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MEETINGREECE
51
CRETE
T RANS POR T A T I ON - I N F RA S T RUC T URE
Crete has two of the most important ports of the East
Mediterranean Sea, the port of Heraklion and the port of Chania
(Souda). The island is connected with mainland Greece, Aegean
islands, Europe and the rest of the world with a large number of
passenger ships (ferry-boats) and freighter ships.
The two ports play a significant role in effectively supporting the
efforts of Crete to be an important commercial centre in the
Mediterranean. There are also two smaller ports in Rethymno and
in Agios Nikolaos. Additionally there are many small ports,
marinas and anchorages around the island. Also for those who
want to visit Crete by air, there are two international airports
operating in the island: the first is located in Heraklion (Airport:
Nikos Kazantzakis, a very famous Greek writer and philosopher
from Heraklion ) and the second is in Chania (Ioannis
Daskalogiannis). A smaller airport is found in Sitia (East Crete)
and connects Crete to Northern and Western Greece through the
cities of Alexandroupolis and Preveza. The island is connected
with most of the airports in Greece, Cyprus and many other
European countries, with regular or charter flights. Companies
that operate regularly on these airports are Olympic Airways,
Aegean Airlines and Cyprus Airways.
The main road in Crete is the national road that follows the north
seashore of the island from East to West. It is a fairly good road
that handles most of the traffic of the island. Furthermore, there is
an extensive public bus service (KTEL) that offers routes to and
from every spot of the island.
CRE T AN CU L T URE
The Greek language spoken on the island has a distinct Cretan
Greek dialect with an extended vocabulary that is Crete-specific.
The island is also very famous for its Mantinades. Mantinades (it
is read Madinathes) are small songs, usually created instantly for
a specific purpose.
Arts and literature had always played a significant role in the life
of the Cretan people. Famous painters like El Greco, Michael
Damaskinos, writers like Nikos Kazantzakis, poets like Vincenzos
Kornaros and Odysseas Elitis, composers like Mikis Theodorakis,
Manos Hatzidakis and Giannis Markopoulos are Cretans or of
Cretan origin.
Cretans are fiercely proud of their island and customs, and men
often dress with their traditional costumes daily. The Cretan
costumes include knee-high black riding boots, black shirts and
black headdress consisting of a fishnet-weave kerchief worn
wrapped around the head or draped on the shoulders.
Black is the color of mourning, and since Cretan families are
considered so extended as to include great-grandparents or
second cousins (although they may have little actual contact) as
well as all their respective in-laws, one is theoretically justified to
be in continuous mourning for some relative or other, however
distant.
On festive occasions those who are not in mourning wear white.
In the small villages in the mountains some men unabashedly
carry weapons including knives and guns which also appear at
special occasions such as weddings.
MOS T V I S I T ED DE S T I NA T I ON
The most dynamic sector of the Cretan economy is tourism. The
excellent climate of the island, the beautiful landscape along with
the remarkable tourist resorts, attract as many as 3.000.000
visitors every year.
Today the tourism infrastructure in Crete caters to all tastes. There
is accommodation of every possible category, from large luxury
hotels with all the facilities (swimming pools, SPA, sports and
recreation facilities etc.), to smaller family owned apartments and
camping facilities. Approximately 15% of all arrivals in Greece
come through Heraklion port and airport. For 2006 and 2007, the
capital of Crete ranked second in the top 15 domestic
destinations (air passengers only) whilst the city of Chania ranked
fourth.
Increase in tourism to Crete is reflected by the number of hotel
beds that increased by 53 % from 1986 to 1991 while the rest of
Greece saw an increase of only 25 % during the same period.
Tourism infrastructure in Crete caters to all tastes.
S E A AND SUN
The diversity that presents itself in the formation of the Cretan
landscape offers the opportunity for different experiences to any
visitor. Crete is famous for its beautiful beaches and resorts along
the 1.046 km coastline. In Crete you will find secluded beaches
with the softest white sand, enchanting coves with glistening
coloured pebbles, long stretches of golden silky sand, rugged
and rocky coastlines and naturist beaches. Family friendly
beaches by the bucketful and all amenities with neat rows of sun
lounges with parasols for hire are plentiful. Cretan beaches have
crystalline waters in the palest shades of turquoise, fading into
the deepest of blue. The Aegean, Mediterranean, Ionian and
Libyan Seas all surround the shores of this ancient island.
Organized beaches - found mostly on the northern part of the
island - are well equipped for the exercise and practice of various
water sports; water-ski, parasailing, banana, wind-surfing,
canoeing, kayak, self-drive boat, speed boat ride, and sailing
boat. There also exist parts of the island that are still untapped:
magnificent beaches on the southern part that remain to be