“Visiting Chania, do not forget to try malaka cheese”, advised us a Cretan friend. He laughed then, looking at our surprised faces. Yes, “malaka” is a slang word, a dirty one. But sometimes we call our friends that, even as a joke; and no one gets offended”. It turned out that in translation μαλακός means […]

If you see a photo of this church, built of ancient stones right at the edge of the sea, with some imagination you will feel the resinous smell of pine trees on the shore, the heat of coarse sand under your bare feet; and the salty sea wind, the same one that once accompanied St. […]

It was not very simple to take this city-fortress by one storm, and this is not about the numerical advantage or talent of the commander. It is necessary first to properly exhaust the enemy before delivering a decisive blow. Therefore, the knowledge of a correct siege has always been extremely highly regarded. The siege of […]

The history of the Russian diplomatic presence on the island of Crete is almost 250 years old. Russian consuls in Crete have always defended the interests of their state in difficult conditions. For a short period by historical standards (two and a half centuries) of the Turkish rule, the fertile and densely populated island with […]

Spinalonga … This island near Crete remains largely mysterious despite numerous excursions and stories about its past; and, for example, not all tourists, looking at the outlines of Spinalonga from Agios Nikolaos will be ready to go to the place that was a leper colony until 1957, the place where patients with then incurable leprosy […]

Сlean water supply, sewage and sewerage are three most important pillars of human progress. It is difficult for modern people, especially urban residents, spoiled by benefits of technological progress, to take this statement seriously. However, for many people living away from civilization, this is true. In the Human Development Report 2006 “Beyond scarcity: power, poverty […]

In connection with the recent covid restrictions in freedom-loving Greece, I recalled a complicated and sad story of Cretan Statue of Freedom – “Eleftheria”. From 1937 to 1970, a statue of the goddess Athena, as a symbol of freedom of Greece and the island of Crete, rose on the hill of the Prophet Elijah in […]

For the most part, guests arriving in Crete are aware of only two international airports on the island: in Heraklion and Chania. However, there are six airports in Crete! In addition to Heraklion and Chania, the airport of Sitia has also international service during the season. These three airports serve domestic flights all year round. […]

For the most part, guests arriving in Crete are aware of only two international airports on the island: in Heraklion and Chania. However, there are six airports in Crete! In addition to Heraklion and Chania, the airport of Sitia has also international service during the season. These three airports serve domestic flights all year round. […]