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The Colors of Crete

The Colors of Crete, The Colors of Crete

“There is a kind of flame in Crete – let us call it “soul” – something more powerful than either life or death. There is pride, obstinacy, valor, and together with these something else inexpressible and imponderable, something which makes you rejoice that you are a human being, and at the same time tremble.”

N. Kazantzakis

We were continuously fascinated and in awe of this incredible country during our recent travels to Greece. Athens, Santorini, Delphi, and Meteora were everything we imagined. Crete, the birthplace of the mythological Greek God Zeus, went beyond all our expectations. If its beautiful cities, fertile landscape, majestic mountain ranges, deep gorges, and gorgeous beaches weren’t enough, the striking colors gave even more to love. Oh, the colors……..

Our ferry from Santorini arrived late, and we had a long 2-hour drive at night, arriving in Chania at 11 pm. Hungry and worn out, we discovered that Old Town Chania allowed no cars into the city (not sure how we missed that little fact). Many blocks from our hotel, the idea of hauling our luggage down cobblestone streets in search of our hotel at this late hour did not make for the best of moods. We were in a trance within seconds of crossing into Old Town. Exhaustion soon became awe and excitement. It was love at first sight. Even at that late hour, the colors were unique. The charm, the character, and the authenticity blew us away. We soon learned this was a signature of all we saw in Crete.

Check out our fun facts about Crete Click here

The colors of Crete we photographed continuously intrigued us as we traveled across this massive island. Even the mountains and farmland seemed brighter and sharper in Crete. There is a beauty there that draws in all your senses. There is a calmness and serenity that is Crete, both in the land and in its people. They embrace life, work hard, but rest well. Proudly Cretans first and Greeks second. They are so very welcoming, engaging, warm, and kind. Especially kind.

This beautiful island, which we felt we barely touched the surface of, was a joy to photograph. The Colors of Crete and the dramatic landscape deserve a gallery to showcase its uniqueness. The photographs themselves tell a story. We hope you enjoy the Colors of Crete as much as we did.

Funs facts about Crete

1. Crete is Greece’s largest and most populated island, with over 634,000 people. It has over 160 miles of beaches.

2. It is believed Crete was the center of the oldest civilization on earth, the Minoans. The Minoan civilization took place between 2700 to 1420 BC.

3. The landscape of Crete is very mountainous, with the Idi range having a height of 8,058 and the Lefka Ori at an elevation of 8,045 feet.

4. Crete is 160 miles from Athens and 200 miles north of Africa. Close enough to the oil-rich Rumanian oil fields, it made it of strategic interest to Nazi Germany. The US Navy maintains a base on the island.

5. Crete has two, Elafonissi and Balos, of the ten pink beaches in the world.

6. The Cretan air is reputed to have healing powers and even can perform miracles. This is stated so by the “father of medicine,” Hippocrates.

7. Crete is the birthplace of Zeus. In Greek mythology, the God of Sky and Thunder is said to have been born high in the Cretan mountain.

8. There are olive tree groves throughout the whole island. The Greeks love their olive oil for every purpose you can imagine. An average person in Crete consumes 30 liters a year.

9. The Palace of Knossos has evidence that people lived here up to 9000 years ago. It is believed by some to be the oldest city in Europe.

10. Wild goats can be found everywhere on the island of Crete. There are plenty of species, but the most common is the native mountain Kri-Kri goats.

11. As you drive around Crete, the massive gorges are a frequent sight. There are over 400 beautiful gorges.

12. Crete has expansive grade vineyards and, as a result, has some wonderful wines. It is Greece’s second-largest wine-producing zone.

13. Greek myth explains why there are no harmful animals in Crete. Hercules drove all harmful animals away from Crete to please the god Zeus.

14. Many famous people originated from Crete, but a modern-day celebrity has strong Crete roots. Jennifer Aniston’s father was born in Crete before emigrating to the US.

The Colors of Crete, The Colors of Crete

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Interested in visiting?

We recommend the Crete Official Tourism website for detailed information on planning a trip to Crete


Map of the Island of Crete

Where to stay when in Crete

Keep in mind this is a huge island. To stay on one side will make it difficult to see the side and come back the same day. We can not recommend Old Town Chania enough. It was incredible!

It is important to price out properties on various sites. Expedia is a US-based company, whereas Booking.com is Europe-based. Not all properties appear on both, so check both. Our personal first choice is Booking.com. If the establishment has a website, check the price there as well.

Booking.com

Booking.com

Expedia

The Colors of Crete, The Colors of Crete

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Squaremouth.com

Our favorite travel insurance site!

If you book a trip, don’t forget to get travel insurance within 14 days of your first booking. We could not be stronger advocates of being well-insured. Not just for the little stuff but the big things like medical emergencies. We never leave home without it. Over the years, we have used many sites but have now found our go-to place. Squaremouth.com does a fantastic job; it has a user-friendly interface, uses top-rated and reputable insurance carriers, and most policies cover COVID-19 medical issues and cancellations. They also mediate on your behalf if you have problems with your policy.

To empower you as a consumer, we suggest you read our blog post on the importance of travel insurance and how to get the best coverage from top-rated companies for an affordable price.

MedjetAssist

Medical transport back home from anywhere in the world

They are the premier global air medical transport. One caveat to travel insurance is that medical evacuation usually gets you to the closest facility to care for you. Medjet gets you back to the U.S. to the hospital of your choice once you are stable enough to fly. They cover COVID-related transport as well.

Medjet carries its own policies. The policy is only for transport and no other aspects of travel insurance. They have individual trip policies starting at $99 and annual policies for around $300. Most of their policies limit the age to 74 and younger. Prices are not based on age below that.

To learn more about how Medical Evacuation membership with Medjet Assist works, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.  

Expedia.com 

Hotels, home rentals, BNBs, flights, and other transportation & tours 

Expedia is a US-based company whose mission is to power global travel for everyone and everywhere. Whether planning a family vacation, booking for business, or organizing the trip of a lifetime, they are a fantastic resource. Wanderers Compass focuses on independent travel, and using sites like Expedia makes that possible. Every aspect of travel you need, from airfare, accommodations, rental car, and cruises to activities to do at your destination, can be booked on Expedia.  

Booking.com

Hotels, Home rentals, BNBs, Flights, and other Transportation & Tours 

Booking.com connects millions of travelers to memorable experiences, various transportation options, and incredible places to stay – from homes to hotels and much more. It is one of the world’s largest travel marketplaces for established brands and entrepreneurs of all sizes.

We always check Expedia and Booking.com to verify prices. At times, one is sold out of rooms while another at the same place has rooms. As well we often find some European hotels, especially smaller ones, on Booking.com but not on Expedia. It could be they are a Europe-based company. Try both before booking accommodations.

Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO)

Are you traveling with a family or having an extended stay at your destination?

With over 2 million bookable vacation rentals, VRBO connects homeowners with families and vacationers looking for something more than a hotel for their trip. The VRBO community offers families or groups various rental property types such as condos, cabins, lake rentals, beach houses, etc.

VRBO is under the Expedia group ownership now, which many were worried about, but it hasn’t panned out to be a concern. It is a massive network with access to all lodging forms should issues arise. Joelle has used VRBO for many years with her family with no problems.

Viator

As the leading marketplace for travel experiences, Viator believes that making memories is what travel is all about. And with 300,000+ experiences to explore—everything from simple tours to extreme adventures (and all the niche, interesting stuff in between)—making memories that will last a lifetime has never been easier.

With industry-leading flexibility and last-minute availability, it’s never too late to make any day extraordinary. This one site has it all and has experiences throughout the world. We use them often during our travels, especially for food tours. We especially take the time to read the reviews provided.

Amazon.com

An excellent source for travel essentials and guides

We now have our own Amazon Storefront with all our favorite travel accessories and gear in one place. Check out our travel store at the link below.

Wanderers Compass Amazon Storefront

Amazon is one of the most comprehensive online shopping sources in the world. On behalf of their customers, teams worldwide provide lower prices, better selection, and rapid delivery. They offer a vast inventory, and their 1.7 million small and medium businesses worldwide selling on Amazon.com offer extensive options to customers.

We buy most of our travel books, accessories, and luggage from Amazon. We have ordered up to two days before travel and get what we need.

HYDAWAY

This is not your ordinary drinkware company. The HYDAWAY difference is what their products do when you’re not using them. Practical and portable, HYDAWAY doesn’t take up unnecessary space in your already-packed life or pile up in landfills. We all know that trying to pack light while being environmentally conscious can be difficult. Having the right items can make a world of difference. HYDAWAY provides that.

We have used their collapsible water bottle, carrying case for the water bottle, and collapsible insulated drink tumbler. They are all lightweight and durable. A conservation-focused product you can be proud to buy.

Use our Promo Code. WANCOM15, at checkout for 15% off your Hydaway order

Welcome Pick-ups
(Airport and sightseeing service)

A global leader in ground transportation for travelers. They help hundreds of companies worldwide enhance their services and boost their revenue with our 5-star ride experiences and hassle-free automation.

Founded in 2015 in Athens, Greece, Welcome Pick-ups goes above and beyond the standard transfer service as the first company to deliver a holistic, in-destination travel experience. From the moment a traveler arrives at a new destination until they return home, Welcome accommodates all their travel needs (transfers, travel products, things to do, information) as the easiest, friendliest, and most personalized solution.

PhotoAiD

Do you feel like you are wasting time visiting an on-site photographer only to be embarrassed by the photo? Would you like control of the final product? Get the perfect VISA or passport photo online with PhotoAID.

When traveling, you often need to apply for official documents such as a passport, ID, and different kinds of licenses or cards. Those applications require a picture that must meet specific conditions to be accepted, depending on the country. Now, it is possible to take this picture at home without the help of a professional photographer. PhotoAiD allows you to take the perfect biometric photo that will be approved by you without leaving your home.

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The Colors of Crete

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