There are so many things to be said about the majestic island of Crete. To the naked eye and the unaware mind, it might seem like a typical Mediterranean island with little to nothing to care about. You can be assured that the archaic Greek motto ‘appearances can be deceiving’ fits as a perfect example and here is why.
Geographically, Crete is the biggest of all the Greek islands located in the most southern region in all of Greece. The surrounding masses of water separating her from the Greek mainland are the Cretan archipelago on the northern part and the Libyan on its southern part. The mountainous region of Pindos in central Greece further contributes to the weather occurrence of the whole region. Throughout the spring and fall hardly any rainfall or major temperature drops occur due to these three natural barriers which offer the extraordinary environment of the Cretan mainland.
This makes the perfect climate for many outdoor activities, especially in the winter and fall seasons. Most of the activities are sea-related although there are many others to select if you intend to stay as dry as possible. Hiking and climbing are the most common of them but by far the best outdoor sport is cycling due to the provision of an immense combination of scenery and climate.
The terrain itself is a rough beauty, fertile yet not abundant. Here you will feast your eyes at the most raw appeal of nature with roads strafing through the mountainous slopes and plateaus ascending on naked mountains while almost seeing at any given time a far glance of the blue sea. The once busy routes connecting all kinds of villages and towns are now mildly populated allowing you to cruise through the numerous olive groves and minefields, old forgotten settlements, and centuries-old abandoned churches. Vivid colors surround you at all times with the sun shedding its light, intensifying the palette. Traces of the flora and fauna of the island are incredibly common and the sight of the endemic animals is not so scarce.
The warmth of the sun has always been a part of the people’s character and they do not hesitate to show that to anyone they meet. Often the villagers are old and mind and are always wholeheartedly welcoming to anyone they do not know. Not so talkative with other foreign languages except their own, idiomatic Cretan which is sometimes difficult to recognize even by other Greeks, though understandable unless you pay attention to the detail. But even if they do not know how to speak a word, they surely know their lands in a form of crude excellence. That being said, if you find yourself confused about whether this is the right path, just ask politely whomever you encounter and they will show you the way.
Almost too often you will be accompanied by the hundreds of scents that cross your path every day. From the released cooking aromas of the nearby house to even the thyme that sprung in a cranny in the middle of the bushy slope, your nose will thank you for the rest of your life. And your mouth would wish that you had never left! The sensational tastes of Cretan cuisine are renowned all across the globe with every dish presenting its prestige. Some offer extreme taste through their simplicity while others the sheer excellence through their success as time passes. All combined, local food is delicious, and at any given time proceed to taste any flavorsome local wine so you can surely forget not to order some desserts to satisfy any demanding appetites.
Now, if you are intrigued by finding something that provides every possible experience, you may seek out a cycling adventure. It combines nearly all the aforementioned characteristics and also helps you relax uncommonly. It gives you access to many places where some are exploited plus its aerobic benefits will help your body to actively recover and your mind to loosen up and enjoy the scenery. With the majority of the days being warmer than the Greek usual, cycling can be a pleasing asset in any vacation.
As an enthusiast myself, I would like to say that a paradise on earth is rarely found, but here in Crete, we have the closest to the dream.
Edited by A.Sarris