Crete and the Marvellous Minotaur
When looking for the cheapest flights to Europe, it’s good to have an idea of what you want. Greece is often top of many people’s list. A host of islands to choose from, clear waters, mouth-wateringly good seafood and blazing sunshine are just a handful of the reasons why this is such a good holiday destination.
Rethymnon Crete
One of the popular Islands is Crete. The town of Rethymnon is a holiday hot spot. What’s interesting about Rethymnon is that unlike some of the other popular holiday destinations in the Greek islands, there are all kinds of tourists here. It’s also a student town, so there are young Greeks riding on their scooters and meeting up outside bars that are open till late, so make sure your room is set back. Many shops sell oil lamps of varying sizes, displayed alongside plates painted with local scenes and small replications of the white painted houses. The beach and the harbour are stunning, populated by many wonderful tavernas.
Not far from Rethymnon’s tourist hub, near to the Venetia fortress, there are some more secluded swimming areas. The snorkelling here is fantastic, with many colourful fish and lots of sea urchins on the rocks. You will almost certainly see young fishermen diving for these urchins and spearing octopi a little further out and if you take an interest, you may even be offered a sea urchin, fresh from the sea and a spoon to eat it with. The tavernas here are more chilled out and it’s easy to while the day away.
Hiring a car is recommended. Driving up mountains is not! The paths on mountain passes often become narrower as you go up, so unless you know what you’re doing, there are many things aside from mountain excursions you can do on the Island. Get a map and drive to Heraklion, the bustling capital. From there you can visit the ancient ruins of Knossos. If you don’t drive, or don’t want to drive, there are plenty of tour buses that will pick you up and take you to the centre of the town instead.
Mythology in Knossos
Knossos, in ancient Greek mythology, was home to the Minotaur. Built by King Minos of Crete to hold the Minotaur, an animal which was half man, half bull. Theseus, the local hero, killed the Minotaur by entering the labyrinth with a cord around his waist so he could find his way out again. Knossos is the largest Bronze Age site on Crete. There were only a few segments of the original frescos left in the Palace of Knossos, so there is some controversy over the fact they were reconstructed and placed back on site. While many of the frescoes are allegedly based on original designs, some are known to be the inventions of painters hired in the 1900s.
When its time to return to Rethymnon, enjoy the beach life and the local seafood just one more time before iyou have to pack your bag – holidays don’t last forever, but you can treat yourself to a well earned break now and then!