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Popular Local Customs | Other Local Customs Tips | All Tips (60) In this, difficult to reach, area people have developed a sense of independence and love of liberty that did not, however, save them from calamity during the recent history, often the centre of revolutionary movements during the Turkish and German occupations. In August 1944, in reprisal for the resistance activity of the inhabitants, the village was flattened and many of its residents were executed.
Wander the streets of Anogia from the top to the bottom of the village, see the woven tablecloths and linens (with much salesmanship from the old ladies). In the lower part, where the Plateia Syntagmatos Kafeneio is and the statue of Vasilis Skoulas, the tavernas to the right with succulent lamb and other foods cooking outside in open barbecue-ovens; follow the sign behind the statue to see the original wood carvings and paintings of Alkiviadis Skoulas ("Grillios"), his son who is reasonably senior himself will show you the gallery (if he is not there - ask at the Kafeneio and they'll summon him to show it to you) at the Museum Grillios. Original wood carvings with much use of the natural shape of branches, and an appealing naive painting style in pictures of Eleftherios Venizelos and more.
Have a look at Nikos Xylouris's house right on this square - Anogia is also famous for it's musical tradition. Leave a Comment |
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Spincat is a coffee addict, so:
-Greek coffee is great; very strong, tiny cups, at very best a delicious aroma of caramelised flowers! It comes 'gliko' (very sweet) 'metrio' (medium') and 'sketo' (without sugar). If you don't specify that you want greek coffee you could end up with a 'Nes'.
- The 'Nes'. I've somehow convinced myself that coffee is good for me, and part of this is the conviction that only instant coffee is bad for me. Hence, I am wary of the 'Nes' (short for Nescafe) and I avoid!
A very nice drink that is made with 'Nes' , however, is the 'Frappe', popular throughout Greek. At simplest it just involves instant coffee & cold water being shaken together - then served in a glass with a straw and sometimes ice. You can have it 'me gala' (with milk) too and it also comes 'sketo', 'metrio' etc... It is so popular in Crete that in cafe districts the rattle of frappe straws drowns out all other sound.
... I'm getting round to the final point... the Cretan Cappucino. Much as I love Greek coffee I often get an urge for Italian coffee too - 'macchiato ' is my favourite but cappucino is essential at breakfast time. Not a hard drink to make - infact I make it at home & I'm lousy in the kitchen. It is on the menu all over Crete, but what you actually get... and this is really what I love about the independent Cretan spirit... is , for example, nice coffee but with a spiral of cream on the top, (I've even been served a sparkler in the cream); or 'Nes' with cream on top; or weak coffee with a thin film of milk + lots of cinnamon. Even in Rethymnon's most sophisticated cafe, where I thought I'd been served with the perfect cappucino (aroma was perfect and the milk looked thick and frothy ) the milk was freezing cold and yet frothy (how is it possible?)
I hope any Cretan will take this in the spirit it is meant. I might seem to be laughing at the Cretan Cappucino, but really I'm laughing at myself for being such a tourist as to go in search of the unavailable when Greek coffee is so good! Leave a Comment |
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There are many monasteries throughout Greece, but Crete is especially famous for its lovely religious retreats. Around Rethymnon, you will find several, among which is Agia Irini, a newly built monastery for women. The women who live there all seemed to be fairly young and the gounds were immaculate and flowing with flowers and trees.
It is customary to visit during proper hours, that is early in the morning and usually after 5pm til closing. Be sure to check the visiting hours as it is frowned upon if you disturb the solitary time that these unique dwellers require.
As I was waiting for the church to be opened by the 'Kalogries' as they are so called in Greek, I happened to see an opportunity for a unique 'artistic' photo which I thought would be quite harmless! Needless to say, one of the Kalogries saw me and very angrily slammed the window shut while at the same time shouting, "did I say you had permission to take my photo?" I certainly had meant no harm and the distance was so far that the girl's image was not clear enough for later identificaiton. So, the lesson here is to be very careful about taking photos in such situation. Be sure you ask first, or at least be inconspicious as possible. In most cases, it is not allowed to take photos inside the churches with flash and sometimes not at all.
Well, I got my photo anyway...what do you think? Leave a Comment |
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Greeks are haveing many traditional dances and the most beautiful music in the whole world (to me). If you can see what is going on on this picture I will tell you: There is a table, on the table is a bottle, on the bottle is a glass and on the glass is a Greek dancer! Leave a Comment |
If you really want local people to be nice to you and give you little more than you can get for your Euro - SAY IT IN GREEK!!!
Say " YA-sass " when you want to say Hello.
"pa-ra-ka-LO" when you want to say Please.
"ef-kha-ree-STO" to say Thank you.
"seeg-NO-meen" to say Excuse me.
Say "ka-lee-MEH-ra" to your host if you manage to get up before 9 am :-) if you like to sleep long at least say "ka-lee-SPHE-ra" (good morning and good afternoon)
Everything else you can say in your language.
OH! And remember, don't complain about your food!!! Eat it!!! It is good for you!!!
and don't try to go inside of the church or monastyr wearing mini skirt and tiny tank top. Cover up for a moment!!! |
Raki is an alcoholic drink which borders on battery acid. It is quite potent. Many bootleg versions are made but it all tastes pretty much the same. It is made from grapes after the juice that is used for wine. It is given at the end of every meal and is customary to drink one "shot" at the end to help in digestion. It doesn't go down very easy but that is part of the fun right? It is just polite to take some and say thank you. Especially when you dine in large groups like this one, it is a social thing. Greeks work on their own time. They have gotten used to many of the tourists who visit Crete but you have to keep in mind that they may not have everything on the menu and it may not get to the table as quickly as you expect. But they will bend over backwards to make sure you have every reason to come back. Leave a Comment |
Seniors are treated with the most of respect in Crete as in the whole of Greece. Be very kind to elderly people and they will return your kindness.
Don't be surprised when a senior gentleman greets you in the street - it is casual to greet guests and he considers you guest.
While entering a shop run by an elderly person greet them with kind 'Yasas' or simple 'Kali mera'.
If a lady who could be your grandma talks to you in Greek in a cafe, just smile and be nice; she will be happy to see you satysfied. Leave a Comment |
Cretans are the longest lived people in Europe, and it is hard to know whether this good health comes from their genes, the food, the climate, exercise afforded by living on a steep slope, or the pace of life.
I find Greek food delicious - much of what I enjoy comes from its freshness and flavour.
Dishes you are likely to come across include
Tzatziki: Yoghurt, cucumber, garlic.
Melitzana : an aubergine dip (gorgeous)
Dolmades: stuffed vine leaves
Kalamari : fried squid
Tiropita/Tiropitakia : little filo pastry pies filled with salty feta chees
Spanokopita: the same as above but including spinach
Taramasalata : cod roe pate (fabulous)
Keftedes - little meatballs
Horta : wild greens served luke warm
I particularly like Cretan baked dishes: moussaka is well known, but do try pastitisio - a very comforting dish. 'Yemistes' stuffed vegtables, can also be delicious.
Local wine, served in glass of tin carafes, adds to the flavour of it all. 'Kikkino' red is particularly potent and rich tasting. Leave a Comment |
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From the the Epicurious Dictionary: "sappy and turpentinelike". I disagree! It's general belief that Retzina is an aquired taste: I agree, it took me one sip to aquire it!
It's a wine - with a special pine-like taste that one will never forget. I think that it was born by mistake from wine shipped in pine-pitch sealed vessels - and the pine flavour remained. One small tip: taste it with some appetizers - like goat cheese or olives or stuffed wine-leaves... it's even better than alone. A bottle costs about 2.50 euros in a restaurant and, normally, it's more than enough for two people. But ask if they have home-made retzina: it's even more delicious. Leave a Comment |
Timi also told us how olive trees were born. Zeus (the head god in the Greek mythology) was looking at the earth and saw that people didn't live acc. to the commands of the gods and he became very angry. He however wanted to give people another chance and decided to go down to the earth and he disguised himself as a poor peasant. He went to one house and knocked at the door and asked for shelter. The old couple didn't only give him that but shared their humble meal with him. Later Zeus told who he was and said they could ask him anything and it would be given to them. The couple said that they didn't need anything, but asked that they could die at the same time, so the one didn't have to moarn after the other. Zeus promised that to them and went back to the heaven. The couple was harvesting in the field, when they felt that their moment of dying had arrived, so they laid in the grass arms around each other and died there peacefully. In that place grew the first olive tree and the reason why their stalks are so twisted together is that they are like that couple holding each other tight. Timi asked if we thought that the story was just a legend or the truth and everybody was sure it was the truth! Leave a Comment |
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