promotes complete relaxation and well-being. Precious nectar with sophisticated flavor, flowing from head to paws, following the energy lines offering its soothing and purifying properties.
mer – grilling, gardening, traveling, you name it – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still take care of you. In fact, massage is a terrific thing to treat yourself to during the summer months, when your body badly needs it. Hikes, picnics and park trips become the norm. Most people make more plans in the summer months. A massage is a great excuse to get some time for yourself. Live your favourite Massage Therapy in Swan Beauty & Spa 198, Arkadiou str, Rethymnon tel. (+30) 2831051828 mob. (+30) 6980971907 Full body massage The ultimate journey of senses into a rhythmic massage movements that releases the flow of energy and transports body & spirit to another level
Exotic Massage In this ritual massage with authentic Monoi de Tahiti holy oil of Polynesia, is a full moment of enjoyment that balances the flow of energy and promotes complete relaxation and well-being. Precious necof relaxation. tar with sophisticated flavor, flowing from head to paws, folCandle Massage Within a peaceful atmosphere lowing the energy lines offerflavored, massage with warm ing its soothing and purifying candles creates an unparalleled properties. experience. Dainty creamy hot wax flows over the body nur- Lava Shells Tropical Massage turing in depth the skin, while Enjoy tropical massage with a combination of massage, real shells Pacific Ocean exude stretch, soft pressure and big naturally calcium ions, which are transported directly to the continuous motion skin through the action of heat. While shells, hot alternately Massage Back & Neck Relaxing massage therapy flow on your body with intense concentrating on the back and and gently, eliminates muscle neck muscles. The treatment is tension, calm the nervous sysdesigned to relax and ease ten- tem, enhance blood circulation sion in the areas of the body and lymph. where muscle problems most Swan Beauty & Spa often occur. 198, Arkadiou str, Rethymnon tel. (+30) 2831051828 Aroma Massage In this ritual massage with au- mob. (+30) 6980971907 thentic Monoi de Tahiti holy e-mail: info@swanbeautyspa. oil of Polynesia, is a full mo- gr ment of enjoyment that bal- www.swanbeautyspa.gr
Are you ready to explore the roots of Crete? Crete view is a transfer ser- famous as a pottery center be- where 250 Greeks were suffovices company located at Rethymno Crete. We arrange tours all over the island and also support any need of transportation, providing high quality services for our customers. Crete view transfer services created for you special excursions inspired from the roots of Crete. Eleftherna Museum, Margarites pottery village, Arkadi Monastery This excursion will be very popular because of the brand new Archaeological Museum of Ancient Eleftherna which is located at the archaeological site of ancient Eleftherna and opened doors to the public just this June. The exhibition of the findings will display approximately 15.000 items from 3.000 BC in an area of 1.800 m2. Second stop will be the mountain village Margarites, which is
cause the area is rich in clay soil and water favoring this art. Nature South Crete is amazing! First we will pass through and stop at the gorge of Kourtaliotis a very famous gorge reaching 500 meters height, full of caves and very deep is an important biotope, not only of domestic, but also of international importance. In the middle and deep inside, we will step down to the church of Agios Nikolaos next to the springs of the river. After that, we will visit the historic Preveli Monastery, which was revolutionary center during the Turkish occupation, since it played an important role in Cretan freedom! The amazing view to the south coasts will be unforgettable. Melidoni, Aksos, Zoniana, Anogeia In this excursion we will first visit the famous Melidoni cave
cated inside the cave from the Turks. Our next stop will be the Wooden Sculptures Museum in Aksos with up to 100 sculptures. The second cave we will see is the Sfentoni Cave with amazing stalagmites and stalactites, at the village of Zoniana Then we ‘ll visit the Wax Figure Museum with natural size figures that represent scenes of the Cretan history. Knossos Palace, Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Kavrohori, Ancient Tylisos, Agia Pelagia We will start this excursion from the Palace of Knossos which is the monumental symbol of Minoan civilization, due to its construction, use of luxury materials, architectural place, advanced building techniques and impressive site. Knossos was the seat of the legendary King Minos and the main center of power in Crete.
Kournas Lake, Georgioupolis, Ancient Aptera, Venizelos Graves, Chania Lighthouse Kournas Lake is the only lake in Crete with freshwater. Next to Kournas village and about 4 km from the beach of Georgioupolis. You can see the ducks while you walk beside the lake, you can ride a pedalo and of course you can swim or have coffee. This excursion starts from Kournas lake and then continues to Georgioupolis. Elafonisi Beach, Chrysoskalitissa Monastery One of the most known beaches not only in the Crete but in the whole world is Elafonisi. The name means ‘’deer island’’ but there aren’t any deers in Elafonisi. Actually it’s a very small island with beautiful white-pink sand. You don’t need to swim because the lagoon who separate the island from the beach is less than a meter deep.
Local food in the historical center of the Old City is your No 1 choice On Crete, cooking is an art,
since it follows specific rules, but preserves a sense of freedom that permits dozens of variations and different dishes. Food is prepared in simple ways, usually roasted, boiled or stewed. Combinations are modest but ingenious. The products used are always edible and seasonal, aiming at maximum utilisation and at bringing out their unique flavour. Othonas taverna at Titou Petihaki Square, in Rethymno Old Town, is the best choice for authentic, Cretan cuisine dishes. Knowledge , cretan authentic meze and qualin o ty is the secret combinas click .gr re new st for mo p://cretepo tion that wins... htt Cooking wise, the authenticity of Cretan cuisine is what makes it that much different from all other cuisines, as it always keeps it simple. No matter the plethora of ingredients used to get every dish prepared, mixed flavors are not typical of this divine cuisine. Thanks to the way of cooking, every ingredient maintains its identity, taste and indepen-
dence. In a Cretan dish everything exists in harmony. WHY EVERYONE DISCOVERS it AND yet KEEPs GOING DAY BY DAY? 3 simple but diffficult to find things. You certainly find one or two everywhere ...but all the three in one place , no way! 1. when the chef is the owner creativity and quality is always the winner 2. local food in the historical center of the Old City Square gives the ultimate scenery
3. minoan cooking tradition has added to rthe menu the best old (well hidden ) recipes that make tourists ask Othonas the recipe and write it down DON’ T MISS THIS... • Try the Othonas spaghetti with apaki (smoked pork) and anthotiro cheese, lamb with artichokes, stamna, chicken with apples and walnuts, pork fillet with raki, feta cheese and mustard. • One of the recipes Othonas surpsise even the locals is the
fried feta cheese with molasses and sesame. You will never believe the sense in the unbelievable yard with the kind welcoming open arms ...it makes everything different. So make it worth for your own memory!!! OTHONAS TAVERNA www.facebook.com/Othonas-Taverna-259602870814471/
T. Petixaki Square (Old Town Rethymno) 2831 055500
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Follow your own way to the Paradise! Omiros and Odyssia Doors are wide open graded the area and satisfied OMIROS BOUTIQUE HOTEL is The picturesque town of Bar & Restaurant
Rethymno surrounded by impressive mountains and the endless Cretan Sea, with beautiful colors and hospital people, with the Venetian harbor and the magnificent alleys, the full flowered fresh painted yards, the fort of Fortetza, and the attractive traditional taverns will transfer you to forgotten ages. If you finally step into the home hotel for your vacation we will do our best to ensure your pleasant stay! ODYSSIA Hotel welcomes you to your Dream HolidayLand... There are a few of the things that makes a good hotel to a great one. Service A great hotel will not just have a friendly staff, but they will do everything they can to make your stay more comfortable. Location It’s important to stay in a place that’s close to where you need to be. If you’re headed to get in some Seattle sightseeing, you shoulc check in right distances
We think it’s vital for any great hotel to have a bar and restaurant located within or nearby, and that’s why we love being home. You’ll need a place that’s close and comfortable to find a bite to eat and something to make a pleasant break Benefits In-room, HD TVs, free WiFi, luxurious bath products, free in-room coffee and tea service, and even access to an acclaimed exercise facility – all things can make you fell like a real king. Such as simple sa that! The renovation of ODYSSIA has made a whole new achitecture development that has up-
The One And Only The interior is designed in a romantic style and is especially attractive for couples looking for something out of the ordinary. 25-30 sqm in size, the suite is equipped with solid wood furniture and features ornamental wood elements on the ceiling and artwork on the walls. It is designed to ensure ergonomic comfort and a cosy ambience. The mattresses are selected for maximum relaxation to guarantee a restful night’s Odyssia Beach Hotel 18 Mandilara sleep. Str, 74100 Missiria, Rethymno, Crete, The suite is equipped with a Greece Tel: +30 28310 27874, 50020 | Fax: Smart Satellite TV 32, Wi-Fi, +30 28310 54906 | E-mail: info@od- kitchenette with refrigerator and a safe. It has air-condiyssia.gr tioning, a work area and a furnished balcony. The room can accommodate 3-4 persons by adjusting the couch accordingly. visitors and the staff. The new bulding and the internal configuration has created a whole new place more functional , modern and contemporary. And the hotel rooms are now settled in the same concept... The ‘’DE LUXE’’ rooms are the best way to enjoy your vacation with the exceptional priviliges : De Luxe residents visitors dinner on the new bar place enjoying a special atmosphere and services that provide a pure pleasure experience!
OMIROS BOUTIQUE HOTEL Ionias, Rethymno Town, 74100, Crete, Greece Tel: +30 28310 27874 or +30 28310 50020
Follow your own way to the Paradise! Doors are wide open
Holidays 2018: Save money at the airport with these simple tricks Airports play a major role in ny Priority Pass have shared vises planning ahead if you “They also generally cost the
most summer holidays, with numerous travellers eating, drinking and shopping before the flight. But holidaymakers need to be careful not to accidentally spend a chunk of their travel budget at the airport. These simple tricks will help you save money. Airport spending can easily rack up if you go for a meal or stock up on toiletries. New research from Netflights has shown that the average person will spend nearly £60 in the run up to boarding their flight. on s click .gr w e Most of this cash goes n re ost for mo p://cretep t t h on food (53 per cent), hot drinks (44 per cent) and alcohol (28 per cent). Almost half of respondents also admitted to purchasing items they didn’t even need, accordind to HARRIET MALLINSON on her express.co.uk/travel/article. So, to help you save money, and avoid excess spending, Airport lounge access compa-
their top tips on saving money at the airport. As with many things on holiday, planning ahead is key. “Be smart with your airport spending as there are bargains to be found; especially if you know you’ll use the item a lot and it costs more outside the airport,” is the travel advice Richard Coleman, European Director at Collinson, operator of Priority Pass gave Express.co.uk. “Make a list of the products you want to buy and stick to it - that way you’ll avoid temptation and buying things you don’t need. It is worth considering buying duty free on arrival or return journey rather than departure. “You can also avoid scouring the shelves and jump ahead of the queues by calling ahead to reserve the products you want.” Many travellers can be unsure whether bargains at the airport are any better than deals found outside, so Richard ad-
have a purchase in mind. “Make sure you know the full price item of a product outside the airport to ensure it is indeed cheaper,” he said. “Secondly, if you’re in another country, consider the exchange rate. Sometimes weak currencies can make products seem cheaper than they really are. “As a rule, alcohol and tobacco are usually heavily discounted and there are sometimes deals on makeup and skin care.” Hidden charges at airports are also something holidaymakers should be aware of to avoid being caught out. “If you do plan to take more luggage on-board beyond your allowance, make sure you buy online through the airline, rather than at the airport to get the best rate,” Richard said. “Some airlines now offer fasttrack check-ins and speedy boarding as part of a package that includes hold luggage and seat selection options.
same as purchasing standalone luggage check-in, so don’t be so quick to dismiss these extra add-ons if you want to avoid the queues and start enjoying your trip.” By researching the airport you’re travelling from in advance you could benefit from good offers. “Many airports today offer their own memberships and apps, such as myGatwick, which not only provides lots of useful info and updates, but also details a number of great offers available in shops, restaurants and other outlets,” said Richard. Travellers tend to associate airports with high stress levels, but some airports offer a surprisingly level of relaxation, for instance, at Dubai International Airport, there is an indoor oasis called ‘Zen Gardens’ with Sleep Pods for weary travellers. It’s always good to check if your airport offers any such sanctuaries to help you relax ahead of your flight.
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Limpets... the absolute summer taste collected by yourself at the beach of Gerani A key bushcraft skill is sourcing wild food. One of the most dependable habitats for acquiring wild food are seashores. Many edible species of shellfish, seaweeds, sea birds, marine mammals, fish and seashore plants abound on seashores. Of all the seashore habitats, one of the most productive in terms of wild food, are rocky shores. This is partly because of the many mollusc species that inhabit rocky shorelines. Limpets live inside a greyish-white, sometimes ashen, conical shell. Beneath the shell, the muscular foot, on which the limpet moves around, is usually a distinctive yellow, orange or green colour. The secret in Rethymno is that you can find them easily at the beach of Gerani. This is a local summer habit, being there,
swimming, enjoying sun amd tasting delicious limpets. It’s the absolute summer taste, collected all by yourself Limpets, despite their small size are incredibly tenacious. They are able to clamp down onto rock with great suc-
tion power – certainly strong enough to avoid being pulled off by hand – even by the hands of the most determined, burly forager. Limpet flesh has a salty flavour with a chewy texture. I find them deliciously rubbery. They
are also filling. Give me a dozen roasted limpets by the sea over a tame sandwich any day. Collecting limpets: The key to collecting limpets is surprise attack. To knock a limpet off its secure perch, you will need a good-sized rock that fits comfortably in your hand. With a swift, relaxed swing of the rock, hit the limpet sideways off its rocky perch. Be careful though, if you do not knock off the limpet with the first blow the limpet will clamp down a lot harder, and are much harder to knock off the second time around (best to leave that limpet alone as further blows will only crack or shatter the shell).
Cretan Cuisine: Dolmades, the most popular Crete Dish with fresh leaves in boiling water The philosophy of the Cre-
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tan cuisine is based on the simplicity of preparation and pure tastes. Creativity lies in preserving the tastes and identity of each ingredient. Despite the absence of mixing numerous spices, Cretan cuisine can never be described as boring. On the contrary, it is exhilarating yet nutritious. Cretan Cuisine is based on products deriving from the motherland; fruits,vegetables,pulses, and herbs are deliciously combined with goat meat, creating most imaginative dishes that aren’t on k c li c s .gr found anywhere else in re new epost for mo ttp://cret h Greece. Moreover, the local cheeses are offered in a big variety, but Cretan graviera cheese holds the reins . To top it all, Crete’s extra-virgin olive oil, which is used in large quantities in all kind of foods Dolmades is one of the most popular Greek meat dishes. It occurs both in the vegetarian version and with meat. Young grape leaves are needed to prepare them. And it is in the leaves that the key to success lies. They must be young and very delicate. The best and the most delicate ones are collected around May.
However, if you do not have the opportunity to collect fresh leaves, you can use ready-made leaves from the lagoon. However, the effect will be better if you use fresh leaves. Due to the small size of leaves, wrapping dolmades is a labor-intensive activity, so it’s worth to reserve more time to prepare them. Greek grandmothers are able to spend a lot of this afternoon preparing a lot of delicious dolmades. If you have not eaten dolmades so far, being in Greece is worth the temptation to this appetizer. However, you have to reach for those made fresh at the tavern, because they will be the best. Do not try the ver-
sion of cans or jars, which are often served in hotels because their taste is different (to the detriment of ) from the fresh version, which makes it easy to discourage this tasty dish. There are plenty of ways to make stuffing. You can use precooked or dry rice, you can add pine nuts or raisins as a variety. In our opinion, however, it is worth starting from the basic version. If you use fresh leaves, after washing them, blanch them briefly (about 3 minutes), drain them from the water, cool and carve out the hard part of the stem. Leaves from the pickle should either be rinsed well or also put
for 2-3 minutes. After catching the leaves, we also drain them and cool them down. Some soak the leaves from the lagoon for several hours, exchanging water several times. We use dry rice. Mix it in a bowl with chopped mint and dill. Tomato grated on a grater with a thick mesh and add to rice. We also grind onions on a grater, fry it on a small amount of oil and add it to rice. The stuffing is seasoned with salt and pepper, and the whole mix thoroughly. Wrapping the dolmades starts with spreading the leaf with veins up. We put a small teaspoon of stuffing on the center and wrap the lower part of the leaf first, later laterally, and finally wrap the rest in the shape of a cylinder. Stuffing should not be too much, and the dolmades should not be wrapped tightly, because during cooking the rice will swell, and the leaf may burst. We place the Dolmades closely next to each other. If there are more of them, we arrange two and more layers, pour the whole with water and oil and cover with another layer of leaves. Cover the pot with a lid, bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat and cook for 30-40 minutes.
Porta Guora of Rethymno in Crete The Venetian and Ottoman
dominations of the past have left their mark on the city of Rethymno in the form of various monuments such as the Fortetza and the Big Door, amongst others. The fortress offers a breathtaking view of the entire city and the harbor beyond. The Guora Gate is the only remaining part of the Venetian fortifications that were constructed between 1540 and 1570. The gate stands at the Square of the Four Martyres and leads to Ethniki Antistaseon, or ‘Market Street’. During the Venetian Period the gate was the main entrance to the town, forming part of a fortified wall which stretched from the beach at Plateia Iroon in the East to Plateia Vardinoyianni in the West and then on to the Fortezza. The entrance to the Old Town of Rethymno is marked by the Porta Guora . There are barely any remains of the initial fortress that guarded the old town; the entrance
door is one of those. Porta Guora (or the Big Door) is the magnificent fortified entry that was built into the existing structure, when the entire fortifications were rebuilt. This entrance led to the central square, which housed the brilliant public buildings of that area. Today, there is a small market as soon as one walks through the Porta Guora. The gate took its name from the rector, in whose presence
the gates were built, Jocopo Guora. The beginning of the Ethnikis Antistaseos street still holds a part of the door with a 2.6 metres high arc made of chiseled stones. Above the columns, the lions of St. Mark adorn the cornice. The walls stretched from the eastern sandy beach, where the bastion of Santa Barbara could also be seen, and continued at a 90 degree angle to the western rocky shore, until
the foot of the Paleokastro hill (where the Fortezza is). There were another two, secondary gates: the Sand Gate (Pili tis Ammou- just before the Santa Barbara bastion) and the Dello Squero Gate (opposite the contemporary Municipal Park). The city remained unprotected from the seaward side, though; so, it was not secure enough during the raid made in 1571 by Uluj Ali, which led to its destruction.