After a few days of ferry strikes in Greece – ferry services have re-commenced activity and we anticipate freshly stocked shelves in shops and supermarkets. The rumbling and discussions continue over pay or disputed terms of work…. Meanhwile farmers, growers and those in the perishable goods businesses and industries can return to business as usual, though many have suffered losses due to delayed or cancelled shipments.

After howling high winds on Thursday and at night into Friday, Crete is under a pall of suspended haze and dust particles (not as bad as it may sound as this is a regular phenomenon), creating a Pasoliniesque-style haze, with the sun fighting through. The result is a rather dazzling bright white, hint-of-pink-tinged sky. Storms in much more southern climes bring this haze north every so often…as an impudent interruption, a contrast to our normally clear air and pure skies.
The better part of this is that the southern winds delivering this strange modification of vistas, bring warm air, temperatures meandering in the teens and early twenties (Celsius of course ! ).

There is no reason why there should be any special news from Crete or from Greece today, even on Valentine’s day.
But well, perhaps that’s wrong, incorrect, a faulty premise….

We know how many come hither to Greece to enjoy that special magical light that kisses Greece and its islands, like lovers sighing at daybreak’s interruption to love-making “why dost thou now unruly sun…..?”
But apart from the morning after love’s kindling and its warm greeting of companions in the big world, we all welcome the bright dawn of day, the melting sun. Melting, as kisses, on an evening where amidst commercial overtones, true, deep and solid love lives free.

With love to loved ones, to the one love, and with a kiss to freedom which must be the pre-requisite of any true love, earthly or beyond.

Agios Nikolaos is on a beautification binge…smartening the main Eleftherios Venizelos square and approaching roads. Unsightly cables have been committed to below-ground, where they really do belong!

Nykterida – the long-famed restaurant where I would love to be able to say “my great friend and colleague Sir Winston Churchill” (alas we did Not meet ! ) , apparently dined and enjoyed a cigar as usual – still sits aloft Souda bay on the piddly and insufficient road from Chania to the airport.
The restaurant is poised above the water, offering welcome views night and day.

Nykterida’s oven cooked lamb with many supporting ingredients, a rewardingly tasty eggplant dish with hints of bacon, wonderful cold salads, pork rolled with cheese and vegetables, smoked pork, all were healthy, wholesome pleasure. Lubricated with a 2000 Nemea from the boys at Skouras which scores an 8.5 out of ten on my red wines list (rich, without tannin dryness, silky without over suddsiness, fruity without bringing one fruit too much to mind and totally pleasing to mouth and palate) .
Also welcome on a chilly night was that the restaurant had heard of heating and was warm and cosy. Though they need to add this comfort level, I am told, to the ladies toilets which were all about refrigeration !
A simple change that would bring many more welcome visitors and guests to Crete – will be unilateral warmth – cafes and restaurant owners take note – in winter, indoors!

From our view of the snow-coated White Mountains of Crete, to you all over the world with warm wishes and greetings.

The all-new Crete Aquarium is open. Making use of part of the old US military base at Gouves (on the north coast ) near Heraklion – the new Aquarium is currently open daily – every day – from 10:30 until 1730 hours.

Admission is a lucky seven Euros.

The Aquarium is an integral part of Thalassokosmos (Thalassocosmos) which justly claims a well-aimed spotlight on science, education and enlightening you and me about the marine world.

There are more than 30 tanks, fifty viewing points, and visitor operable cameras to delve into the more concealed areas of the habitat.

Go now before membership availability runs out…..just kidding !
There is no membership fee of course.
If you wish to phone before visiting the number is 2810 337 788 – (+30) prefix from outside Greece.

Opening hours will be longer from April onwards as we spring past winter and head for summer.

CreteTravel.com celebrates 5 years of stunning the world and informing discerning travelers who want to know the real deal, the plain truth and the useful stuff about Crete.

On January 29 in 2001 at around 11.00 in the morning local time the website went live on the internet and has spawned a story which is now part of internet history.

As the information was consumed – appreciated by many for its frank style, user-friendly, easy-navigation, lack of hidden agenda, shear, informative and appropriate – requests started arriving for help with choosing just the right place to stay, that special inn, that romantic suite, that delightfully positioned villa.
We listened, we responded and later that year Crete-Hotels-Rooms.com was launched. Offering more true (accurate) photographs of each hand-picked hotel or villa, brutally honest descriptions, full price information, no mysteries, no tricks – just the plain truth and a whole lot of expert personal service, one-to-one advice and a driving desire to offer the best websites about anywhere in the world….but about Crete; the website and travel service has grown every year since and….yes, given birth to another, namely SuperbGreece.com which step-by-step is covering other chosen parts of Greece with selected, hand-picked hotels and inns with that extra charm, the delight a true and discerning traveler wishes for. Again personal service – all questions answered, any advice given, knowledgeable suggestions made – is provided to guest coming from all of Europe, USA, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, UAE, South Africa, Israel, Canada, Argentina, Hong Kong, India, and most countries (we are getting there too ! ) of the world.

Happy Anniversary.
There is so much more to come.