Almost exactly one year ago, we visited the island of Crete. The “crisis” was in full tilt, demonstrations were plenty in Athens and around Greece, and we were just into the shoulder season (mid-October). It seemed like we had much of the island to ourselves, including lonely little Arkadi Monastery perched on a hill in Crete’s Amari Valley.
The monastery facade you see in the panorama below dates back to the 16th century. Look closely, though, and you’ll see that it is strewn with bullet holes from a 150 years ago, a symbol of Cretan resistance and independence. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Europe, Greece, Panorama by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
7 Comments | 17 October 2012
You smell the stink, but you hear the scent!
– Viki, one of our guides on the Greek island of Crete, captures the philosophical essence of Cretan cuisine.
While I appreciate that the traditional Cretan diet is known as being one of the healthiest in the world, every time I look at our food photos from Crete I think back to our experience: “Damn. That was just awesome food.”
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Filed Under: Europe, Food, Greece by: Audrey Scott
43 Comments | 20 February 2012
Windmills are a symbol of clean energy today, but wind power is not especially new technology on the Greek island of Crete. In the late 15th century, the occupying Venetians began to use windmills on the edge of Crete’s hillsides to grind wheat. To better catch the wind, they attached fabric-like sails on the blades.
Today, after over 500 years of facing the elements, the sails are gone and the windmills that remain do so in various stages of disuse. In spite of all that, amidst the breeze, it’s possible to imagine the two dozen windmills on the edge of the Lassithi Plateau in Seli Ampelou helping to churn out kilos of ground wheat.
For a glimpse of the windmills and some classic Cretan landscape, open the panorama below. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Europe, Greece, Panorama by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
9 Comments | 20 October 2011
Greetings from Crete!
Difficult to keep track of us sometimes, isn’t it? In one week, after a hop (from Berlin), a skip (to Prague), and a jump (from Munich), we’ve landed on Crete, the almost-southernmost island of Greece.
First morning seaside wake-up call.
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Filed Under: Europe, Greece, Travel by: Audrey Scott
20 Comments | 18 October 2011
