Crete
It is a beautiful place with spectacular mountains, hidden beaches and a lot to see. The island has changed a great deal since the first holiday we spent there in 1970s, the roads have improved out of all proportion over the years and the food is much better than it was.
The holiday usually follows a pattern. We fly to Heraklion, collect our hire car from the airport and drive to Rethymnon (there is more than one way to spell this) about 40 miles from the airport, to the apartment complex we have been to 5 times before. This also means that we can go back to the airport in our own time.
As with many Greek properties this is a family run property, built on what once was a market garden. Growing fruit and vegetables here is not profitable any more, although they still have home grown tomatoes and some other vegetables, which they use in the restaurant and especially for their barbecue and Greek night, once a week.
We have seen a change in the apartments and studios. An extra block was built between our first visit and our second. One of the best features is definitely the large swimming pool, which is well looked after and very inviting after a day out visiting the numerous places to see on Crete.
The bar is also very welcome on returning after a day out, or after our evening meal. I am very fond of the drink made from freshly juiced oranges, but a glass of white wine doesn't go amiss either.
We have breakfast in our apartment, which is spacious and clean. We take our own teabags, but buy bread and milk. The property does have a small restaurant, but generally people walk into the small local town of Platanes or go by road into Rethymnon, which is a bustling resort with many restaurants, souvenir shops and shops.
Platanes has a beach, approached down a narrow paved road. It has sunbeds for hire. It is possible to walk to Rethymnon along the beach.
Having always been interested in archaeology, Crete is a paradise, everywhere you walk seems to turn up some archaeology, both Greek and Roman. There are sites all over the island, the most famous is Knossos, which is best visited first thing in the morning and here the car is a real advantage. The coach tours seem to start arriving around 10 o'clock. Knossos gets very busy but there is an atmosphere all of its own about the place.
Another palace is at Phaistos(this can be spelt in several different ways, as happens a lot in Greece). This is on a hill. In the general area there is also a large Roman site, gradually been worked, but with so many broken bits of pottery that they can't process them all. There is a Byzantium church across the road from the Roman site.
Crete also boasts a Venetian Castle which overlooks a lovely beach and is reputed to be haunted.
One of the main advantages of having a car at our disposal is it gives us the opportunity to find almost deserted the beaches. We are careful not to stay in the sun for too long as the sun here is very strong. We have found quite a few beaches in different parts of Crete.
Apart from the numerous historical places, Crete has lots of pretty little villages scattered around, some in the mountains and many by the sea.
One of reasons we like Greece so much is they do not have a word for 'stranger' only 'guest' and we have always felt welcome, even when communicating is only by gestures!