Mediterranean Cooking: The map of the traditional Greek Salad..

By: Νικόλας Δρόσος - Food Blogger |


Here’ s how to make the traditional Greek salad in a few steps. Just look at the photo and get inspired!
 Click on photo to enlarge

Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice 2016 Awards: Crete voted among the best islands in the world

Condé Nast Traveler readers ranked the best islands in the world outside the U.S. in the 2016 Readers' Choice Awards survey, from nearby Caribbean beaches to far-flung islands in Southeast Asia...

The largest Greek Isle, Crete is also one of the most distinctive, with its own unmistakable culture, landscape, and mythological history.
Make sure to visit the Minoan palaces in Knossos if you make it beyond the beach.

Pro tip: Skip the bumpy drive or three-hour hike to one of the most photographed spots in Crete. Balos Beach is most easily accessed by ferries from Kissamos port.

Getting there: Most flights to Crete connect in Athens, but visitors can also take the year-round ferry from Piraeus or the summertime ferry from Santorini.

Condé Nast Traveler  

Have a nice October! Autumn in Crete..

The experience of a lifetime!  

(source:VisitGreece)

It’s a common secret among travellers to Crete that summertime on the island is at least 2 months longer than most European destinations.  

The Telegraph had an article about autumn tourist destinations where Crete features as a warm and welcoming place. 

 The Austrian newspaper Kurier published a long praising article on the island describing it as a place where you can enjoy a laid back summer vacation in autumn and get to know local tradition. 

 The Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail has included Crete in the six top European destinations for an autumn holiday, saying that people who prefer to extend their summer vacation all the way into October should visit Crete. 

One of the island’s biggest assets - apart from beaches - is the famous Cretan cuisine which you can enjoy all over the place.

The reason for all of the above is quite simple. Crete is located in the southeast part of the European continent and temperature never drops below 20º C from September until November. The average sunshine totals seven hours. Water temperature in the south shores washed by the Libyan sea reaches 23º C and the average air temperature is 26º C.
The atmosphere is limpid most of the time and the tall mountains are clearly defined against the horizon in every detail.
The summer’s blue sea waters change into new fascinating hues, the autumn winds fill the heretofore clear blue skies with amazing cloud shapes and the fairly limited rainfall is very welcome after the dry season has passed.
However swimming remains one of the activities you will definitely enjoy even in late October. Make a note that at this time of the year you will find that there are less tourists so you’ll get better holiday deals as prices are down compared to the high season.

 While you are on your autumn trip to Crete don’t miss the opportunity to visit the renowned historical sites, monuments and museums. The season’s mild weather will tempt you to discover inland secrets and the wide variety of flora and fauna, to visit picturesque mountainous villages as well as those of the lowlands, to follow the hiking trails, go mountaineering or cross breathtaking ravines such as the well-known Samaria Gorge, Kourtaliotiko Gorge etc.

  The end of the summer is the time for agricultural activities such as grape harvesting and sun-drying of the grape berries so as to produce raisins. Ploughing, sowing, grape pressing, wine and raki making are all activities that take place later in the fall. This time of year you can follow the traditional agricultural activities: participate in grape harvesting and pressing, go olive picking, watch the procedure of raki making in cauldrons- cauldron feasts, as it evolves into a traditional celebration, taste local products and learn about the way they are made in the island’s agritourism farms. Let’s bear in mind that traditional Cretan cuisine is based on fresh seasonal produce and that makes it all the more tasty not to mention healthier and more nutritious!

Photo of the day: Summer non stop at South Crete, Greece!

Still warm to take a photo from inside..

 Set beside a long southern-coast beach, between two immense wind tunnel gorges, Plakias was once a humble fishing village. 

In 1961, the official census recorded a population of just six. Today its population explodes each summer with Central European package tourists...

While the town itself isn’t particularly peaceful, from here you can walk through olive groves, along seaside cliffs and to some sparkling hidden beaches. 

It’s also a good base for regional excursions.

Conde Nast Traveller: Greece best country in the world to visit

What are your favourite countries to visit?

In our Readers' Travel Awards you told us you really can't get enough of Greece, which continues to capture your imagination with crowd-pleasing scores across the board.

The Readers' Travel Awards celebrates the best of the best in travel, as voted for by people who love travel: the readers of Condé Nast Traveller. 

 Here is the complete list:

1. Greece
2. Italy
3. USA
4. South Africa
5. France
6. Spain
7. India
8. Australia
9. Thailand
10. Mexico 

Conde Nast traveller

German bookings for specific Greek destinations up 16-31%

Even though the number of German tourist bookings in July might have dropped by 5%, their favourite holiday destinations such as Crete, Rhodes and Kos have seen a rise between 16-31% over the same period.

According to data by TravelTainment, Heraklion (25%), Rhodes (31%) and Kos (16%) are among those choices that experienced a rise in German tourists.

In contrast, the same data revealed that bookings by Germans to Antalya in Turkey and Egypt were down by 46% and 35%, respectively, a result of many German holidaymakers opting to stay at home for the vacations.

According to a monthly survey conducted by GfK on 1,200 travel agencies, the German market was down this summer by 8% compared to last year.  

Telegraph: Crete among the 10 best walking tours for 2016

Walking holidays are the antidote to the pressures of modern life. 
There is no real goal or to-do list other than to wend your way from A to B at your own pace, typically against a scenic backdrop.

 Telegraph selected the 10 best walking holidays for 2016.

France, Italy and Spain, with their varied terrain and enduring appeal, feature heavily on the list.

There are also walks in Switzerland, Portugal, Greece, South Africa and Costa Rica, which offer varying difficulty levels.

2. The way to Crete

"This 13-day Crete’s Coast and Mountains itinerary wends its way around western Crete, passing through Aiolos, homeland of the god of the winds, the pirate country of Gramvoussa, and Elafonisi, land of the Cyclops.
A self-guided trip, it includes stops at a monastery in Chryssoskalitissa, a beach at Elafonisi and the gorges of Paleochora, one of the main attractions of walking in southern Crete. There’s a chance to spot griffin vultures that nest on the slopes of Mount Prophet Ilias and the option to spend a full day relaxing in Souyia, a small seaside village.
Other highlights include the ancient ruins of Lissos, the city of Chania and the Irini Gorge which has only recently been opened up for exploration, and rivals the more famous Samaria Gorge."
 Telegraph

USA Today: Greek islands in world’s 9 top destinations for a solo trip in 2016

 "It's no secret the Greek economy isn't doing great, but that shouldn't stop anyone from traveling there alone — just make sure to take a few extra steps before going solo.

While Athens has rich history to offer and is a good home base, the islands offer a perfect solo beach escape where you'll be able to meet people and island hop when you get bored.

Luckily there are thousands of islands to explore with ferries and flights providing easy access between them.

Don't miss picturesque Santorini, famous party spot Mykonos, beach-riddled Zakynthos, historical Ithaca, under-rated Syros, and of course the biggest island, Crete."

 USA Today

Mediterranean Cooking: Tomato salad with herbs

By: Elias Mamalakis
        Delicious salad, ideal for a light dinner.

Ingredients
6 large tomatoes
1 onion
4 barley rusks
1 cup chopped mint
1 cup chopped basil leave
1 tsp. tablespoon of fresh thyme leave
1 tsp. lemongrass soup leaves, finely-chopped
extra virgin olive oil
1 to 2 tsp. good soup wine vineger
coarse salt
10 ice cubes
Method
Step 1
Break the crispy bread into a very large bowl. Peel the tomatoes.
Step 2
Grate one of the tomatoes and scatter over the crispy bread. Cut the remaining tomatoes into pieces and add to salad bowl.
Step 3
Cut one onion and stir
Step 4
Add the herbs and plenty of coarse salt and stir again. Scatters the ice cubes in abowl and sprinkle with two tablespoons of vinegar. Pour plenty of oil and serve the tomato.
Tips
Probably such a sensual salad will make your guests to despise the other dishes of the meal, so take care with what would compliment the salad and not what will accompany the salad.
* You can make your salad some time before eating, so the tomato will release its juice and will be able to dip.
* The crispy bread is ideal for this salad because it is hard and then not melt, but soften.

New Review on Tripadvisor: “Relaxing time in a beautiful area with superb hosts”

Reviewed 1 week ago

Eleni and her husband, Giorgos are great hosts. 

The arrival was very warm and we felt directly at home. 

The house and rooms are very comfortable and very close to the sea.

Weather was sunny but a little windy. 

Eleni gave us good tips for excursions as well as great restaurants.
Thank you for this fine holiday.

 

If we are some day back in the area, we would certainly stay again there.
Dirk - Olga - Pascale - Patrik 

Room Tip: All rooms are very comfortable !

See here: TripAdvisor

Plakiassuites: Ranked #1 of 49 Speciality Lodging in Plakias, Retyhymno - Crete!

  

99 Reviews Certificate of Excellence

Photo of the day

Pancratium maritimum - Sea daffodil -Το κρινάκι της θάλασσας!

 The Sea Daffodil is a stunning flower and is one of the most beautiful of the wild Cretan flowers which appears on beaches in late summer and can be found on a few of the Southwest beaches of Rethymno...

Pancratium maritimum - Sea daffodil