It was considered a serious blow to Newt Gingrich’s effort to become GOP’s candidate for the American presidential election in 2012 when several senior members of his campaign staff resigned. The reasons for this resignation en masse were numerous, but one thing that upset Gingrich’s aides where his two weeks of holiday in the Greek isles with his wife. His presence in the U.S. was considered necessary for the upcoming campaign, but despite this he chose to heed the schedule of his wife and take a much needed break.
If Gingrich was to ignore his campaign at least for a brief amount of time then the Greek isles was a good choice for a holiday refuge. Rhodes and Mykonos are indeed undeniable stepping stones for a cruise through the Aegean archipelago, but far to the south you may find a jewel of the Mediterranean. The Greek island of Crete is surrounded by delightful bluish waters and has something to offer for most tourists.
To begin with, the beaches’ quality is somewhat varied. True to its reputation as a mountainous island, Crete offers rocky bluffs and coastlines littered with stone. These places are quite unsuitable for regular swimmers who do not want to touch uncomfortable pebbles with tender feet. There is however no need to despair as there are abundant beaches with soft sand and exquisite bathing temperatures during the summer months for those tourists who are on the lookout for a suitable place to swim and acquire a suntan.
The Cretans are a very hospitable people characterized by politeness and kindness. In comparison to certain holiday resorts in Turkey you will have a hard time finding any Cretan salesman with rambunctious manners trying to sell unnecessary souvenirs as soon as you step inside a store. The locals can offer several family owned restaurants and taverns and if you happen to come across such a place remember to try out the fish menu. The sea is always around the corner and it would be a shame to forget to taste fresh fish with a glass of good wine and Greek tsatsiki. The prices are relatively low by European standards and the Euro is still used as currency despite recent debating about its future role in Greece in the wake of the Greek financial crisis.
Those tourists who are eager to venture into the Cretan inland will not be disappointed. They are to find rugged but beautiful terrain characterized by deep gorges and valleys surrounded by impressive mountains. In these rustic regions goat herds and ancient churches from the time of the Byzantine Empire are still to be seen. If you come across a mountain village or the old quarters of the coastal towns do not hesitate to visit the local tavern. Besides from a good meal you may witness old widowers with stern outlooks. These men clad in black shirts may perhaps look disgruntled but as soon as the music starts they will in most cases be at the centre of attention dancing joyfully like any other young man.
If you are looking for a holiday with lots of opportunities for partying and dancing all night long then you are to find all this in the larger coastal towns such as Rethymno, Chania or the island capital of Heraklion. Platanias or Georgioupoli are examples for those who are on the lookout for a quieter place suitable for families with children or older people. Whatever preferences you may have, Crete will not let you down. It is a clean island with friendly people and pleasant weather. The locals will greet you with a cheerful “Yassou” or the more formal “Kalispera” and take farewell with a “Kherete”, hoping that you will return to their island sometime in the future.
Daniel Nykvist
