The Cretan Vista Guide
to living in
North Western Crete

1 - The Rodopos Peninsula

Crete, Greece. Largest island in the Land of the Gods, A Land in itself. Surrounded by clear turquoise seas beneath Mediterranean blue skies. A land of warm welcomes. Filoxenia. Good wines. Outstanding beaches. Memorable holidays or a perfect retirement................. Welcome to Rodopos. Our Crete!

Rodopos Village Square, Rodopos Peninsula, North-West Crete

Kalos Ilthate - Welcome to Crete

This is a safe site. Kids of all ages can play without danger from porn-shops and predators. There is nothing to buy and so nothing to spend. The only danger is that you will fall for Crete and spend a lot of your time and money here in paradise. Start below...

A Real-life Guide to Living in North Western Crete
Part 1 - The Rodopos Peninsula.

This personal local guide starts where the guide books start, and carries on where they stop! With the reality of living on the Rodopos Peninsula. Amongst real Cretans in a real mountain village!
But start at the beginning - getting to NW Crete and getting to know it a little - Ela!

Essentials to Survival - Read On!

When to come Depends on what you want to do.... The weather is usually sunny - in summer!	Getting to Crete Tips on how to get here. It's easier than you think..... If you have time - drive here.	Arrival What to expect when you get off the plane... Advice on not having a bad time.	Nomos Chanion Where you should be. The Capital is the city of Chania, or Xania.. Previews
Breakfast in Chania Room-Service with a better view and more action...... Closed	Tsipouro Celebrated firewater. Also called Tsikouthia and Rakis.	About About Us Why we built the site Site/Local News/Reviews NEW - MAY 2014	A Place in the Sun And finding one....
The Chania Market Just like Marseilles	Peripteros Universal mini - mini markets	The Rodopos Peninsula Five real mountain Villages.	Calendar Collectibles NEW - 2014 (Birds of NW Crete) 2000/2002/2003/2005/2006/ 2008/2009/2010/2011/2012/2013

Living on Rodopos

KOLIMBARI Even on a Monday!	Sea Front Kolimbari Past the police station and to the beach	Sea Front Kolimbari1 Taverna's Supreme	Sea Front Kolimbari2 On the beach - but don't try to walk to Chania
Sea Front Kolimbari3 On the beach - but don't try to walk to Chania	Sea Front Kolimbari4 To Diktina and Argentina without the travel	The Gonias Monastery Kolimbari and Ecclesiastical Academy	Gateway to Rodopos Steeply rising road takes you to the Rodopos peninsula.
Gateway to Rodopos2 Onwards to Afrata.....	Afrata village Peninsula first stop....	Astratigos village Set in a walkers paradise.	Rodopos Village On the way to Agios Ioannis and Diktina
Ravdoucha village High-level Village with sea level beach and harbour	Agia Ioannis -The legends: Upside down trees and bare-footed brides!	Diktina End of the road, but a prize to remember	Cretan Monastiraki Athenian flea-market right here on Crete..
Old Houses: So you want to buy an old house?	Earthquakes Is this an earthquake zone?	Pendelli Master Cooper Mesmerizing barrel maker at Kastelli - Kissamos	Walking in the Area A few walks and general Advice on staying well....

General Information .......

Travel Agents Some sell tickets and some sell travel..	Hotels, Apartments and Rooms Finding desirable accommodation	Books & Good Reading Bookshops abound. Authors may be even more numerous! NEW Living in Crete update
Food and drink Maybe the best in the world... Current Recipe - Fish Soup	Shopping in Crete Don't bring the marmalade!	Museums: Listing and Description
Religion and Churches Mosques and Minaret's abound, but Greece is Orthodox	The Leather Market Skridlof Street is fast becoming a big jewelry shop, but you can still buy good leather	Cretan Art and Crafts Weaving, Pottery, Icons et al.... Current Part 1. Weaving
Buses Go by bus - 'me to leoforio'	Newspapers and magazines Greek in English and English in English - where to find it	Radio, TV and internet The world is, literally, at your finger tips

Getting out and about .......

Some day-trips From wherever you are..	A Countryman's Diary LAST EDITION Andrew Bell on Cretan Countryside.	Great Countryside 1. Breathtaking countryside. NEW GALLERY - Cretan Fauna. 2. Paul Smith Birdwatching. Pauls'Final Diary SEPTEMBER 07* 3. Bird wildlife Gallery. Current
Some day-trips From wherever you are..	Parks and Gardens Usually cool...........
Beach action Top to bottom - parascending to scuba diving - its all here	Hire a Bike Pedal by Pedal directions	Rent a Car The best agencies in Crete may be your local ones
Ferry Boats All at sea!	Mini Cruising Local rides or weekend sprees	Take a `plane Athens return in a day...
Driving Days Out Can take you anywhere..... but don't forget your maps	Nearby Islands Gramvousa; Balos; Kithira; Gavdos	A Mountain Village Off the beaten track in NW Crete

Hopefully Helpful Information

Tourist Information The official version	Maps of Crete Choosing the right one	Letters from Crete Real life uncensored! Short Stories ***** DECEMBER - Flying Home
Garden of Remembrance Souda Bay War Cemetery	Cretan People Meeting people in NW Crete Current Vasilis Kazanidakis	Survive: Greek Language Speak Greek Now! Carefully!!
Where are you from? Apo pou isaste? Greek Curiosity	Souvenir Hunting Most things are cheaper and there some curiosities..	Feel Safe: Stay Young: Filoxenia for foreign visitors

Photo Albumns from Nomos Chanion

Chania Central Market Photo Tour	Mhlia Traditional Village CURRENT	Chania Leather Market & Harbour Area Tour Available Shortl
Photo Gallery Collectibles New 2008 - OLD CHANIA Photographed in NW Crete Minature Shrines - Klaus D.Thill.	Rebuilding a ruined house 1 Photographed in NW Crete	Souda War Cemetery Photo Walkabout
Cretan Sunsets Original sunrise/sunset Photographs from NW Crete	Cretan Flowers MARCH2011 P29 & P30 NEW Wild Flowers here	Charcoal Burning Making Charcoal in NWcrete

A Few Useful Web Links:

www.cycling.gr The website of Bike Trekking Plan - see 'Hire a bike - Pedal by Pedal directions'.	www.greekislands.com This is the superb website of Paleologos travel, Iraklion. Crete. Anywhere in Greece five star service. Of the very best.	www.ferries.gr This site will get you to, in and around Greece from anywhere in the world. All forms of travel. Online booking - time zones - even links to weather reports.
www.e-sale.gr An Aladin's cave of old goods for sale in Chania	www.west-crete.com First rate information and magical photographs	www.dilos.com Lets you see inside hotels and offers on-line booking
www.interkriti.org Take an Aerial tour of the Cretan coastline and beaches - land wherever you want	Crete's own magazine STIGMES The very best for lovers of Crete; it's history & culture or soon-to-be visitors	www.sfakia-crete.com If you can't find it here, it probably doesn't exist!
frappé Magazine Link Open shortly - the magazine is available now - free - but only online...	www.lexis.edu.gr Excellent language school in Chania	1.Directory of useful web-sites & 2. Visit Most Recent Additions ****LATEST www.nomad-imtetrnational.com www.livingincrete.net

Guest book - Closed - Contact Link

For questions, queries, answers, comments, seminar topics or discussion points (!) about the Rodopos Peninsula, Chania or NW Crete in general - Why not contact me at cretanvista.gr

This is a relatively new site. It is informational. About living on the Rodopos peninsula in the prefecture of Chanion, North Western Crete. It includes the city of Chania; people; its towns and villages. The site does not generate income or accept gratuities. Everything mentioned has been or is part of real life experience and where services are recommended it is on the basis of that experience. Any offence given by anything on the site will have been accidental and will be corrected.

The site is being continuously developed and updated. Helpful comments, criticism and suggestions are sincerely welcome. We hope that you will find the site seriously enjoyable and informative. Remember though that not everyone sees things the same way as we do. If you feel that you don't like Crete at all after a visit, then wait a month. If you then find yourself wondering about whether you like it after all, then what can we say? The feeling will grow! Kalos Ilthate - welcome to Crete!