January 17, 2008
Love Letter from Crete # 5
Welcome to our latest edition of Love Letters From Crete Inside you will find:
• Accommodation – Town Accommodation – Pension Eva in Chania
• Cretan Ways - Moustakia Sarikia and Stivania
• Musical Instruments - The Cretan Louto
• Places to See - Agia Irini Gorge
• For Travellers - Crete Travel Answers
Town Accommodation – Pension Eva in Chania
Pension Eva is tucked into the quieter back streets of the old quarter, a little away from the hustle and bustle, yet surrounded by interesting art and jewellery boutiques. This is a lovely little pension with only four rooms and a relaxing rooftop lounge, in a beautifully renovated characteristic building. Pension Eva represents very good value for the popular old quarter of Chania. In walking distance from the limani, the maritime museum and located right on Zambeliou Street.
This is a lovely little pension with only four rooms and a relaxing rooftop lounge, in a beautifully renovated characteristic building. Pension Eva represents very good value for the popular old quarter of Chania. In walking distance from the limani, the maritime museum and located right on Zambeliou Street.
Check availability, prices and make bookings here…
For other accommodation ideas click here…
Moustakia Sarikia and Stivania
There are some things that define a place, and these moustakia, sarikia and stivania are some of the things that give Crete her character.
Firstly, you will notice many of the men wear moutaches moustakia, this is considered a very proud Cretan habit.
To the left is Nikos Xilouris, one of the most beloved musicians of Crete, who of course had a moustache and here is wearing his sariki.
Garganourakis, a Cretan musician still very active today, wears a moustache.
Part of the traditional costume of Crete, which nowadays you will only see on the dancers at special occasions and high up in the remote mountain villages, is the black headscarf known as a sariki.
Sarikia are hand-woven and hand knotted in the mountain villages. Ask the ladies to show you how they do it. They are made of special material. A good place to find them is the mountain town of Anogia.
Still handmade and worn with great pride, are Cretan boots. These are generally black, for everyday use, and white are now used for dances and special occasions. These boots are made from leather, for each person individually, by a master craftsman. You must sit to have your own fitting done. These boots are called stivania. They are very practical for the rough mountainous terrain and tough weather conditions of the farmers, shepherds and workmen of Crete.
The stivania are made with flexibility around the ankle, and over time form creases around that area. This is one way you can tell if a Cretan man is wearing his stivania or just a modern work boot.
In Chania is Stivanadika which means Stivania street, where the boots are made. Also you can visit the Irakliote village of Agia Varvara and ask for the bootmaker, Υποδηματοποιείο
See more about Cretan people and life here…
The Cretan Louto
The Cretan laouto is a stringed instrument like a lute which is central to our beautiful Cretan music.
The Cretan laouto – λαούτο is the backbone of Cretan music, providing and maintaining the passionate pulse that is so intoxicating; or when played as a leading or solo instrument has a depth and warmth that brings images of ancient times gone by.
See more about the Cretan Louto here…
Agia Irini Gorge
Agia Irini Gorge in Chania prefecture of Crete is less crowded than the famous Samaria Gorge, and very beautiful.
The gorge is located 43 kms from Chania town and can be easily reached by local bus.
The gorge starts at the village of Agia Irini in Selinou and is 7 km long. The walk of 12 kms ends at Sougia, a blissful small coastal village on the southern side of Crete. This walk is worth it, just to arrive at Sougia, one of the most cute villages in Crete.
See more about Agia Irini Gorge here…
Crete Travel Answers
Do you have a question about travelling in Kriti? Write to us at Crete Travel Answers using the form below...and we will do our best to answer your question.
Here is an example of a question and answer:
Question: I have just bought a house in Kerasia and would like to know if there are any tavernas or places for an evening meal within walking distance. Would I be welcome in the kafenion?
Answer: There should be a nice stone place in Venerato on the right as you face Iraklion, just up a bit from the bank. It has a fireplace. Best to go to Koraii in Iraklion for a night out. In the villages is a slow pace. Yes, women are welcome in the kafenion, just remember it is like their living room so be respectful. Do you speak Greek? Just be prepared to answer questions all about yourself. It is just that the women tend to have coffee dates in their own houses, not in the kafenion. It is not taboo, just habit.
Stin Yiasou!! & Welcome to Kriti!
See the answers and ask your question here…
Something that you wanted to see but didn’t find? Contact us to request it.
Looking for a specific place? Have a look at our interactive map
Join us in our love of this most beautiful island.
Evíva!