Cretan week

Geography

Crete is the 4th biggest island in the Mediterranean Sea. The average annual temperature is 23 degrees Celcius. Crete has become a cosmopolite touristic place for the EU citizens.

People



Either rich or very rich. Cretans are hospitable, smiling, informal (but keep the distance), they treat family traditions, marriage (a married man has to live for at least 4 years with his wife's parents - the toughest exam after which no man is likely to leave his wife!).

Strong families accumulate wealth which is then heired by their children. That is why a poor Cretan is noncense.

Food



Fish is fantastic as well as greek salad with Feta cheese and the best in the world (as Cretans promote it!) olive oil.

Olive oil pproduced in Crete is the mildest compared to bitter Italian and Spanish oils.
Banana-split ice-cream and strawberries with cream (at Augus Nicolaus) are fantastic.



Dakos is a typical cretan "bachelor's" choice - stiff bread (wheat is imported - Cretans are not wasting bread - they instead stove it for dakos) with olive oil, chopped tomatoes on top
and local herbs. It best goes with beer.



Sea



Despite Crete is in the middle of Mediterranean Sea I memorized at least 4 more seas: Lybian in the South with hot Egyptian winds), Cretan, Ionic and Aegean Seas in the North. Aegean Sea is more clear and less salty then the Cretan (I was swimming in both!).



Sea is safe (as well as land in terms of creatures living there) and normally calm. It is not scary when it storms (compared to Dominican Republic) but is unlikely for swimming.



Architecture



Plenty of old houses and churches, construction business is well off building villas for the rich part of EU citizens.



Churches are omnipresent. Cretans are religeous and often give oaths to the God (asking for the son, good sales etc.). In exchange they promise God to build a church. For this reason you can see churches in the most unexpected places on Crete!

Living conditions

Excellent place for the Summer house, old brick houses with sea-views are fantastic!
Roads are excellent and short, transport is comfortable (many taxi or buses are typically good class Mercedes). Travelling is cheap.



Ivan Koncharov (c) 2007

The story is written on my own by memories left after visiting Crete and are not of scientific accuracy.

More pictures on Crete are here