According to that bastion of science fact, Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper, the UK Meteorological office predicts a cold winter.

December and January may just be warmer all the way south in Europe’s warmer climes – Crete!

The Mirror’s Martin Fricker says: The Met Office has sent a severe weather warning to energy firms, predicting “significantly colder than average” December and January (UK Daily Mirror 19 September 2005)

First and fast: New trains for the Athens>Thessaloniki route (Inter City 50 and 51) now take a smaller bite out of the day – just 4 hours 15 minutes. This will improve to 4 hours flat in 2006 and 3 hours in 2010. Running now – ready for use and your convenience…

Romantic rail: The Filia / Tostluk train now runs between Thessaloniki and Istanbul and the rail voyage lasts eleven and a half hours. A first class — why not!? — sleeper berth for one is 84 Euros – a bargain for these times methinks.

Make it even better – a couple of tips:
Of course perhaps you will stay the night in Thessaloniki?
Then you will enjoy and benefit from the advice at http://www.superbgreece.com/Makedonia/Thessaloniki/index.htm and be able to choose (with personal help to decide what’s best for you) on which hotel to stay in http://www.superbgreece.com/Makedonia/Thessaloniki/hotels.htm .

Or adventurer and exotic admirer that you are, you may want to stay at the fabulous one-of-a-kind-in-Greece monument hotel in Kavala en route
http://www.superbgreece.com/Imaret.htm

September has repeatedly proven to be a great month to visit Crete – crowds are gone, but you are not alone, sizzling, scorching heat has faded, but it’s still hot and evenings are warm and ideal for those by-the-water evening dinners.

Some of the most special small hotels are pretty full in September but many of the normal cookie-cutter types have rooms to spare.
This is the month for the independent traveller, those just setting out to make the best trip they can within a reasonable budget and those just setting out again to enjoy the best and most lavish but characterful treats the big island has to offer.

Who offers the sort of expert, first hand, on-the-spot, friendly, knowledgeable, wholesome, honest advice and suggestions so at least you know you will stay in a fabulous small hotel or a ticklishly delightful villa, or even a spruce studio on a quite and isolated beach ? Who knows Crete but will understand you? Who cares that you really enjoy this massive offering of an island?

A hint – a big hint – http://www.CreteHotelRooms.com and the http://www.CreteTravel.com team

Blowing our own trumpet? Well if it\’s true – flaunt it! We’d love to see you happily wandering the mountain roads and slowly winding your way down to that hotel you will always treasure.
We love what we do when we help you and it shows – read what others say> http://www.crete-hotels-rooms.com/Help/testimonials.htm

Have a Splendid Labor day and wherever you are…have a great stay!