Crete, Greece

Crete is an island with clear, warm seas and numerous beaches, bright sunshine and cool starry nights, well known for its archaeological sites and magnificent nature.

Crete – area 8336 sq. km. population – 620 thousand people.

This is the largest island that is part of the Greek state. It separates the Cretan Sea from the Libyan Sea, being on the border between Europe and Africa.

Districts

Administratively, Crete is divided into 4 regions or nomes: Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion, Lassithi with the same regional centers.

Climate

The climate on the island is Mediterranean – it is considered the mildest and healthiest in Europe. Season duration: from April to the end of October.

Nature

The island is diverse – either a bare, outlandish landscape, or a wooded fertile plain, or impregnable rocky shores, or endless sandy beaches, villages immersed in the greenery of olive and citrus groves, vineyards. Crete has 22 national reserves, 1 of which is the Samaria Gorge, known as the Grand Canyon of Europe.

Kitchen

Greeks have been gourmets for centuries. Favorable geographical position and favorable climatic conditions allow the Cretans to produce a wide range of foodstuffs. In the tourist areas where the hotels are located, a network of taverns, restaurants, bars is widely developed. In taverns you can order any menu without worrying about the quality of the cooked food. Seafood restaurants are more expensive than others. Wine can be ordered both bottled and barrel house.

National dishes

• Britzola – chop (pork, beef)
• Moussaka – pot-cooked meat with vegetables
• Souvlaki – shish kebab of pork, lamb, beef
• Paidaki – goat or lamb ribs
• Kleftiko – lamb baked in foil in the oven
• Sfakiano – lamb stewed with wine and spices
• Stifado – rabbit cooked in red wine
• Tzatziki – Cucumber, Yogurt and Garlic Salad
• Garides salad – shrimp salad
• Kalamaria – squid
• Xifia – grilled swordfish
• Kakavya – Greek ear

Sports, health, entertainment

Most of the sports and entertainment centers in Crete are located in hotel complexes. All kinds of water sports, such as: water skiing, windsurfing, catamarans, water bikes, scooters, parasailing are offered almost everywhere. Diving enthusiasts will be able to satisfy all their interests in the study of marine flora and fauna. Hotels usually have fitness centers, tennis courts, table tennis, billiards, golf and mini golf, mini football, volleyball and basketball courts, mountain bike rentals, darts, archery and much more. On about. There are hotels in Crete with excellent marine therapy centers where you can restore your health during your vacation. In the resort areas there are a huge number of restaurants, taverns, bars, pubs, discos, entertainment centers.

Beaches

In Crete, all beaches are municipal. In hotels, as a rule, sunbeds and umbrellas are provided for a fee. The island has a lot of beautiful bays and bays where you can sunbathe in the sun and enjoy the gentle sea.

Purchases

What to bring from Crete? The island has been famous for centuries for producing the best olive oil in the world. As in all of Greece, there is a huge selection of all sorts of wine: sweet, semi-sweet, semi-dry. We advise you to buy such wines as: Cavalieri, Logari, Kritikos, Topikos Inos, Rosé, Mavrodafni, Katogi, Sitia. A specific taste has a wine produced only in Greece – Retsina (wine made with the addition of resin from coniferous trees). Famous for its healing properties thyme honey with herbs collected in the mountains. Many medicinal herbs grow here, including those endemic to Crete. Famous Cretan white-blue and beige-brown ceramics. The Greek cognac “METAXA” is widely known and distributed all over the world. Jewelry made of gold and silver, leather and fur coats are in great demand among tourists.

Time

The time difference between Greece and Russia is 1 hour. If in Moscow it is 10:00, then in Greece it is 09:00.

Language

The official language is Greek. In the recreation areas, tourists speak English, German, French, Italian.

Religion

Orthodox Christianity.

Currency

Since Greece is a member of the European Community, on January 1, 2002 Greece introduced the currency – the Euro. Currency exchange can be done at exchange offices, at the hotel reception or at any bank branch. Credit cards are accepted for payment: VISA, EUROCARD, MASTERCARD, etc. Traveler’s checks are accepted for exchange.

Store opening hours

• Monday, Wednesday, Saturday – from 08:30 to 14:00 (sometimes until 15:00).
• Tuesday, Thursday, Friday – from 08:30 to 14:00, from 17:00 to 20:00 (sometimes until 21:00).
• Sunday is a day off.
• In tourist areas, shops are open from 09:00 to 23:00 (sometimes until 00:00).

Tips

In Greece, it is customary to leave a tip of 10% of the cost of the service.

telephone connection

Greece code +30 (8 10 30).

You can call your country from any pay phone using a calling card. Cards in denominations of 3, 5, 10 euros are sold in all kiosks or mini-markets. 3 Euro cards are enough for 5 minutes. uninterrupted conversation with Moscow, Kiev, St. Petersburg.