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Crete Travel Blogs

Background: Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between royalist supporters of the king and communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece was able to join NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. Greece joined the European Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992); it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001.

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By JeffreyHite
October 15th 2009

Crete Europe » Greece » Crete

Certe At night

I have always wanted to visit Greece. When I have always been fascinated by Greece mythology and the history of one of the oldest civilizations on earth. When I lived in Europe as a child, Greece was on the restricted travel list of Americans so we could never go but I finally had the chance to visit there a week or so ago. My Schedule didn't allow much time for sight seeing, but what I did see was very beautiful. [View Full Entry]

By nickkembel
September 12th 2009

Wine, Ruins, and Political Dissent Europe » Greece » Crete » Heraklion

Scuba tanks, Crete

In December of 2008 there were huge riots in every major city in Greece, with frustrated protesters taking to the streets and pillaging public property. Living under the shadow of the glorious ancient past that most of the world still associates with this Mediterranean nation, the modern urban Greek lives on an average of a mere 500 Euros a month, in a nation where costs of living are soaring in an unprecedented manner. This is only one of the many new things I learn about this country as I chat over a bottle of raki, the locally produced fiery liquor distilled [View Full Entry]

Convo, coffee, cigarettes and beers, the favorite Greek passtime

By jawilso
September 2nd 2009

Greek Islands Europe » Greece » Crete » Rethymno

A creek that runs to the ocean

Hi Everyone My trip through the Greek Islands was planned to take 9 days. I have heard great things about all the islands. While I was in Athens people would show up in at the hostel raving about what a great time it was on the Islands. The hard part was choosing which islands to see. I chose Crete, Santorini, and Mykonos. I chose Crete because it had several archeology sites as well as natural gorges and mountains. Santorini because I heard it had beautiful architecture and black sand beaches. When I got there I heard there is also a red [View Full Entry]

sunrise in Crete on the bus between Iraklio and Rethymno

By Overseas Adventures by Amy
September 2nd 2009

Aghios Nikolaos - last port of call Europe » Greece » Crete » Knossos

Knossos Palace

Location: Aghios Nikolaos and Knossos Weather: Sunny, 27 °C Last tender trip into town for the cruise, it is nice to arrive in port by a boat rather than just walking down a gang way - adds some excitement to the process. Aghios Nikolaos is a pretty port town, the shops circle the port and boy did I do some shopping! All throughout the cruise I have looked at the jewellery in the various ports visited - I have wanted to buy something but have not seen the right something. Well in Aghios Nikolaos I saw two items that I loved [View Full Entry]

By Overseas Adventures by Amy
September 1st 2009

A day at sea... Europe » Greece » Crete

Life Boat Drill

Location: Cruising in General Weather: Sunny, 27-34°C Cruising is the best way to travel! All the different locations without having to pack my bags and move onto a new location every night. The facilities on the ship are fantastic, the food is exceptional without being too much in terms of amount. I have noticed that the trend is to have more than one entree/dinner/dessert but I am very good at having just one! Trish you would be very happy to hear that I am working my way through the cocktail menu but I have realised that in order to have every [View Full Entry]

By minttu
August 25th 2009

Sunnuntaina kotimatkalle :) Europe » Greece » Crete

rannalla

Nonni, nyt on sitten enää muutama päivä jäljellä tätä työharjottelua. Tää ilta ja huominen päivä enää töitä ja sitten vikat kaks päivää vapaata (näin ainakin pitäis olla, tolla pomolla on vaan tapana muuttaa suunnitelmia ihan viime hetkellä…). Oon kyl ihan valmis jättämään tän kahelin hotellin! Taidan olla eka joka lähtee sen takii, että sopimus loppuu, muut aiemmin lähteneet lähti muista syistä. Töissä oli viime viikolla tosi hiljasta. Vaikka illallisella listan mukaan piti olla 400 asiakasta, niin me tarjoilijat vaan käveltiin ympäriinsä ja yritettiin ettii jotain tekemistä. Se oli [View Full Entry]

By Ricki
August 20th 2009

Crawling in the Caves of Crete Europe » Greece » Crete

Cave with a view

Crete is over 60% mountains and there are more than 3,000 recorded caves on the island. With that in mind, we thought it would be fairly easy to find these caves and explore them. We thought wrong, but we were determined so we spent the past two days looking for the perfect cave. We pushed our little rolling box to the limits encouraging it to go up steep inclines to "that gap over there in the mountain top! It's a cave!" We finally explored about 6 really good caves and one awesome tunnel. We confess we might have been distracted from [View Full Entry]

By Carly and Jez
August 19th 2009

Cruisin' around Crete Europe » Greece » Crete » Heraklion

Sunset on the beach

Day 485 After a hot night it the tent, we started the day with a swim in the pool. Refreshed we set off on our tour towards Agios Nikolos, with a switch of driver and navigator and advice and directions from our camp site and the petrol station attendant, we hit the road. We took the scenic route first, single lane windy mountain roads (fortunately not too much on coming traffic) past the tiny villages , stopping intermittantly for a pic or two until we arrived at Plaka a beautiful little fishing village after lunch by the shore we caught the [View Full Entry]

By Ricki
August 18th 2009

Sitia and Northeastern Crete Europe » Greece » Crete

Never get tired of this!

Today was our day to visit the northeastern end of Crete, situated around the main city in the region, Sitia (sih-tee-ah). The Rolling Box again encountered rugged, mountain terrain, and while we were a little bit green from the hairpin turns, we made it in short order. Sitia is a busy oceanside city that caters to tourists, farmers from the surrounding countryside, industrial entrepeneurs, vacationers from mainland Greece, and a large boating community. Unfortunately, it does this all at one time, and the little comment in our guidebook that says "Sitia is off the main tourist routes, guaran [View Full Entry]

By Ricki
August 16th 2009

Crossing Crete Europe » Greece » Crete » Knossos

Jimmy and the Rolling Box

Today's blog actually starts last night, with an evening briefing with our hotel owner here in Crete, Vassilis. He is a wizened old Greek man who manages the hotel during season, and spends the offseason in Ft. Lauderdale, so his English is very good. He spread out a map of the island, and gave Rickelle and I a twenty minute lecture about the various places we could reach for day trips, including historical tidbits, point of interest, and the timing of when things occur this week. More importantly, he mentioned that "the best lamb chops in Greece are just two kilometers [View Full Entry]

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