BAUMHOLDER,
Germany — If you love the sun and need a break from
the often problematic German weather, then maybe a two-and-a-half - hour flight
to the Greek island of Crete, in the rich blue waters of the Mediterranean is
the answer to your suntanning dilemma.
Although
now is the high season for summer travel, the fact that many Europeans are
being more conservative with their finances makes it easier to book a
last-minute summer getaway.
Your travel
agency may also offer numerous day trips that can take you through one of the
many gorges in Crete, or make your destination a pirate’s cove and explore the
coast along the way from the rail side of your ship. Most cruises offer plenty
of time to cool off in the turquoise waters off the many beaches or lagoons
along the coast.
The majority
of the sun worshipers congregate on Crete’s north shore. The largest
concentration of hotels and sandy beaches are located on a stretch that starts
from the coastal city of Rithiminon and stretches 15
kilometers to the east. Book yourself a hotel in this region and you’ll be in
the middle of all the summer fun. If you’re looking for a more relaxing
vacation, try booking a stay farther west near the harbor town of Georgioupolis. There is still plenty of action, but the
beaches are not as crowded.
From the Georgioupolis area you are only a half hour drive away from
Chania, Crete’s second largest city and former
capital. The city is nestled at the base of the Akrotiri
peninsula on Crete’s northern coast. The narrow streets in Chania’s
old town are a souvenir hunter’s treasure trove. Numerous alleys are lined with
shops offering various merchandise ranging from handcrafted
leather goods to extraordinary novelty gifts. The city has a
Venetian-like harbor that is lined with restaurants and souvenir shops.
Regardless
of where you stay, there’s no need to waste away your time taking in the sun or
chilling under an umbrella on the beach with a cold drink at your side, unless
of course that is your objective. Beach-side locations offer numerous water
sport activities such as parasailing or skiing, water skiing, wind surfing,
banana boat rides, catamaran rides and the ever popular full throttle
adrenaline rush of jet skiing.
No matter
where in Crete your travels may take you, you’ll always find a great place to
eat. Because Crete has become a popular tourist location, most restaurants or “tavernas” offer their menus in English so you won’t be too
surprised when the waiter brings your food. The key to an enjoyable meal in
Crete is to remain flexible. If you absolutely feel you have to order a burger
and fries, don’t be surprised if the waiter returns with two large hamburger
patties, a mountain of fries, a tomato and cucumber salad and a basket full of
bread. Theoretically all the ingredients for a hamburger are there. They are
just presented in a slightly different format.
Food and
drink prices are very reasonable so they won’t put a large burden on your
finances. The island’s currency is the Euro so it makes it easy to calculate
what you spend.
One great
way to experience more of Crete than what you see from under your beach-side
umbrella is to rent a car. Using your hotel as a base station, you can drive
off on a road trip into Crete’s mountainous countryside. At its narrowest point
you can reach the south coast of the island from your north shore hotel in
about one and a half to two hours.
Crete’s
south coast, commonly referred to as the Libyan side of the island, because its
waters extend to Libya on the African coast, is mostly rocky and dotted with
fishing villages, but there are plenty of secluded beaches that will offer you
a lifetime of memories.
If you do
rent a car, there are a couple of things to remember. Crete’s National Road,
which is the closest thing to an Autobahn, has a speed limit of about 80 kilometers
per hour. Although the locals may push the envelope of this traffic ordinance,
it’s recommended you drive conservatively and obey the law. The National Road
is a two-lane road, one lane in each direction and the middle of the road is
shared with oncoming traffic.
The
National Road spans the entire length of the island from east to west, making
it easy to get you to your destination in good time.
Crete’s
back roads are, at best, one and a half lanes wide and can present some
hazardous driving conditions, so drive defensively and go easy on the gas
pedal. There are a few natural obstacles that will encourage you to drive
defensively in Crete. Whereas most countries will use speed bumps and cameras
to slow you down, Crete uses wild goats, landslides and old people to help
control your speed. The wild goats and landslides are predominantly found in
the mountainous regions and can surprise you around any curve. The old people
are indigenous to the villages and can also surprise you. Because of their chronological
“maturity,” they tend to misjudge the speed of an oncoming vehicle to that of
their ability to make it across the road safely.
A
safety tip when on the beach — pay
close attention to the lifeguards and the daily weather warnings. The
conditions on the beach can change from day to day or from one moment to the
next. They can vary from still water with tiny ripples washing up on the shore
to turbulent waves crashing onto the beach.
Red flags
on the beach mean stay out of the water. A yellow flag means be extremely
careful when going in the water. A green flag indicates safe swimming
conditions. There are plenty of lifeguards who patrol the beaches on their quad
bikes. Pay attention to their warnings and leave the water if they tell you to.
They know their business and they know the beach. They are there for your
safety.
The island
is rich with history and culture. Because it is a Greek island, mythology once
played a key role on this island. Evidence of Crete’s mythological past is
evident in the architecture and in the names of the locations you may visit.
The people are friendly, very traditional in their ways and in Mediterranean
fashion, they are very laid back. Take that into consideration when you
interact with them.
As always,
before embarking to any location outside of Germany, check in with the U.S.
Army Garrison Baumholder force protection officer for
any additional travel advisories that may exist for your destination of choice.
Pack your
sunglasses and sun cream. A vacation of a lifetime awaits you on Crete.