📓 Crete 📖 📸 🎥 📎

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Evaluation of Crete

Crete is a microcosm full of contrasts, a world of its own. After spending a week there in June 2022, I can say that its nuances are truly infinite. I decided to explore it by car, a fundamental choice, because Crete is vast, full of remote corners and scattered villages, and only by driving can you truly grasp its essence, the one that goes far beyond the paths of mass tourism.

As soon as I arrived I immediately realized that Crete has two distinct souls: on one hand, there is the Crete built for tourists, organized, full of services and attractions designed for those seeking nightlife or the comfort of an "all inclusive" holiday. On the other hand, there is the authentic and wild Crete, made up of silence, small villages, little frequented beaches and surprising encounters.

The thing that stuck me the most, and that became a symbol of my trip,  was a village where goats walk calmly among people in the streets, as if time itself followed a different rhythm here.

The island is so large that it has two airports and three main cities, each with its own distinct personality.

Heraklion, which I nicknamed "the city of youth" is full of clubs, discos and young people who fill the streets until late at night. I must admit that, although the energy is overwhelming, it is not exactly my ideal environment: too many drunk kids, too much caos. Still, it is definitely the perfect destination for those who want to have fun.

Chania, on the other hand, has completely different character, still lively but more refined. It is full of taverns, restaurants and bars, with a spectacular promenade where every evening you can enjoy dinner overlooking the sea and stroll through cozy clubs filled with life. It is ideal for couples or for anyone who prefers a more relaxed, romantic atmosphere.

Rethymno, the third city, is smaller, more intimate and relaxed. Here, too, there is no shortage of excellent taverns and the seafront remains lively even in the evening,  but the overall atmosphere is much calmer than in the other cities. It is perfect for those seeking a few days of pure relaxation.

But the side of Crete that I loved the most is the wild south coast. Here you will find the island's most authentic and almost untouched beaches, each with its own peculiarities. They are often hard to reach but every effort is rewarded with breathtaking landscapes.

Glyka Nera, famous for the fresh water streams that flow directly into the sea, can only be reached by small boats. Elefanotisi (Elephantosis) offers an immense beach filled with quiet corners and spectacular scenery.

Then there is Red Beach, a real adventure: you have to hike up and down a mountain to get there, but once you arrive you will discover not only a stunning place but also a small open-air museum with artworks carved into the rocks and drawn in the sand.

Each beach has its own history and its own magic, and often the best way to find them is to follow your curiosity and instinct, as I tell in the dedicated video.

In the evenings, I often stopped in the small villages I came across along the way, enjoying local cuisine and witnessing scenes that would be unthinkable elsewhere, like goats wandering among people or in another village dozens of cats letting themselves be petted by passers-by and weaving between the tables in search of a few bites to eat.

This is the true face of Crete: authentic, welcoming, unpredictable and never ordinary. A week was not enough to discover it all but I brought home a mix of fun, relaxation and wonder that will surely make me return, next time, in search of that wild soul that only Crete can offer. You can learn more about this experience in my article "tales from Greece".

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