Village Squire, 1978-03, Page 45TRAVEL
Sunny Crete offers
different vacation
When we think of Sun -filled holidays,
most often our thoughts turn towards the
Caribbean area, or maybe the South
Pacific. But how much we can miss if we
fail to consider the benefits of a
sun -drenched holiday on the island of
Crete.
Crete the famed Greek Island. located in
the Eastern Mediterranean. No visit to
Greece is complete without at least a day or
two in Crete. a pilgrimage to antiquity that
will provide you with a wealth of cherished
memories.
The island's 4.000 -year-old history.
along with its triumphs and tragedies. is
summed up in the Roman ruins. Venetian
castles. prehistoric palaces, oriental
minarets. and World War II concrete
lookouts.
Crete is an island of extraordinary
natural wonders; rugged landscapes.
fabulous sandy beaches and picturesque
coasts. Within its boundaries it includes a
v:drld of contrasts -from the palm -tree
shaded shores of Vai and Sitia to the wild
mountains of Psiloritis and Lefka Ori.
With the exception of Cyprus, Crete is
the largest island in the Eastern
Mediterranean. A mountainous backbone
runs almost unbroken across its entire
120 -mile length. forming a landscape of
natural charm: snow-capped peaks soaring
to more than 8,000 feet, green plains and
beaches sparkling in the sun. $oaring
upwards against an azure sky or stretching
away in rows of rugged rock ribs, the
Cretan mountains extend along the island,
their natural divisions separating it into
four provinces: Lassithion, Heraclion.
Rethymnon and Chania.
The food in Crete is varied, spicy and
adventurous. You can dine on international
cuisine in luxury hotels, or you can
experiment with an assortment of Greek
specialities in modest tavernas, the
traditional Greek meeting place. "Samos".
a golden, sweet wine produced and
available only in Eastern Crete, is a well
known dessert wine.
When shopping in Greece. expect a
bargain! The most popular and best buys
in Crete are items unique to that island:
hand -embroidered blouses, leather hand-
bags, table linens, jewellery fashioned on
Minoan originals. pottery, icons and
curved Cretan daggers.
The Cretan climate is mild in the winter
and hot in the summer. but cool winds and
breezes from the sea temper the extremes
and average temperatures are almost
ideal. The days are almost always sunny
and warm, perfect for sunbathing,
shopping or sightseeing.
Sites of interest in Crete are numerous.
The Knossos Archaelogical Site alone
Relaxing in the warmth of Crete.
justifies a journey to Crete.
reconstructed Palace of Minos occupies an
extensive area on the shoulder of a low hill.
St. Catherine's Church, the first Greek
University to be built after the fall of
Constantinople in 1453, is also a most
interesting site. Throughout Crete's fierce
struggle for independence, monasteries
and churches took part in conducting the
The
"moon -light'' schools, where monks
taught children in secret by the light of the
moon to read and write the "Holy
Letters", teaching of the Greek language
being prohibited by the Turks. Crete was
declared autonomous under Turkish rule in
the late 19th century. Cretan union with
Greece finally occurred in 1913.
The town of Chania, built on the ruins of
Ancient Kydonia, is the administrative
capital of Crete, the birthplace of one of
Greece's best-known Greek politicians,
Eleftherios Venizelos, and played a leading
role in the struggle for union with Greece.
Today the town is made up of two parts;
and the old quarter, with its Venetian
fortress, Gothic arches, its churches,
medieval walls and Turkish market place.
The popular centre of the town
Sindrivanion, is located in a picturesque
old harbour.
Moving east from Chania we come to the
country of Rethynmon-the district of
peaceful olive -trees with its picturesque
blue and turquoise bays, its lacework
coastline, idyllic valleys and majestic
mountains.
Crete provides and excellent base for
seeing history come alive in the ruined
towns and palaces of the island. With so
much to do and see, it's no wonder that so
many visitors are flocking to this enchanted
island!
44.
4
Hap -E -Nest
184 Diagonal Rd.,
Wingham, Ont.
Phone 357-3833
SPECIALIZING IN SILK FLOWER
ARRANGEMENTS FOR BRIDE
AND WEDDING PARTY.
See our array of colour blended
table arrangements, wall plaques, door hangings,
driftwood sculpture, silk corsages and hair pieces
for that special party.
CUSTOM MADE TO YOUR SPECIFICATIONS.
VILLAGE SQUIRE/MARCH 1978, PG. 43.