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JUNE
WEATHER.....
Became an absolute scorcher on Crete with
heat-waves which sometimes reached 40oC. There were also days on
which it was extremely windy, bringing with them the not uncommon risk
of bush fires - some of which have affected the island....
Current Chania
Webcam
Current Cretan Weather
Link
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Hotel Locanda Herion
Venice.
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A new one for us - but one that is more than
well-worth a stay. Almost 'under new management' - but it seems
absolutely perfect... |
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Astratigos Village Life.... Travelers Tales.. XVIV
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....But overall it is for me a magic carpet ride. Sometimes easy; sometimes
very demanding, both physically and mentally. But on the way, all those
lovely people. They will help each other and you with almost anything,
anytime... |
'Lonely Planet II....
And so we left our home and family for our next stage of the magic
carpet back to our home on Crete - 2500 miles and the next half of our
gypsy-style holiday away, hoping that the preceding five weeks or so of
rotten weather would at last ease and make our departure at least a bit
drier....
But first, typical gypsies, we had to do an overnight in London, always
magical, than off to the first ferry at Harwich to the Hook of Holland
with Stena Line and then to our first stop at Maastricht. A short
hop but one with a special reason. The 'pied-piper of Maastricht'!
André Rieu! And of course his orchestra and chorus. If you are not
familiar then please, do try this at home - find one of his
televised concerts and be prepared to be hypnotized into total
enjoyment. But be warned - one dose and you will be hooked, probably
forever! We first watched a TV concert by accident. We spent half
the night watching, totally mesmerized, as the next three concerts
followed in a row. We just could not stop watching - hence my tagging
him the 'pied-piper of Maastricht'! His concerts are a heady
mix of total enjoyment and total enjoyment.
Try
a little....
And here we now were, in the square in Maastricht, his home town,
surveying all like a couple of love-sick teenagers. Besotted. There
wasn't even a concert on...!! But sitting in one of the small cafes
which sit alongside the square with a drink and a sandwich will take you
right back to a remembered concert. Bewitched! Besotted! And now
that we know the way we will be back - and next time it will be to a
live concert - promise. Meanwhile try a little more - straight from
Maastricht - utter magic!...
More (60min) minutes of utter magic! (close video at any time to
return here).
Maastricht alone was very well worth a visit. The hotel was good, the food
(eating out) was excellent and everyone we met friendly - a very good stop.
And on to Colmar France, almost on the German border. Picturesque is an
understatement - it is drop-dead gorgeous! A bit like a fairy story! The people again were
superbly helpful and friendly and the food (eating out again) superb. We
found the hotel rooms a little small, and managed on arrival to get
trapped inside the automatic garage - which was happy enough to let us
in, but like a real-life guard dog detained us until the maintenance
crew got us out! And no, I am not revealing the location - you might
likewise find it a new experience! A couple of days there (though not in
the garage) and yes, we
will be back...
Our next stop was quite a long drive away, the Hotel Noce at Brescia in Italy -
not too far from Venice. For the first time in many years we did not stop at Lucerne,
in fact, apart from a fuel stop we simply drove all the way through.
That last meal at Buochs was unforgivable. Crossing the Swiss Alps
changed the weather to sunny and hot. Very nice,...
Many hotels in Italy seem illusive - now you see them, now you don't.
Many are close to industrial outskirts with a seemingly myriad of side
roads on the way in - you need to be either psychic or possess a good
sat-nav to prevent the occurrence of singularly recursive behaviour
(going round is circles!) when driving. This one was no exception! And
it was Sunday. On Sunday the extremely well reputed hotel restaurant was
closed... But, immediately opposite was a very small hostelry which the
hotel said was open.
It was. But when we went in and
selected a table, we were gently and hospitably moved to what seemed to
be a building block semi-outdoor area (where several other locals were
eating). No English was spoken but we managed to order steak,
salad and chips. Yes, steak and chips! But we both agreed without
hesitation - it was the best steak we had
ever tasted! At local prices. Utter magic. It made missing Buochs
en-route back to Greece worthwhile, and at less than half the price of
the latter, very much more
so....
And on to Venice! Venetia! There were just two days left before the boat departed
for Patras en-route to our home on Crete - but two whole days! Our
very favorite, very lovable, very alive city. The only drawback
was that it was by now very hot, and very, very humid. But the
hotel was absolutely superb. Only a stones throw from the apartment that
we usually occupy, which made us feel immediately at home.
The Hotel Locanda Herion. Cannaregio1697/A, 30121 Venetia. Italy!
Managed by Maryana and Andreas (the latter wearing my hat!!) are
superbly organised and enthusiastic about the hotel. It is very
central, and close to almost everything and everywhere. Nothing seems
too much trouble. We arrived on a very hot and humid day on foot from
the round and round 10th floor car park - which spirals upwards into the
Venetian sunshine - very like pole-dancing! It feels like into the sky - but don't worry - you
can check that description when you have to drive back down!
Back to the Locanda Herion. It is not difficult to find, but has
two front doors! Well not really, just two doors next to each other.
Remember - the right-hand door is the right one. The left hand door,
which I attempted to open first (!) is the wrong one... But once inside
any problems you might have anticipated evaporated along with the steam
from an over-heated me, in the gloriously cool air-conditioned foyer...
Maryana took our case without preamble (and despite our protests( about
ladies carrying the bags of men....) to our very spacious second floor
room. I collapsed onto the bed. The air conditioning in the room
refused to start! Andreas appeared as if by magic and Maryana moved us
to the room next door immediately. No waiting around here. It was Magic...
The room was superb, all of it, with what looked like an antique
wardrobe that I would die for - and a very large en-suite bathroom and
shower. Everything was very clean (spotless) and cool in here. Plus this
room had two - yes two - air conditioning units and both were working
magnificently - ice cubes anyone?!
This is, I promise, one of the best and reasonably priced hotels we have
ever stayed In... To find it in Venice is absolutely amazing. And no,
Cretanvista does not pay anyone for our opinion. It is given freely with
our heartfelt thanks... |
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In the News
Reviews...
And oh' what a surprise...
'Anti-bailout left wing' Syriza political party swept to overall power
on Crete in the June general elections, soundly defeating many of
PASOK's previous stronghold candidates. Party leader Alexis Tsipras did the same
in Evia; Achaia; second Athens; and Piraeus constituencies...
(further comment in
'A Little Extra (Current) News'
- Lt hand col 3 below)...
Link to Story.
But taken in perspective...
Although New Democracy were seriously threatened by Syriza, who had made
dramatic gains, it is Samara's ND party did win the actual election. It also
increased it's share of the votes by 10% - and claimed top spot in 40
out of 56 electoral districts....
Link to Story.
And even with all the negative publicity...
Emanating from the economic problems in Greece, for some it is a
positive bonus. Hotel prices have fallen between 8 - 22% for the peak
season, though the price drops vary enormously according to destination...
Link to Story.
Ralf
Von Hoppe Apologies...
A German journalist who had reportedly written an article for Der
Spiegel magazine in 2010, has apologised for the furor his report, which
outlined how he said some Cretan livestock farmers had grouped their
sheep together - in order to fool inspectors and gain more
subsidies, had caused.
The charges were withdrawn at an Iraklio court by the Iraklio Livestock
Farmers Association when the journalist reportedly apologised..
Link to Story.
Hand-grenade parcel bomb...
An entrepreneur living in Voula received serious injuries when a package
which poilice believed had been delivered 'by a man dressed as a courier'
exploded as he attempted to open it. The man, who owns a hotel on
Crete, unwittingly detonated the grenade as he attempted to open the
package.
Link to Story.
Tragic deaths...
One of a three-year of German girl killed in a hit-and-run incident
on Sunday 17th June on the old National Road between Rethymno and Iraklio on
Crete.....
Then Second an Israeli Climber on Mount Olympus, who witnesses saw
slip and fall during a walking tour of the Epinneas Gorge in northern
Greece.
Link to Story.
And a brutal assault in Chania...
Led to a 25-year-old Egyptian man in need of life saving surgery and the
loss of a kidney after being set upon by two unidentified men in Talos
Square, Chania.
Police are investigating a possible link with another recent attack on
two Algerian men...
Link
to Story.
And quickly find a suspect...
In the case of the Algerian men who had been attacked. Police charged
one man, a 39-year-old from Chania, and were looking for three more suspects
in what could have been a racially-motivated attack...
Link to Story.
But 'settling a difference' on Crete...
Cost the lives of two people at Iraklio - including a 64-year-old caught
in the cross-fire in a nearby coffee shop - and left two more injured, as a
34-year-old walked into butcher shop to settle his differences with the
52-year-old owner of the shop.
Link
to Story.
Causes
anxiety about a possible Vendetta...
Following the incident police arrested the 52-year-old suspect, whom
testified that he had acted in self-defense when he shot and killed the
34-year old, Identified as Priamos Xydakis.
Authorities were said to be concerned that a blood-feud may now occur as
Priamos Xydakis father warned that the suspects family had to leave
the village (Profitis Ilias). Police expressed concern at finding sheep
belonging to the butchers family with their throats slit...
Link to Story.
Minoan Lines Knossos Palace...
En-route from Piraeus to Iraklio, became the scene of a drama when
a 24-year-old woman jumped from the ferry mid-route - 6.7 nautical miles
from the island of Mylos. She was picked up by a passing Yacht after the
Alarm was raised, and handed over to the coast guard. Apparently gave no
reasons for her action...
Link to Story.
But, bad news is always followed...
By good. Some good news is that
Ekathimerini reports that interest in the Greek property market,
particularly for holiday homes, is picking up again. Apparently this market
suffered a major decline - up to 60% compared with 2008.
Bargain areas include Crete, and prices are said to be lower than those in
Spain; Italy and Portugal - moving towards those seen in Turkey....
Link to Story.
Well, perhaps not always...
And perhaps not for everyone, all the time. But it is sometimes
difficult to sort the threads when people are alleged to have spied on
others...
Link to Story.
Certainly not for everyone...
As two clerics are charged with forgery, fraud and embezzlement...
Link to Story.
And Finally...
Tourism is Greece is reported to be 'bouncing back' after the conclusion
of the General Election result of June 17th. A very welcome piece of news...
Link to Story.
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Amazon.co.uk & Selected Cretan
bookstores
Living in Crete
by Carol Palioudakis
OUT NOW IN PAPERBACK!
Price £9.50 GBP |
|
Amazon.co.uk & Selected Cretan
bookstores |
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