Why does Crete have to be so far away...?

Well... at a second thought, that’s a good thing.

This way, it will probably keep being as authentic as it is, for longer.

You know... sometimes distance

is what keeps things together.

Crete has the right attitute

and the right people

just to make that work.

If I had to describe it in 3 words, Crete would be

authentic, diverse and generous.

For me, it totally exceeded my expectations.

I enjoyed my time on this island so much, that I chose to live here for a while.

I’ll try to sum up the awesomeness of Crete in 10... let’s say features, that made me

fall in love with this island.

The order is totally random :) I just couldn’t decide.

Number 1: The Beaches.

I’m a sort of a beach hawk :) Meaning I search Google Maps and explore the whole areas

by the sea, and go for the ones that seem promising.

And Crete is a playground for people like me.

I made myself a golden rule for beach hunting.

That is, the best beaches in Greece are the ones with the most challenging access.

Naturally, Crete holds a great number of organized

beaches, with all the facilities, which are

great for when you just need to lay down

on a sunbed, zip from some drinks

and walk no

more than 5 meters to the sea and back to the sunbed.

Isn't numbness is good from time to time?

But, as long as you’re in Crete, it makes

sense to power up and visit those beaches

that don’t have any of that.

What they do have instead is the most amazing

colours, the clearest waters and the finest

golden sand.

Some of these beaches are accessible by boat.

Ask the locals where the crystal water is

and they’ll tell you what you have to do.

Number 2: The Bougatsa.

Best breakfast I have ever had!

Bougatsa, is a thin pastry filled with a soft

Cretan cheese called mizithra and it’s usually

served hot.

Mmmm...

Mouthwatering right now :)

Especially in Chania, the charming town not

to be missed during your visit.

Number 3: The Cuisine.

The land in Crete is ridicoulosly fertile.

I made a whole video about why Cretan food

is so tasty and healthy.

Link in description.

In a nutshell: the island is mostly self sustainable,

the locals grow their own animals, vegetables

and fruits.

Nutrition is varied and people take advantage

of crop seasonality.

It’s always a good idea to try out buying

fresh produce from the local markets, or the

weekly outdoor markets.

This way, you feel more of the essence of Crete.

Dining out is also an enchanting experience.

Besides the fact that these restaurants are

usually family owned and passed from generation

to generation, they keep cooking local recipes,

which are the most delicious dishes I’ve

tried in Greece.

With a wide range of meals, you don’t get

bored of eating the same things every day.

All these, completed with the free desserts

or raki from the house, make Crete dining

a beautiful culinary experience.

Number 4: The variety of things to do.

Besides going to the beach, taverns and bars

there are many other ways to make your holiday

feel complete and go out of your own normal.

The best way to enjoy Crete is to rent a car,

as the island is pretty large.

You can also rent pretty much whatever you want:

a boat, a scooter, atv, a horse-drawn carriage,

paddle boards, water scooters, and so on.

Walking on the old narrow streets takes you

back in time, where people were actually happy

with 1 or 2 level houses.

While you’re at it take in some history,

Crete has some of the oldest structures ever

discovered and you can still find some ruined settlements.

Sunsets are also lovely in some parts of Crete.

For the impulsive shopper within you who never

takes a vacation, there are tons of souvenir

shops and handmade goodies.

You can search for activities like Yoga, spa, massage,

dancing, clubbing, whatever you're fond of.

Number 5: The traditional element,

Cretans love their home island and its traditions.

And more than that they’ve come to realise

it’s value for visitors.

You get it, it’s a win-win situation :)

"This is a vase from Knossos

And this is a Greek design... Knossos motive.

And this cloth we make in the loom.

And I have the loom inside.

It's very old... from my grand-grand-mother.

Maybe 300 and more years...

There are 2 threads: up and down.

It's open.. and I pass from the middle.

cloth.

For you to remember me, my name is Irini.

I have the shop for 40 years..."

Number 6: The landscape and animal life.

It’s a pleasure to drive around with such

a scenic landscape.

Nothing is missing: mountains, lakes, gorges,

hiking trails, sea, sun and good weather.

There are green areas and dry areas.

Olive trees love it here and they supply the world some of the best olive oil ever produced.

You’ll often see cute dogs, cats, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys wondering around and

doing their own thing.

Number 7: The surprise element.

You know, those moments when you’re just grabbing your camera to take a quick pic to

share with your far away loved ones.

For instance, I never expected to find this...

Alice-in-Wonderland-like place.

Cretans have personality and

they are not afraid to show it.

I love that about them.

Number 8: The Snails.

The snails are harvested during spring time,

in the mountains after rainy days, then kept

in a box with flour and uncooked pasta, where

they feast for weeks.

This way, the snails come out to the desired dimensions.

It’s one of the oldest Cretan traditional dishes you could try.

Number 9: The abundance of flowers.

These guys, like all Greeks love their flowers.

I admire how flowers bring life to a place,

especially when most of us live our days surrounded

by dull concrete structures.

Number 10: The people.

And maybe I should have started with this one.

Andonis, Giannis, Despina, I really miss you guys!

Cretan people are well known for their philoxenia,

the Greek word for hospitality.

People from Crete are kind, have a good sense

of humor and most important, they seem to

be enjoying their lives.

That’s why they don’t feel the need to ever relocate.

They are always happy to share stories and tips from

the island with visitors, so go ahead and

ask around, it’s the best way of finding

the secrets of Crete.

I saved 2 things for the end which are really dear to me.

So...Bonus no. 1:

Chrissi Island, an atemporal place.

For me, going to this place was one of

the most special days in my life.

This island in the South of Crete is accessible

by a one hour boat trip from Ierapetra.

it’s about 15 km (9 miles) from the coast

and it’s name means Gold.

Probably because of this :)

A few things stand out about this spot.

It’s unhabited.

Well, there’s one guy living here, i call him the King of Chrisi.

But he's the only one.

It is the largest natural cedar tree forest of Europe.

Some of the trees are a few hundreds years old.

They create an oddly satisfying scenery.

And wait till you get to this Carribean-like beach :)

Bonus no. 2:

Matala, a hippie’s utopia.

Also in the South of Crete, you can have a

taste of the hippie culture.

This caves in the mountain were used by the

hippies in the 60’s and 70’s as temporary

residences.

To this day, this place kept it’s hippie

vibe and even has a beach festival where the

whole place pulses with old school beats.

I made a story video about this

place and it’s history.

Link in the description.

Guys, this is pretty much just a summary...

just to get you started.

I’ll love to hear your favourite things about Crete.

So, leave a comment below if you have some

and would like to share.

I’ll be here on my Channel.

And so is the subscribe button ;)