Crete tourist guide

This time, due to the weather front aptly named Elpida (Ελπίδα, meaning hope), it became white in various regions of Greece. Most of the area of Crete, part of the Aegean islands and the northern Dodecanese, eastern central Greece are covered with snow. The inhabitants of Attica and the island of Evia also received warnings. Even the people of Mykonos this morning rubbed their eyes in amazement, because it also sprinkled snow here. Locals say that the last time such amount of snow fell on the Cyclades decades ago. Apart from snow, Elpida brought low temperatures for Greece and strong winds. Such a weather compilation was synonymous with a whole series of difficulties.

Amari, Crete
Photo source: rethemnosnews.gr

What can you warm up properly, especially on such winter days as the last time? During the meeting with "our" Cretans, we offered them various Polish specialties served in winter as a warm-up. Unfortunately, none of them won Cretan hearts. Mulled wine was associated with Polish borscht and according to them it was a strange idea to heat wine, mulled beer seemed an even stranger idea. Mead scored the most points (you know! Meli, i.e. honey in Crete is the basic product).

So what is the Cretan way to warm up? It's a hot rakomelo. Rakomelo is a drink from Crete, which is a combination of raki and honey. Probably some people met with him during vacation trips. However, if you had the opportunity to try them in the summer, it was probably served cold. Hot Rakomelo is a typical winter version, served for warming up and for colds. Even a small portion of this hot alcohol will warm even the most frostbite.

To prepare a hot rakomelo we need: 100 ml of crayfish, about 35 grams of honey (preferably Cretan), 1-2 cinnamon sticks and 3-4 cloves. Heat the crayfish with cinnamon and cloves in a saucepan, add honey and leave it on low heat for about 5 minutes. During this time, the drink should be thoroughly mixed to dissolve the honey. Before serving, you can remove cinnamon and cloves so that they do not interfere with tasting. Drink while it's hot!

The south coast of Crete is known for its exceptionally beautiful roads. There is one among them, which, however, aspires to be one of the most dangerous and demanding roads in Greece. It is a picturesque serpentine linking the villages of Kallikratis and Kapsodasos in Sfakia.

Trip Advisor is a popular travel website that publishes the so-called Travelers' Choice - rankings of the most popular tourist destinations this year. In the latest ranking for 2022, Crete took the high 5th place in the category of 25 popular world destinations. Compared to last year's ranking, it means "promotion" from position 7, which shows that Crete, after last year's slightly weaker result, is again becoming one of the most important travel choices and thus a destination for tourists' dream vacation all over the world.

On Thursday, we wrote about the deteriorating weather in Crete, for which the Diomidis front is responsible. Snowfall in the higher parts of the island caused considerable difficulties. Only this morning, the road connecting Imbros with the high-lying villages of Kallikratis and Asfendou has been opened. The road has been impassable for the last two days due to the large amount of snow.

Road to Kallikratis
Photo source: ertnews.gr

Agora, or the Market Hall in Chania, is a cult place. It was here that you could buy traditional unique products that are usually not found in ordinary supermarkets. To be in Chania and not to go shopping in Hala Targowa is a big oversight. Unfortunately, however, in the next two years, Hala Targowa will be closed. After 109 years of uninterrupted operation, it is finally time to carry out a major overhaul of this facility. This week, a contract for the redevelopment was to be signed, and the renovation contractor, Tomi Avete, is to enter the building soon.

For several dozen hours, Crete has been under the influence of Diomidis - an atmospheric front that brought extremely bad weather. The gusty wind that accompanies this weather breakdown reached the strength of even 9 on the Beaufort scale. Such bad weather immobilized ships in harbors. Fortunately, however, the situation is soon to improve so that it will be possible to restore regular shipping between Crete and the port of Piraeus.

Yesterday's media circulated photos and film reports from Rethymno, where the sea was breaking into the land near the local port. It is true that this is not an unusual situation, because with rainfall and strong winds it repeats itself every year. Nevertheless, for safety reasons, the streets in the vicinity of the port have been closed to cars.

Photo source: rethnea.gr

Crete is an island that is primarily associated with holiday trips. It is also quite popular among supporters of spring or autumn holidays, who can also enjoy good weather at the same time paying less than tourists who come here during high season. However, in winter, the island literally closes to tourist traffic. Most hotels are freezing, and airlines are suspending charter flights. The island can only be reached by ferry or plane from Athens. Perhaps, however, there will be a shift in the topic of using the island's potential in winter.