Crete is love at first sight
Greetings to all travel enthusiasts! No words can describe the feelings generated once listening to Beethoven and Mozart, once gazing onto paintings from Leonardo Da Vinci or Picasso, once watching movies starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. It feels like love at first sight and the amazement never stops with Crete.
Crete is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean and it could easily be an independent country. It offers all the amenities of modern European states and a very interesting rich historical background. The pride of Cretan people for their place is evident in the first five minutes of a conversation with a local. Judging from the display on show then I would definitely say that their passion is contagious and well justified.
A historical monument and a must go attraction is the neighbouring islet of Spinalonga which is located at the ingress of Elounda bay. You can arrive there by shuttle boats that depart daily from Ayios Nikolaos, Elounda and Plaka and guided tours are available. In antiquity, it was a fort of the Olounites but in 1579 the Venetians built a massive fortress there. In 1669 it fell onto Ottoman occupation like the rest of Crete. In 1903, by the law of the Cretan government, it was appointed as the place of stay for the lepers of Crete. It stirs up powerful emotions only by bearing in mind how many lives were affected by the disease and sent as outcasts on this small islet. This former leprosy colony has mixed styles of construction and it takes about one hour to see it. It gets lighted at night on the weekends and it is really beautiful to watch it from the restaurants in Elounda while the view from Spinalonga back to Crete is also wonderful.
Rethymno town has a population of 40000 and is located on the western side of Crete. Although it is not as busy as Heraklio and Chania you should take the time and visit it for at least a day. Walking around the narrow streets of Rethymno Old Town is an attractive experience. Explore the stone paths, the stylish manors and certainly the Venetian port. Everything is beautifully preserved, with shops, churches or restaurants behind each alley. The waterfront is particularly lovely and the most popular place in town that acts as the meeting point for locals and tourists with bars, lovely restaurants and fine cafeterias. Above the town, you will find the medieval castle called Fortezza.
Elafonissi beach is located in western Crete. You cannot go to Crete and not visit this amazing paradise that has been voted as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The scenery leaves you speechless. The area features dunes, rocks, cedar trees and clear green-blue waters. The sand is white, but in many places it is pinkish due to the existing broken seashells. It is a fully organised beach without losing its authenticity. They have lots of sunbeds at reasonable prices, the sea is good for swimming, the water is perfect and there are beach bars nearby. The shallow waters make it ideal for families and for all these reasons it is so unique and really popular!
This is all for now, my dear fellow adventurers. In conclusion please remember that life is short and beautiful and it is strictly up to you to enjoy it and live it to the fullest.