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Crete, birthplace of
gods
Crete, birthplace of gods, - you will
hear this many times during your stay on this wild, beautiful and
individualistic island. It has, to say the least an animated and
friendly population of around 500.000 who say they are Cretans first
and then Greeks, their philosophy is of carefree courage.
Crete is the 5th. Largest in the Mediterranean and the largest of
the Greek islands and most southerly. It is 250 kms. Long and has an
area of 4800 square kms.
There are four mountain ranges that form a continuous chain
stretching from the east to the west, Lefka Ori or the White
mountains, Psilorities or the Idi range which has the highest peak
at 2456 mtrs. And the Dikti range.
These mountains slope gently to the north coast creating lush
fertile plains and fantastic golden beaches, whilst to the south
they plunge dramatically creating wild and rugged scenery. The
eastern part of the island is the most commercialised with large
tourist resorts, such as Hersonisos, Malia and Aghios Nicholaos,
here you will find plenty of bars, tavernas, restaurants, shops,
water sports and many more things to keep you busy day or night.
At the western end of the island it
is relatively quiet and authentically Crete, it has not been
developed extensively, here you will find the tourists mingling with
the locals, which make for a more relaxing and truly a Cretan
holiday together with the warm hospitality, which is unique to these
parts.
You will find the tourists scattered amongst the locals in the
picturesque Venetian towns such as Rethymnon and Chania, which used
to be the capital of Crete, Chania is Crete's second largest town,
also known as little Venice, with an amazing variety of Venetian and
Turkish architecture.
Some regard this fertile island steeped in history, legends and
natural beauty as a country in its own right, and at the centre of
the world. Indeed it lies 250kms. South of Athens and 320kms. From
the Libyan coast at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa.
Crete has the healthiest climate in
the Mediterranean region; here you can swim from April and sometimes
as late as the second week of December.
Whether it is the cosmopolitan nightlife or the romantic traditional
settings, its troubled history or its rugged scenery, after a
holiday here, you will want to return time and again to visit the
places you have missed, only then you will realise that you have
fallen in love with this island, and the love affair will continue
for many years to come! Crete would have cast its magical spell on
you, its memories etched on your mind forever.
Believe me, it happened to me, now I live on this island and promote
it worldwide.
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