Between the island of magic and mass tourism

For Crete, the largest Greek island, it takes time. Only which is not always available. The frame of the stay: four days in the West, in the five-star hotel Avra Imperial Beach Resort. A day is the trip to Balos Bay, on the extreme tip of the island and difficult to reach. Three more days to explore the area. There is no time to lose. But that is exactly the hook. Because in Crete the clocks tick slower. Hustle and bustle or Stress, are not provided. The diversity of the island, which would be able to capture during the many weeks to come.

so What to do? Time, this question in detail to follow, is no, at least not on the main road to Kolimbari, to take it upon arrival at the airport in Chania. The attention is focused on the island's typical driving style. Curves are sharply cut. The road with two lanes mutated to a four-lane roadway, thanks to the breakdown lane. Some of the Arm 50, other 120 kilometers per hour. Goes somehow, you tell yourself. It is the perfect introduction to the elongated island in the southern Aegean sea. Improvise is desired, no, required.

dessert buffet for children also attracts adults

unless you stay in the Hotel, the Avra Imperial Beach Resort. The huge plant, which can be reached after a 40-minute journey, evidenced in the seaside resort of Kolimbari is a wide area between the main road and the sea. To take the foot of the way from the Lobby to the beach for more than five minutes. You will pass a huge, winding Pool, created as the center of an Arena. There are plenty of Bars and Restaurants to close. Around pretty apartments with balconies, from where you can watch the Scenery at the Pool is draped.

The Resort is a family hotel of the luxury class. This is clearly evident in the dessert buffet, on the children's height pretty face dozens of is Mini-Cupcakes waiting. The Buffet deserves an extra note. Adults choose to have Breakfast in addition to dozens of hot and cold dishes a selection of 24 (!) a variety of cakes. A chef prepares Cupcakes, or Tortilla. After dinner, guests can enjoy a Drink at one of the many Bars around the Pool. Or you can stroll on the Paths that wind by neatly cut grass.

of Course, this wonderfully padded world also has its edges. You can look over the Perimeter of the facility, dull unfinished buildings or some time ago, discarded power cable to the Idyll. Directly next to the main entrance once received a fishing Museum, tourists, witnesses of stainless steel vessels in the Park. Soon you to apply the view to the inviting pebble beach, where numerous heavy wooden deck chairs and sun umbrellas made of palm leaves are available.

enlarge map

beauty and decay are on the island of Crete, often close to each other – for example, in the mountain village of Polyrrinia. Who leaves there, the pretty cobble-stone streets, losing soon between cacti and electrical scrap. The snow-white mountain village itself is a picturesque nature of Grace. Ancient aqueducts flank the steep Route that leads to the hill. On the top of a Church lies dormant. It looks from here, on a wide, olive trees, Bay-lined. A little further up the Remains of a Roman Acropolis lie. How to compensate for the hike in the heat a good-humored carpenter gives, whose hand-made olive wood carvings are available to buy in a small Shop, a Raki.

Far less spectacular, those Remains of ancient buildings in the seaside town of Phalasarna. The locality is situated in a slightly secluded, dry Bay. Olive trees and Cucumber plantations shape the landscape. A couple of goats grazing around the stone blocks from the Roman period, but the lack of visitors in the ancient part of Phalasarna. On the way back to the Restaurants on the hill are not only spectacular views but also excellent food. And sometimes the signs "of the Original Cretan Tavern holds" in fact, what it promises.

turquoise blue Bay invites you to swim and hike

Crete is often associated with mass tourism. In images of memory remain architecturally dubious beach holiday hotels, olive oil shop and a tourist populated Discos or ice-cream parlours along the coast road. Crete can also be different, a trip to Balos Bay on the North-Western tip of the island. A gem such as from advertising. To reach the large Bay with the turquoise blue of the sea, either by car or on a ship tour. Who chooses the land, needs for the nearly 30 kilometers from the Resort in 45 minutes. Because the car lurches a little backed-up on a gravel road through a wild, mountainous landscape. The most impressive view unfolds on the half-hour walk from the Parking lot to the beach. No settlements far and wide. Only stones, the beach and bright blue water.

fast-Paced taxi ride to the most beautiful places

of Course, the tourism knowledge, the offices of this magical place; in the summer months, ships will land here every day, Laden with hundreds of bathers. The excursionists will remain, however, only about two hours. Those who prefer this type of arrival, you can tour an eight-hour day with the ship's book, which starts in the small port town of Kissamos.

In the Taxi to Kissamos you can indulge yourself in the Cretan driving style: overtaking, same again, threading, always close to the rear of the front of the car. Then change to the roadside strip counts as known to the roadway. Everything, of course.

The trip was unterstütztvon Hotelplan Suisse.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 16.05.2019, 17:47 PM