Crete — What Now NYC

I have travelled to many areas of Greece including 17 of the Greek Ialands. My favorite up until now was Skopelos for it’s beautiful landscape and whimsical fairytale Greek Island setting (this is the island “Mama Mia” was filmed). The Ionian Islands are also pretty amazing. The colorful buildings of Corfu and Zakynthos, along with the pristine beaches.. And of course there are so many others on my list to visit, but now having spent several months in Crete, I must say, I have absolutely fallen in love with this island. Broken up into 4 different sections, all major towns, Chania to the far west, Rethymno, Heraklion (the main city) and then Agios Nikolaos at the far east. The island so big, it doesn’t really feel like you are on an island at all. More like a sprawling land mass that happens to have water all around. Each town is about 1:15 hours apart from each other with hundreds of beaches and villages between them. From the beautiful cove of Elounda Bay, the untouched beaches of the south shore, to the wildly popular beaches Elafonisi and Falasarna, Crete has some of the most unique and beautiful beaches I have seen in all of my travels.. Architecturally, it is not necessarily my favorite, but once you are in the cities you feel all around you the romance of the Venetian influence. The beautiful fortress of Rethymno, the majestic port of Chania, the hustle of near city life of Heraklion and the eliteness of Elounda Bay and Agios Nikolaos. As I drive on the National Highway, the main road, and I begin to approach each one of the towns, they seem to pop out of nowhere, a mini version of the larger cities on the mainland.

Crete is special, I’m not sure how else to put it.. The beauty and diversity of the landscape is something amazing and there are many times when I drive through that I am actually reminded of Alaska. In a way they have the same dramatic natural beauty, the same raw wilderness, untouched charm not only of just the land but of the people as well. The people of this island are not like any I’ve met elsewhere in all of Greece. I had always heard that Crete was different. That Cretans felt independent from Greece, the culture and language was one of its own, albeit a variation of what you feel on the mainland or in other islands. The “paradosiako” (traditional) food is famous in Crete. The island is truly blessed with an abundance of agriculture. From local mountain or seaside tavernas, to the eclectic, almost hipster culinary scene all over the island you will find amazing food, unique to the island. I was able to experience a Panygyri and was blown away by the dancing and the music. It seemed that everyone in the room not only knew how to dance the traditional dances of the island, but they were excellent. I thought to myself that there was so much talent in one room from people who during the day have “normal” occupations. It’s almost like the island comes alive during these times and they can really boast their true Cretan pride through song and dance. Again, it was something I have never experienced anywhere else (not yet anyway) in all of my travels through Greece. As a musician and dancer myself I was very impressed.

Of course having lived near the Rethymno area for several months now, it is the town I know best. It is a beautiful town, probably my favorite out of all of them. Each one unique in culture and status. I feel that Rethymno is the more artsy of the four. Music stores, ballet schools, bookshops and small boutiques line the streets, along with a beautiful treelined park with a central fountain. It is the only town of the 4 that has a beach right in the city and this beach is wonderful if you simply want to lie on a sun bed and enjoy the day lounging by the sea or watching the sunset. Hotels, cafes and shops line the waterfront which eventually takes you into the old port that bustles with tourists in the summer and locals in the winter. With The University of Crete nearby, after the tourists leave, you can find many students start to fill in. Now as November approaches I can feel how quiet it is, but also after a very hectic summer I look forward to that quietness. Rethymno has a vibe that I love. The beauty of the Venetian old town and port, and the Fortress. Walking the small windy, streets or finding myself settled somewhere for a nice coffee with good company. Rethymno really has everything that I need. As the tourist season winds down, I am looking forward to exploring even further and see what gems await.

I really have enjoyed myself so much on this island. I believe it is one of Greece’s greatest treasures and I feel everyone should experience it. In order to do so, and to give the island the time that it deserves, spend your entire holiday here. Two weeks even is not enough, or come back for a second visit. Now that the hot summer days have turned into drizzly winter I cannot say that I dislike it at all. I know that after a week of rain, the sun will return and it will be warm enough to swim in the sea again delaying the inevitable winter. I feel a freedom on this island that I haven’t felt before. The ability to just take off and drive to find new and amazing places on the island. It is truly special and I encourage everyone to put it on their bucket list of places to see in their lifetime.

“There is a kind of flame in Crete - let us call it soul”

— Nikos Kazantzakis