First Greek Civilization Site (contains no actual Greeks)

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Despite the lack of Greeks these days, hopefully someone has some suggestions.

I'm being forced to spend a week at a resort on Crete to attend a conference where I'll speak for fifteen minutes. That leaves ample time to get robbed, or deported by neo-Nazis, or whatever is popular there these days. Any better recommendations than those for things to do? Keep in mind that I will officially be an English-only Ugly American. Direct sunlight or a Mediterranean diet are likely to kill me.

[Aeson]

I heard from my daughter-in-law that you should strike at the ankle of any bronze giants you may run into.

[dannubis]

Despite the lack of Greeks these days, hopefully someone has some suggestions.

I'm being forced to spend a week at a resort on Crete to attend a conference where I'll speak for fifteen minutes. That leaves ample time to get robbed, or deported by neo-Nazis, or whatever is popular there these days. Any better recommendations than those for things to do? Keep in mind that I will officially be an English-only Ugly American. Direct sunlight or a Mediterranean diet are likely to kill me.

1. Visit Knossos (partly rebuilt but touristic hell)
2. Visit Festos (best minoan palace IMO)

3. Walk the samaria gorge
4. Visit the lacithi plateau

5. South coast has a lot of very nice small villages (close to matalla) - best done on motorbike...

I am missing tons of stuff probably, but those are the ones that came back from my childhood memories...

"A many sweet hours of happiness have I spent in those neat little towns"

http://www.incrediblecrete.gr/

[Sava]

I heard from my daughter-in-law

jesus crap

how old are you?

[Aeson]

Gosh, it's been so long, I've lost track. Plus I may have died and been brought back to life ... or maybe it was just a rejuvination spell ... does that change how old I am? In either case, 3 millenia and change ...

[Dinner]

We do have one Greek poster.

[Sava]

Gosh, it's been so long, I've lost track. Plus I may have died and been brought back to life ... or maybe it was just a rejuvination spell ... does that change how old I am? In either case, 3 millenia and change ...

Answer the question!

[Aeson]

I answered it perfectly well in the same frame of reference as the question was asked

[Sava]

[Lancer]

Nice teeth, all four.

[Bereta_Eder]

what the separatist flemish said plus,
go to a restaurant/taverna/bar and ask for raki, it is the cretan spirit. it is accompagnied with fresh erm, accompagnements (like cucumber, tomatoes, and other thigns i dont know how to say it in english)
so everything dannubis said, plus RAKI!
(careful because it is rather strong )

oh and don't go to samaria gorge unless you have suitable shoes (trekking or sport-oriented shoes will do). it is marvelous though so if you don't go you'll miss some amazing scenery


the cretan cuisine, well i don't know much about it but "dako" is exclusively cretan. It's with feta cheese, tomatoes, olive oil, erm "dried" bread? and other stuff. It is also considered very healthy food to eat (and very easy to copy, so once you eat it and you like it, you can probably make it at home too)
other cretan foods are mostly the vast array of greek food which is almost all delicious and healthy and covers everything from heavy meat recipees to light vegetable stuff.

oh along with raki order an octupus. great combo (in my taste, even if a bit expensive)


also if you do go to knossos read up on the theseus adventure and the minautor and the labyrinth and ariadne. I always find it much more enjoyable to know something about the place i'm going to visit, makes the experience more wholesome.


cretan people are very hospitable and have a STRONG SENSE OF HONOUR (also they are the only people of greece with a gun culture ) - cretans are like the texans of greece very friendly, hospitable, strong sense of honour and they have guns.

lastly, it is still early, but if you are the daring type you can check the sea and if you don't find it too cold for this time of year (today it's 33 celcius in crete) you could dare to swim.
you are probably in the second most beautiful beaches of greece after the cyclades islands, so if weather permits it and the sea temperature too, go also for a swim! (having waited at least 3 hours after a full meal of course. just pointing this out 'cause there is an amazing number of people who don't know this)

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Great, thanks Dannubis and Bereta.

Looks like I also have a day to spend in Athens as well, so should be a good trip overall.

[Nikolai]

While in Athens, do two things:

1) visit Acropolis. It's beautiful, it's history and being on a hill you get a good view of the city too.
2) go to a restaurant, ignore the menu and ask for a plate of olives and feta cheese. It's very cheap and taste marvelous. And it's also totally fresh, and healthy to boot.

[pchang]

Try handing out Euros at Syntagma Square. Should be more fun than tossing breadcrumbs to pigeons.

I should have said that it will save you the trouble of pickpockets.

[Bereta_Eder]