The summer festival in Avdou starting on July 24th and ending on the 15th of August this year, is usually very lively and well-attended (10000 people in 2003).

Most of the events are produced in Greek, but some of them can be enjoyed by foreign visitors as well, such as concerts by local bands, dancing…and an exhibition of the area’s most delicious dishes (a variety of 200 different dishes is promised for this year for you to taste).

Other events include a treasure hunt, plays, singing from the village’s old women and children.

Some dates to aim for:
- 24 July (Saturday), concert of local bands (Th. Papakonstaninou, Y. Aggelakas)
- 30 July (Friday), tribute to the Vyzantine churches of the area. The Vyzantine chorus of St. Minas participates in this event.
- 1 August (Sunday), musical and theatrical performance with the Avdou women’s chorus.
- 6 August (Friday), traditional music concert, band “Octava”
- 8 August (Sunday), feast with local traditional dishes and cretan music playing
- 14 August (Saturday), greek music night with band “Pandos kairou”

Events are all al fresco – open air and you just turn up if you wish!

Place to stay in the area:
Avdou Villas (houses & studios in an organic farm estate, with shared pool)
http://www.crete-hotels-rooms.com/Reservations/Avdou_Villas.htm

The round-the-world journey of the Olympic torch comes to Crete on July 9.
Heraklion, where the journey will start across Crete, will keep the “Laiki” street fruit and vegetable markets closed, on the 9th and the 10th.
Especially noticeable will be the Saturday market’s absence on Saturday July 10. The market is a major weekly shopping source of fresh produce for Heraklion’s residents and those from surrounding areas.
A stretch of 1 kilometre on the road by Heraklion’s port is normally covered by endless stalls of fruit and vegetables, cheap clothing and knock-off t-shirts; it is a major tourist attraction!
But no doubt the chance to see the progress of the Olympic torch “the flame” on clean streets unsullied by the excess of the market\’s produce – and to provide clear passage for this historic journey will be welcomed and also provide a much more significant, most memorable spectacle.

Chania, Crete: A smart new marble-clad fountain has become a new landmark at the bottom of the main Halidon Street – the road most travel or walk down, to get to the Venetian Harbour.

In the square at the “corner” of the old harbour, the fountain now splashes and gurgles…and by suggestion cools visitors to the area.
With smart marble surrounds this looks set to become a “meet me at the fountain in Chania” landmark.

As temperatures have been topping 30 degrees celsius for the last 5 days, a toe or two has been pleasantly cooled by the new attraction!

Athens, Greece: Athens Archaeological Musuem reopens on 24 June 2004. Better light, lighting and displays, special paints and improved disabled access and elevator. New atrium, cafe and toilets.

Among many other improvements are the display of the gold of Mycenae and the Priamus treasure that Schliemann the archaeologist found in Troy.
Neolithic golden jewelry is being exhibited for the first time.
There are around 9000 exhibits in total. At present near 5000 square metres of the eventual 9000 suare metres exhibit space are open.

A special exhibition for the Olympic Games starts on 15 July 2004.

Museum opening hours are every day except Monday, from 8.00 am to 3.00 pm until 6 July and from the 7th of July from 8.00 am to 7.00 pm.
(On holidays the museum closes at 3.00 in the afternoon).
Tickets are 6.00 Euros.
It is suggested that at least 2 hours be devoted to enjoy the exhibits – perhaps longer, and definitely so if you include a stop at the cafe!

To thoroughly enjoy the museum and many other facets of Athens the mini-guide to the city is most helpful – it’s at http://www.cretetravel.com/Athens .Many people spend a day or two in Athens on the way to or from Crete, which also has its main archaeological museum in Herkalion, being refurbished.

Crete Hotels and Rooms by CreteTravel.com have added the delightful Palazzino di Corina hotel in Rethymno to their selection of the most special places to stay in Crete.

Crete Hotels and Rooms part of the CreteTravel.com service, now offer those wishing to stay in the old town of Rethymno, this superbly converted ancient building…which has generously spaced and large-windowed rooms and suites, a small swimming pool, beautiful breakfast room, courtyard and perfect location.

CreteTravel.com’s CreteHotelsandRooms offers personal service to individual discerning travellers worldwide, helping them stay in places with that special “wow – it’s beautiful” factor – all over Crete.
From simple studios on an endless and deserted sandy beach to the most luxurious and beautifully furnished suites and villas in Crete. Reservations are made after it is clear that the “right place” has been found for each guest.

To enquire, reserve or look directly at many photos, full description and actual prices for Palazzino di Corina via CreteHotelsandRooms go to
http://www.crete-hotels-rooms.com/Reservations/Palazzino_di_Corina.htm .

New ticket kiosks (bright new white huts actually) have been positioned in Sougia, Agia Roumelli, Sfakia and Loutro.

These are smarter (though hut-like) new ticket kiosks. Sale of tickets normally commences 10 -20 minutes before ferries arrive.

In sfakia tickets are now sold from the new kiosk above the village – in the large parking area where the KTEL bus stops and turns for its return journey.
In Loutro tickets are on sale at the kiosk by the ferry jetty.

Simple MAPS see -
for Sfakia http://www.cretetravel.com/Sfakia/Sfakia_map.htm
for Loutro http://www.cretetravel.com/Loutro/Loutro_map.htm

All ferries in Loutro now embark and diesmbark from the ferry jetty. This avoids the previous nerve-wracking approach to the beach, edging between swimmers and canoists. There is no more of the unfcertainty as to where the ferry will dock. Safer, better and more reliable.

Ferry schedules – bang up to date – are available at http://www.cretetravel.com/ferries .

Just updated are flight schedules on all scheduled flights to Crete.
Also a new listing of helpful charter flight websites for those flying direct from the UK to Greece’s largest island.
Designed to be as easy to read as a timetable ever could be, this is a great places to start planning your Crete visit.
http://www.cretetravel.com/flights

No need to have feared any price increases.
So far all the hotels, villas and sea-front apartments, mountain retreats and county retreats – none that we know of have any special high prices for accommodation during July, August and the Olympics.
Of course each night you stay in Crete will cost you more in July or August than say, April, but it is this way every year…there is after all a high season!

CreteTravel.com’s wonderful service and selection of enchanting and truly special places to stay in Crete housed at http://www.crete-hotels-rooms.com reflects this.
There are still many delightful places to stay available for the high (and hot) season, all the prices are normal.
Talking of prices, the rates shown on the Crete Hotels and Rooms website are final, true, include all taxes and explain exactly what they do include. So there are no unwanted surprises.

From June 15 Crete has been supplied yet again with “full” on the temperature volume control.

Daily temperatures are 31-33 degrees with the nights straining to fall below 20 degrees (all in celsius).

Bright sun, that true, deep south Mediterannean feel, is with us again.

An ongoing recent “history” of the weather in Crete and typical temperatures for each month are at http://www.cretetravel.com/weather . Lower down on the same page, are current readings for Chania and Heraklion.