"The Spirit of Crete - Wild and Rugged " a Crete Island Travel Page by janetanne

Crete is full of history. So much history, that it is difficult to begin to tell a story. Books have been written and books are being lost. Travelling to Crete, is travelling to a past that seems to be in the heart of all travellers. It is a strange feeling that is not easily expressed with mere words. The pictures of Crete are dynamic and powerful, as are the people indiginous to the areas. Seemingly impenitrable at first glance, but beneath the rocks and crevices lay the sweet cool waters, carrying the story to the sea. Listen carefully and you will hear the stories of the past battles and struggles. Listen, and you will hear the stories of the eternal fight for freedom and individual expressions of the Cretean spirit.

On the last, of my many travels to Crete, I found myself 'stranded' on a mountain road, without bus service, and decided after two days of isolation, to take to the narrow winding road on foot. After walking down towards the sea, which was 3 kilometers from my start, I came across one of the 'old timers of Crete' who was casually gathering some flowers along the opposite side of the road. A small car approached from above the path from which I had just decended and the old man flagged the driver to stop. A young man rolled down his window and listened to the old man's request..." are you going to Rethymnon?" and without waiting for an answer, the door of the passenger's side opened and he promptly got in. I simutaneously responded..." excuse me (my polite upbringing kicking in) are you going to Rethymnon?" "Yes, sure! Come on! We will take you! Don't be afraid!" Without hesitation, for some reason I felt safe, I got in the car and my adventure began!

The young man driving the rental car had just come from a funeral of a past teacher of his. He told me he was an archeologist from Athens and was going to return the car he had rented. How fortunate for me, as I was on a mission to rent a car in Rethymmon! The passenger with the long tangle beard fascinated me and I turned to him as he spoke to the young driver. What a story he had to tell!

Don't go away....I have made a short video of the old Creten, with his memories of his experiences of WWII and the Germans who had invaded his island and burned villages and killed his neighbours.

The only thing that I wish VT could provide for it's members, is a forum for Videos of such encounters...until then...we must be content with the still photos and the words of the traveller, however inept they may be.

Come back in a day or two and I hope I will have translated the words of 'Kirios Yorgos,' the famous 'old timer of Rethymnon.