I can imagine the town at this time of year - unwinding and breathing again. I do love Agios Nikolaos and Kitroplatia beach- I visit every year and will be there next April - thank you for your articles they are vry ineresting 😊
I feel so relaxed after reading this. Sounds wonderful. I love the way places take on such a different atmosphere as the seasons change. Just a different kind of beautiful x
Wonderful piece, so evocative of Crete's quieter season, thank you!
I used to visit during November and December and always enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere...together with all the community celebrations deferred from the summer season. I love Roussolakos but never knew about flamingos stopping there during their migration...what a marvellous sight that must be!
Thanks Kate. It’s great in the winter isn’t it? The flamingos don’t always stop here. I think it depends if they get blown off course. There were apparently a few in Elounda some years ago. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw them!
A lovely read! My mum passed this on to me, she met you last month (Louise). I visit every year in the summer and love it. One sentence has made me want to visit in the cooler months though.. "summer dishes giving way to meaty, oven-baked stews and tasty plates of peas and potatoes cooked in olive oil and rich tomato sauce."
Thanks to your mum for passing it on! Glad you enjoyed the read! I had a plate of peas and potatoes on the seafront when I went to ierapetra! Lovely! Lots of the meaty stews also have cinnamon in them in the winter, which my husband loves. My particular favourite is a saucy meat dish with a thick wine and mushroom sauce at a taverna in Kroustas!! Mmmm!
Lovely ode to end of " season". The Cretans re-claiming their island if not but a few months. Thank you , as always, for your observations and poems of love for George and my favorite island.
I’m finding this time of year to be almost hauntingly peaceful, especially as I’m out roaming uncovered paths early in the morning. Then suddenly I’ll see a hunter and slowly raise my arm to be visible, and as he raises his he is a mirror image of all the memorial statues of those who fought for their independence here.
Truly lovely writing about a truly lovely time of year, Claire. Autumn is always so wistful, the warmest days are gone but the warm heart has not. Love your pictures -- the armies of unoccupied sun beds say "November" more than any words might conjure. On the plus side, there are tables available in all the restaurants. The taberna homebodies are as garrulous as ever, twirling their beads and declaiming the dreadful state of whatever. Into this comes Claire chirpily walking by, sunny as a morn, market basket over arm, soaking up mental images like a sponge to jot into notes that make we readers hunger for next spring's holiday. Excellent pictures of Kritsa, too!
It's lovely to get a glimpse of thriving Greek village. I've been getting to know a mountain village in Laconia which (apart from its popular taverna) doesn't see many visitors, and its population has declined from 300 to 80. It's a gorgeous place, but the school closed long ago, the nearby football court is overgrown, and many of the houses are empty and run down.
And yes, those wood fires and olives and soft blue skies are just as you describe them.
Thanks, Theo - I had a wander around Lakonia recently - (have been to its taverna several times, but never went further than that) and was surprised that it’s bigger than I imagined with a big church tucked away! It did seem quiet and I noticed a few things for sale. Kritsa has just been celebrating the yiorti of its main church. So we’ve had the opposite of quiet here - brass bands, fireworks and everyone out in the streets and the coffee bars with their families. It is a part of being here I love.
I can imagine the town at this time of year - unwinding and breathing again. I do love Agios Nikolaos and Kitroplatia beach- I visit every year and will be there next April - thank you for your articles they are vry ineresting 😊
Thank you for your lovely comment. Glad you enjoy coming back to Agios Nikolaos time and time again. Crete has that effect on people!
I feel so relaxed after reading this. Sounds wonderful. I love the way places take on such a different atmosphere as the seasons change. Just a different kind of beautiful x
Thanks Annette. Definitely a different experience in the autumn/winter!
Wonderful piece, so evocative of Crete's quieter season, thank you!
I used to visit during November and December and always enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere...together with all the community celebrations deferred from the summer season. I love Roussolakos but never knew about flamingos stopping there during their migration...what a marvellous sight that must be!
Thanks Kate. It’s great in the winter isn’t it? The flamingos don’t always stop here. I think it depends if they get blown off course. There were apparently a few in Elounda some years ago. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw them!
Lovely read Claire. Just reading “Wintering” by Katherine May so it’s my word of the month! x
All well Claire. Bell me when in England and in Town. 👍🏽
Thanks Sat, hope all well?
A lovely read! My mum passed this on to me, she met you last month (Louise). I visit every year in the summer and love it. One sentence has made me want to visit in the cooler months though.. "summer dishes giving way to meaty, oven-baked stews and tasty plates of peas and potatoes cooked in olive oil and rich tomato sauce."
All the best.
Luke.
Thanks to your mum for passing it on! Glad you enjoyed the read! I had a plate of peas and potatoes on the seafront when I went to ierapetra! Lovely! Lots of the meaty stews also have cinnamon in them in the winter, which my husband loves. My particular favourite is a saucy meat dish with a thick wine and mushroom sauce at a taverna in Kroustas!! Mmmm!
Lovely ode to end of " season". The Cretans re-claiming their island if not but a few months. Thank you , as always, for your observations and poems of love for George and my favorite island.
So pleased it hits the spot for you! We have just had our first monsoon - but it's clearing the way for more beautiful weather behind it!
I’m finding this time of year to be almost hauntingly peaceful, especially as I’m out roaming uncovered paths early in the morning. Then suddenly I’ll see a hunter and slowly raise my arm to be visible, and as he raises his he is a mirror image of all the memorial statues of those who fought for their independence here.
Beautiful!
Truly lovely writing about a truly lovely time of year, Claire. Autumn is always so wistful, the warmest days are gone but the warm heart has not. Love your pictures -- the armies of unoccupied sun beds say "November" more than any words might conjure. On the plus side, there are tables available in all the restaurants. The taberna homebodies are as garrulous as ever, twirling their beads and declaiming the dreadful state of whatever. Into this comes Claire chirpily walking by, sunny as a morn, market basket over arm, soaking up mental images like a sponge to jot into notes that make we readers hunger for next spring's holiday. Excellent pictures of Kritsa, too!
Thanks Douglas. Glad you enjoyed it!
It's lovely to get a glimpse of thriving Greek village. I've been getting to know a mountain village in Laconia which (apart from its popular taverna) doesn't see many visitors, and its population has declined from 300 to 80. It's a gorgeous place, but the school closed long ago, the nearby football court is overgrown, and many of the houses are empty and run down.
And yes, those wood fires and olives and soft blue skies are just as you describe them.
Thanks, Theo - I had a wander around Lakonia recently - (have been to its taverna several times, but never went further than that) and was surprised that it’s bigger than I imagined with a big church tucked away! It did seem quiet and I noticed a few things for sale. Kritsa has just been celebrating the yiorti of its main church. So we’ve had the opposite of quiet here - brass bands, fireworks and everyone out in the streets and the coffee bars with their families. It is a part of being here I love.