by simeon | Feb 2, 2022 | Beaches, Events, Food, Fun, Travel Experience
”I’ve loved Crete since I first saw it and from that moment I keep it in my heart as a second home”, a cretan “mantinada” goes by. And it’s right, as whoever has spent even a few days in Crete, hardly leaves the island unsatisfied. It makes perfect sense! Crete is famous for its hospitality, its warm people and the entertainment it offers. The party on the island doesn’t stop. It starts early in the morning and doesn’t end. It continues until the next day. From early in the morning, you go swimming and the dawn finds you at a party or wandering in the alleys of the island. Crete has a lot to offer you, have you tried it yet?
Morning Dives
In the morning, you should start your day swimming on the beaches of Chania. There are countless beaches north and south of the island. However, we highly recommend you to visit Elafonisos, one of the most famous beaches on the island. Elafonissi (Elafonisos for many), is located at the southwestern tip of the prefecture of Chania. It’s something between an island and a peninsula, because, in order to arrive there, you’ll have to walk in the water. What characterizes Elafonisi and makes it partly exotic, are the small islets with the very fine white sand that roses in several places. Also, the lagoon that is formed and the turquoise shallow waters give the possibility for diving to young and old. It’s characterized by many as a Caribbean beach as the landscape is reminiscent of exotic places. At one end, the beach has a rudimentary organization with a canteen, while at the other end, you’ll find a board rental store. However, don’t wonder why the landscape looks so wild and intact even though it has a large number of tourists. The enchanting Elafonisi, with its special and rare beauty, is a protected Natura area. So, don’t forget to get the sunscreen and water but also to arrive early in the morning as the place is a very popular tourist attraction.
Cretan cuisine
At lunch, after your day at the beach, it’s time to eat! Apart from its hospitality, Crete is also famous for its local cuisine. Dakos, Gamopylafo, snails, apaki ..are a few of the specialties of Cretan cuisine. If you are near a Cretan village, we recommend you to try their Cretan taverns. The more traditional the tavern, the more traditional food you’ll taste. In the end, don’t forget to drink the tsikoudia (or raki) that the owner of the tavern will offer you. Don’t ignore this advice, as the Cretans consider it rude not to drink or even try the food / drink they offer you. If you still don’t want to miss the “standard” cuisine even on your vacation, head to the center of Chania. Next to the port, you’ll find all kinds of taverns. Tavern with “classic flavors” but also traditional cuisine with slightly changed tastes. The aim of these taverns is to give the visitor a Cretan aroma through a familiar cuisine taste. Of course, all this is accompanied by Cretan tsikoudia produced by the owners of the taverns.
Afternoons at the Old Venetian port of Chania
After having lunch, you’re ready for your afternoon coffee. Walking down the Old Town of Chania you’ll see plenty ice-cream shops with all types of ice-cream flavors. Choose one, two or as many as you wish but don’t stay there! Take your delicious ice-cream and head to the Old Venetian Port. Sit on a bench and watch the sun goes down into the sea. Or, you may walk to the old Lighthouse, a symbol of Chania! Even if you don’t feel to go for a walk, don’t worry cause the city has many options for you either. You can enjoy your afternoon in one of the numerous cafes of Chania, as all of them share a view of the Port and offer various desserts along with your coffee. From the traditional desserts to ice-creams and pancakes, you have the opportunity to enjoy the magical spectacle of the sunset with the company of a good coffee combined with a piece of dessert.
Evening meetings
After wandering around the port and the old town, you’re ready to experience the nightlife of the island. You’ve got a lot of options at this point as well. If you wish to enjoy a dinner, you can choose to taste the famous Cretan specialties and also drink your Cretan raki in one of the many restaurants on the island. There, you’ll listen to Cretan music playing live from the music band performing in the restaurant. Each restaurant, during the summer months, offers live music that brings the world closer to the Cretan tradition. On the other hand, if you like clubbing, we suggest you walk the alleys of the town where you’ll encounter many nightclubs that offer a variety of cocktails and their music is playing out loud! Take a cocktail and let yourselves dance to the rhythm of greek and foreign music hits! Finally, if you desire to get to know the real Cretan life, then all you have to do is visit a Cretan village. There, every summer night, fairs and traditional dancing nights are being organized on the village’s square. However, if you go there, you’ll have to prepare yourselves to drink and dance a lot! Naturally, you don’t have to know how the dance goes. People will show you! Locals and strangers dance along each other till the morning. So, wear comfortable shoes and let’s start dancing!
by simeon | Feb 2, 2022 | Events, Fun, Travel Experience
Crete is the island where traditions stand still! No matter how many years pass by, it’s one of the few places in Greece that hasn’t lost touch with its customs. Apart from its attractive and idyllic landscapes, you definitely have to get to know its way of life. The people of the island are generous and extremely friendly. No matter how many times you visit Crete, you’ll start feeling as if you’re true locals. People will make you feel part of their island. They’ll bring you to eat and drink as they want to thank you and make you fall in love with their island…as much as they do! You’ll meet all of this in Chania! It’s a beautiful and picturesque town, full of tourist during summer time. So, why is Chania so popular? Because of its vivacious and traditional feasts and ways of celebrating together!
Here we’re having true fun!
If not inside the town, then surely in its surroundings, you’ll meet the most traditional cretan feasts. But, what does it mean? Only if you visit the villages of Chania will you understand. It’s about a lot of dancing and plenty of drinking. Besides, “raki”, the famous cretan drink, is loved by all Greeks, especially the Cretans. That’s why you shouldn’t refuse to have a drink of raki, because it would be like insulting them. Follow their way of doing, and you’ll have true fun together! You’ll listen to cretan “mantinades” in the cretan dialect and you’ll meet a completely new culture. Traditional music and local dance groups are basic features of their feasts. All this is accompanied by local dishes that you’ll literally love if you give them a try! No matter how many times you travel there, they’re surely not enough to get “fed up” with the cretan way of life!
by simeon | Feb 2, 2022 | Sights, Travel Experience
Herastrau Park is a green area that occupies about 1800 acres in the capital of Romania, Bucharest. The city is a popular destination in the Balkans, and beyond. Herastrau Park is located in the northern part of Bucharest around the homonymous lake, which occupies almost half of its area. It opened its gates in 1936. In the park area, you’ll find many facilities and activities to choose the one that suits you. The park, with its enchanting natural environment, is ideal for cycling, walking and other sports activities or for a romantic boating on the lake. It also has cafes and restaurants as well as vendors with pastries and small items.
The Village Museum
The most special part of the park is considered to be the Village Museum. This museum was created in 1936, on the initiative of Dimitrie Gusti, who wanted to build a museum to represent life in the countryside as realistically as possible. The Village Museum contains over 300 buildings, most of which are wooden and represent the architectural tradition of the inhabitants of Romania. Each wooden structure originates from a different region of the country, representing life in the countryside. Among the buildings one can admire farmhouses, windmills and churches, while the signs on them inform you about their place of origin and how they were built.
by simeon | Feb 2, 2022 | Sights, Travel Experience
Mount Vesuvius is a volcano on the west coast of Italy, 12 km from Naples. Until 79 AD, it was considered a simple mountain. Strabo even says that Mount Vesuvius was covered with beautiful fields, except for its top, which was flat, black and concludes that the mountain had caught fire and burned, but the fire was extinguished, because the fuel was missing. According to historians, the first eruption of Vesuvius, which completely destroyed and disappeared in the lava three large cities: Pompeii, Heraklion and Stavia, took place in 79 AD. The eruption was described by Pliny the Younger, who was an eyewitness to the catastrophe. Other major eruptions were recorded in 1794, 1872 and 1906, causing extensive damage and death to many people. Today, the areas around Mount Vesuvius are very densely populated, despite the danger that the inhabitants are aware of, as the volcanic soil of the mountain is very fertile.
Mount Vesuvius today
The form and configuration that Vesuvius has today, took it after the eruption of 79 AD, although the various explosions that took place later caused some changes in its appearance. It has three mountain tops: Somma to the north, Vesuvius itself to the south and Otagiano in between. Today, Mount Vesuvius itself has a base circumference of 45 kilometers and the diameter of its crater is about 570 meters. Its height changes after each strong explosion, and is currently 1,180 meters. The mountain slopes are overgrown with gardens and fields up to a certain height. Its vineyards have been particularly prosperous since ancient times. The wines of Vesuvius have been highly valued since Roman times and the wonderful wine “Lacrima Christi” (Tears of Christ) is sought after. Finally, Vesuvius is also mentioned in many movies, magazines, comics and books.
by simeon | Feb 2, 2022 | Sights, Travel Experience
Munich is a city in the Federal Republic of Germany and the capital of the State of Bavaria. It’s the third most populous city in Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg, and is an important hub for road, rail and air transport. It’s also a famous European shopping center, as well as a major industrial and cultural center, with the two best and most famous German universities, the University of Munich and the Technical University of Munich, museums and many other higher artistic institutions. Apart from that, Munich is also a very popular tourist destination. So let’s look at 3 reasons that make it particularly attractive to tourists.
Nymphenburg Palace
The route until you arrive is beautiful, as the then kings wanted to give a Venetian look to the area around the palace and therefore, built canals. The gardens are wonderful until winter, with the fountains freezing and reflecting the perfectly harmonious building. Inside, it has beautiful ceilings, heavy decoration and a dazzling view from the large windows. Don’t miss to visit it!
Englischer Garten
It’s one of the largest urban gardens in the world, located in the center of Munich. The garden is ideal for a variety of activities, such as pedal boating on lake Kleinhesseloher See, a cool beer under the Chinesischer Turm wooden pagoda, or relaxing on the lawns around the Greek-style Monopteros temple. The most special attraction of all, is located on the Eisbach tributary. There, all year round, experienced surfers try to surf a one-meter artificial wave!
Allianz Arena
As the seat of Bayern Munich, the Allianz Arena is a pole of attraction for fans. This original stadium, with 75 thousand seats, was founded in 2005. However, it’s one of the most popular attractions in Munich, due to its exterior, which consists of 2,874 diamond-shaped inflatable panels that change color depending on the team that plays.
