Orange and olive land: Crete
Crete is the largest of the Greek archipelago and is located at about an hour flight from Athens or ten hours away by ferry. Has a length of 250 square kilometers and its width varies from 12 to 60 km. Greek islands and rocky mountains, in lace white houses on the shore is shaped clouds in dark green of the Mediterranean. Finally, when only one step higher in the air would take over Africa, the gods dwelling rises high and boldly defying the clouds and the evening ended last April. Halt between two major Aegean and Libyan feared pirates, Venetians and Turks. Earth, where Cretans believe that Zeus was born, where he took off Icarus and the smell of tamarind danced Zorba, the oleander and roses.
EL GRECO. In addition to Fodele bay, a Cretan village planted in the middle of orchards of oranges and lemons in the morning increases in colors of El Greco. For here, in Fodele, settlement of times when venetians ruled the island, was born in 1541, Domenikos Thetokopoulos (El Greco). Scenes from the Bible, animate the brush color reminiscent of El Greco and old icons that keep churches Cretan village awaits visitors in the museum.
Roads on the island do not have holes. And if she did not feel the eyes of white huts after sellers of oranges and lemons, which spread their goods on the edge of orchards, near the road. And then more serious, dressed only in lime green, wine, olive orchards. There are three varieties on the island and all just for oil. Crete has five million olive trees. And a population of 500,000 inhabitants.
Preveli. Above the estuary that makes Kourtaliotis River, perched on rocks, watching old Monastery of Preveli. There are around 1200, when Catholics first walls were built here. At a time was madhouse. It is orthodox monastery. Often monks from Preveli laid hands on weapons and gave a helping hand in various conflicts in which the islanders were involved. In the early twentieth century the monastery was a refuge for military allies.
RETHYMON. He was famous since the time of King Minos. L-Santorini eruption destroyed. They conquered the Dorians. Then the Venetians. He was devastated pirates. They conquered the Turks. They bombed the Germans in World War II. For each of these pieces of history at Rethymon there’s a testimony. The harbor city was built by Venetian merchants who wanted to defend the ships in the early eleventh century. Rethymon dreaded pirate Barbarosa attacked in 1538.
Then the Venetians escaped, but fired high school and have a wall which began in the east of the west coast and ends. The wall did not impress but the pirate Olouz Ali has managed to take Rethymon. After two years under the terror of pirate Venetians managed to free town and built the fortress. Rethymon still lives in Venice rhythm with narrow streets sneak under the red “threat”, white and purple flowers that fill the balconies. Smells of Italy, from salt water to wash Fortress.