Cretanvista Site & Local News - AUGUST 14th 2003  Issue 8

No links to sites with adult content accepted 

Absolutely superb!  If you like the heat...  Watching a TV reporter in the UK, a couple of days into August, awaiting the temperature to climb to the magical UK record of 100F, I had to wonder.  He was stood outside the perimeter fence at Heathrow - sun blazing down; traffic streaming by and the one a minute jets landing and taking off - pumping out even more heat - whilst contributing his own hot air by trying to talk the temperature up!!

Leaders First to Astratigos...
   
   

In their Mitsubishi Pajero the group traveled (Dover-Calais) across Europe taking in France; Germany; Austria; Slovenia; Croatia; Bosnia; Montenegro; Albania; Macedonia; and finally Greece, crossing from Piraeus to Chania on an old favourite of ours, ANEK Lines Lissos.

As you read this the Leader family are taking a more well trodden path back home - a ferry from Chania to Piraeus - this time ANEK Lines Lato - a short-ish drive to Patras and then another ferry ride over the Adriatic to Venice!  On the Minoan Lines Icarus Palace this time, before traveling back to Calais and the UK via the more traveler-frequented Western European countries - Italy; France et al.

Getting to Crete via the route taken involved 2556 Kilometres and no little adventure, which Kath has agreed to write up for Cretanvista. Watch this space!  Oh, and Happy Birthday Loise - 12yrs old when they left the UK and 13yrs old when they started their return.  Some journey!

Practical Advice..
Last month in comments about moving here to Crete we said:-

*One piece of practical advice we emphasize is that if you intend to move to Crete and claim tax exemption on your personal belongings, especially your car, start with the Greek Embassy in London and check with the British Consul in Iraklion.  The importation of cars especially can be seriously problematic.  It can be so even for people following the rules, and failure to do so may cost you your car, a large fine and maybe your sanity!!  Remember that it is the local customs officers who will make the final decisions....

We also gave an unrequested plug to an estate agency - www.cretantraditionalhomes.com because we had heard first hand that they were a good company.  Well here is another - if you want GOOD advice about customs requirements you will find it on their website at their homepage link - Notes on Greece.

Countryside Page & Flower Gallery Open!
Have a look - tell us what you of the flower gallery - please!  Countryside Link.   

Photo Galleries En-Route...
1. Gathering olives and makes oil with
    Kolimbari Co-op..
2. A little countryside wildlife....
3. Barrel making with the Cooper of Kastelli!
4. Cheese making the traditional way - real
    milk!

Page Addition...
A recent addition to the page covering some of the possible day trips you can make whilst holidaying on Crete is a voyage to Santorini - the legendary volcanic island off the north coast of Crete - it is well advertised by travel agents and if you are staying in tour company accommodation their information boards and tour reps may well have the trip organised from your front door!

The picture strip: Earlier this year three bird watchers from Ireland returned to Crete on another bird watching expedition.  Bill and Heather Quinn and Dermot McCabe had something of a successful trip this year when they discovered what they thought to be, and probably is, a Siberian stonechat.

One of their expert contacts, Killian Mullarney, a well known illustrator of the Collins Bird Guide* confirmed that he thought that it was one of the more striking species of stonechat - perhaps Variegata or Armenica - which could be a noteworthy observation for Crete. Their contributed pictures - including one of Heather and Dermot (Picture 1)are below.

_______________________

        STOP PRESS  -  Still Open        ________________________

Can you or anyone you know help make a new Channel 4 documentary? 

NEW Accommodation in Astratigos... 
OPEN.  The first house on the left as you enter Astratigos - a magnificent cream and green affair sporting two balconies and a small pool at the front contains two holiday apartments.  

Maybe More shortly..  Another local owner has carried out some superb traditional renovation on a ruined house - and is currently renovating what what was his own accomodation - maybe for your holidays!

The New hotel  in Kolimbari is, we believe open... If you want information visit:-

The Grand Bay Beach Hotel

 at Interdynamic's website.

Safety in the Sea.
On 22nd July three German tourists drowned and two people were reported missing at Kavros Beach, halfway between Chania & Rethymnon on the north coast of Crete.

Link to Story.

FERRY SERVICES

Both ANEK and Blue Star Ferries have car ferry services between Souda Bay and Piraeus.
  
Although an obvious competitor to the resident Anek Lines the Blue Star service times do not conflict from Souda.

SUMMER WEATHER
Crete remains in summer mode.  If you have a holiday booked - the only brolleys you are likely to need is one to keep the sun off!

ROAD SAFETY REPEAT

Following a series of fatal accidents involving heavy goods vehicles and passenger coaches in Greece earlier this year the Traffic Police are unlikely to overlook traffic violations of any kind.  In some areas they test erring drivers not only for alcohol but also drugs.

Although there have been recent reductions in Road accidents and deaths Greece is still bottom of the EU league table

*Motorcyclists - the alcohol limit here is almost Nil.. Don't drink.
 

MORE FUN & SERIOUS PLEASURE PLEASE!

I offer no apologies for keeping the next paragraph - which seems to have taken root on the news  page!.....

To our visitors who have taken the time to tell us that they have found our site enjoyable/ informative/ helpful/ or otherwise complimented the site - very many thanks.  We are trying very hard and it's really good to know that you like it".  Besides, my wife notes that many of you are ladies!  Please don't stop!!
          ___________________


Here's another Guest Book comment..........

Remote User:01 AUG 2001
Time:15:54:13
comments: Spelling error in Interkriti entry, Wilf. Get it sorted out will you?

Signed: 'You know who!'


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Last Month's picture of the young buzzard is repeated here to include a link to enlargement a superb enlargement.
 Left click here or on picture 3 to enlarge