Crete the Courageous

My wife and I have been annual travellers to Greece for many years and have explored many of her wonderful Islands and mainland areas.

Our first visit to Greece some 20 years ago was to Crete and this magnificent and diverse Island is still our favourite Greek Destination.

Crete is the most southerly of the Greek Islands and is the fifth largest Island in the Mediterranean Sea.

Today it is a popular tourist destination and because of its southerly position has an excellent climate all year round and boasts more hours of sunshine than any other part of Greece.

Crete has a rich diversity of landscapes dominated by its rugged mountainous interior, which stays snow covered until early spring.

In spring a spectacular display of wild flowers can be seen on the coastal strip and in the meadows and plentiful olive groves, with many species of plant endemic to the Island on display until the hot summer sun makes them wither and die.

Historically the Island has endured centuries of occupation by foreign powers as well as religious persecution and hardships.

The Archaeological sites that abound the Island date back over 3,000 years to the ancient Minoan civilisation and offer a varied and impressive portfolio of ancient sites to visit, a must see for any visitor interested in History.

The Cretan people have maintained a fierce independence despite the past occupations and hardships and have developed a passion for individual freedom never to be lost.

The Battle of Crete during the Second World War demonstrates the fierce pride the Cretan people have of their Island.

As the thousands of German troops were landing by parachute whole villages would be fighting them off with whatever weapons they could lay their hands on, from ancient muskets to pitchforks.

After 10 days of fierce fighting with massive casualties on both sides the brave British and Commonwealth troops finally had to retreat through the White Mountains to be evacuated from the south of the Island.

This feat synonymous with the evacuation of the British from Dunkirk was only achieved with the help of the locals who fought bravely to the end until forced to capitulate by the overwhelming odds stacked against them.

Throughout the German occupation the Cretans maintained their fierce resistance and suffered horrendous reprisals, with whole villages being destroyed and the men folk shot.

They never gave up the struggle and when they lost the war the Germans holed up in the main town of Chania and would only surrender to the British, obviously petrified of the reprisals they would suffer if they surrendered to the locals.

The Cretans maintain two immaculate war cemeteries; one dedicated to the 1500 British, Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fell is found at the end of Souda Bay near Chania.

When my wife and I visited, we felt an all pervading peace and surreal beauty about the place in complete contrast to the mayhem that the poor souls laying within must have been through during the war.

The German war cemetery is situated 19 kilometres west of Chania, built on a hillside in another tranquil setting overlooking the airfield at Maleme the scene of the fiercest initial fighting during the war.

Over 4000 simple stone markers mark the resting places of the German soldiers that fell during the battle.

The hospitality and friendliness of the Cretan people to strangers is another factor in this Island being our favourite destination.

Where else in the world could you wander into a Taverna to ask about a boat trip to a nearby Island only to float out an hour later after being plied with 4 glasses of Raki (local firewater) and all of this at 10 in the morning.

Yes the Cretan people are an amazing race and have many qualities to be admired but woe betides if you cross them!