Lufthansa provide the following helpful information for passengers affected by the 22-25 February strike action :

Information on the Lufthansa pilot strike

Due to a strike which has been announced by the pilots’ union “Vereinigung Cockpit” (VC) between 22 and 25 February 2010, Lufthansa is expecting disturbances to flight operations.

Lufthansa regrets any inconvenience to Lufthansa passengers caused by possible strike action and will do its utmost to reduce the impact for travellers. If you have booked a Lufthansa Flight between 22 and 25 February 2010, but prefer to change your travel plans, Lufthansa offers one free of charge rebooking to another Lufthansa flight before 31 May 2010 under the condition that origin and destination remain unchanged and the ticket has been issued before 18 February 2010.

You may reach your Lufthansa team in Athens at 210 6175200. Lufthansa has also implemented a toll free number for calls within Germany: 0800 / 8 50 60 70.

You can also find out more details on the Lufthansa.com site, which well be constantly updated.

A starting position that will allow you to accelerate into the “fast-working-lane” while you get to enjoy your spare time on the island of Crete. A job with a future, a career.

(Tip – you might try applying even if you do not speak Greek perfectly).

If you can write (in English) fast and furiously in a jocular, friendly, honest and engaging style and are world-savvy, an admin boffin and so much more….

Read more: http://www.cretetravel.com/job

Just in case you have already been to Crete, Greece a few times this year and fancy somewhere new before you return next year (and why not return?). The word about Colombia is encouraging. See the Economist magazine article:
http://economist.com/world/la/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7121789
welcome to the world of visitable countries. Though considering everything Crete is still much easier to wonder around and even though it receives a few more visitors – in number – each year, much of it is still uncrowded.
Now is a good time to plan an autumn (fall) visit. Though the best weather is not guaranteed in say, November, you can have the island to yourself and if tourist enclaves are not your favourite thing, the fact that they may be closed in November will not be vexing.

Now on the other hand you will rarely find Cartagena packed with tour buses…

So the monsters won.

Eurovision was an opportunity to see some splendid visual stimulation, in the form of Greece. Scenes of markets, villages, hotels ( some we identified ! ), people, beaches, monuments, archaeological sites, houses, ancient pathways, fantastic food and well….overall, a visual feast. These provided the interval, the pause that refreshes, between vastly contrasting music styles (well style might not always be the word) but well, ballads to bawdy, gaudy monster rock to the funny “vote for us song” – the latter probably should have won for its total lack of disguise, all marketing and no song!

So many areas of Greece are still unexplored – areas where tourism is a novelty, visitors a strange a wonderful event taking place. For example Kavala, with so much to see nearby from Thasos island to the massive bird and wetland sanctuary, the magnificent bends and twists of the Nestos river and so many ( yes many ) more delights in store.

Also consider the cosmopolitan, lively, interesting and friendly northern anchor of the country, Thessaloniki.

And the beat goes on !

Once in a while that opportunity does pop up.

Now there is a chance to be considered for a full time career in Greece, specifically on the island of Crete.

No mere summer job, a serious possibility of building a world class future with a fast-growing internet publishing and specialist travel company.

Details: http://www.cretetravel.com/Wanted/Careers_Cretetravel.htm

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.

I have been told recently by a customer: “the pictures of hotels you see on the internet are so often better than the reality”. Boy, does that hurt!

Why? All my life I have done my best to be honest and truthful. However, I am painfully aware of how easy it is to be grouped together with the many individuals and companies who do not tell the truth, especially when they are trying to sell you something.

I particularly ‘cringe’ when this happens, since I do not consider myself in the business of “selling” people anything. As you – our customers – testify, I and my employees go to great efforts to find out what each and every one of you enjoy when you vacation and match you to a place to stay that you will find just perfect.

It is my cardinal rule – if we don’t offer the one place we believe you would be delighted with – we say so and wish you luck in finding what you are looking for elsewhere (even point you in the right direction if we happen to have any insights).

I try to avoid being ‘spoiled’ by so much positive feedback about our sites and particularly about the extraordinary wealth of information and tips, as well as the largest number of real and accurate photographs of hotels we show (along with accurate, honest descriptions).

I am therefore taken aback when people who have browsed and browsed the internet, searching in vain through ?reservation? or ‘hotel deal’ sites for the information, rates, terms they need before making a booking (try it – it’s shocking how much information is only available after entering all your personal details! ) or had a bad previous experience, put us in the ?same basket? with such careless or slick operators.

How do we implement our honesty and truth principle?
- We start with a detailed, accurate description of the hotel
- We show an incredible number of *real* photographs (where else can you find even up to 35 different photographs for a hotel? ) ? in most cases, we take our own photographs, to avoid having only ?perfectly staged? photographs provided by the hotels.
- We go into great detail of what is (or isn?t) available to visit and enjoy nearby
- We are extremely accurate and careful about *distances* (A mile form the beach manages to become “2-300 metres or yards” according to some companies)
- We give ANY other information you request, again truthfully: at the same time answering your questions such as “what will I see looking out of my window, how busy/quiet is it/is it historic or traditional and..” etc?
- Prices are clearly and simply shown on our website, including all taxes and any extra charges there may be (again without you having to go through steps, entering your name and credit card information to see the final amounts ? unacceptable! )

Unbelievable? Why do we go the last mile, make the effort for you? Well actually it makes good business sense. We have a negligible occurrence of problems of any type and few disappointments (we make sure we are happy that you will be happy before making your hotel reservation).
Our guests come back to us often, year after year.

I am pleased to share that many of you, our guests, tell us “why didn’t you tell me it was so good?” when you have stayed at the perfect place we helped you choose. This is what we aim for with every single reservation, every one of our valued customers.

Doing a job moderately well does not exist in my life…it has to be the best possible result. Who wants to work at something without being passionate about it? Not me!

You work too hard and deserve to have great expectations of these, the greatest and most memorable weeks of your life.

Truth is king! Honesty is the most natural and relaxed way to live. It also builds a good business.
Roger
CreteTravel.com

Wondered about Athens now the tickets are sold, the events are old and the city gradually forgets about the Olympics of last summer?

An article worth a read :
http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/12/02/travel/trathens.html

And for those to visit soon – the guide you need:
http://www.cretetravel.com/Athens

Happy holiday shopping!

Always helpful isn’t it?
The easier it is to get to and from an island, the better.

Now the Ionian islands in Greece are gradually getting the benefit of a new sea plane service – offering both scheduled service and sightseeing options.

Eventually services to Brindisi in Italy (allowing as it happens, a good link to easyJet\’s flight to London\’s Luton airport) will be added, together with some services to central Greece (lakes are the landing point!) and to the north at Thessaloniki.

AirSeaLines website www.airsealines.com

We wish them success. Welcome!

Ed.  note  SADLY SINCE DECEASED AS A COMPANY

If you are looking for maps of Crete, guide books to the island, archaeology in Crete, flowers and wildlife, history – the crete bookshop online at CreteTravel.com is updated and has the perfect selection – ready for you to order before your trip to Crete.

Each book or map has an informative description or review so that you can choose what is best for you.
http://www.cretetravel.com/Books_Crete/Guides.htm

Perhaps there will be some titles you have never seen before?