Colourful Crete

THE village artists have been out and about in force for this season. Pano Hersonissos has never looked so spruce as the season gets underway with many of the restaurants having a make-over for the season. It really started in the winter-time when one of the oldest kafenion’s Costas started by having new stonework installed inside, followed by a new corner fire and then new kitchens on the ground floor and a circular stairway to connect it. He followed by with new tables and painted the chairs creams and browns, really standing out from the crowd.
  This must have stunned some of the others as they picked up on what was happening. One, called Konaki was finally taken back from two Dutchmen, and, quite rightly is back as a Greek outlet instead of the european offerings before, and they spent a great deal of time and money on ripping out all the bad and installing new kitchens, painting all the chairs for outside as well as new tables.
  Further around the square the souvlaki establishment went to town with the outside newly painted and some excellent representations of his food hand painted on the walls. But the prize for all the top effort goes to Taverna Margo.
  It has been transported into a calm oasis of green chairs and tables, all hand painted. A superb new sign topped off by a new menu, all from fresh meats and fish (unlike some others in the square)  from an owner and his wife trying hard to make a success in a very competetive industry.

Another day - another monastery

WE are still able to find new places to visit, even after nine years on the island. Today it was to Kapsa's Monastery, and a big hike up the steep hill, but worth it.

  The Monastery of Kapsa is located 40 km from the town of Sitia at the exit of the Pervolakia Gorge built against the steep rocks overlooking the Libyan sea. The exact time of the foundation of the monastery is still unknown, while some believe that it was in the 15th century. Until 1841 there were only a small chapel dedicated to the Saint John the Baptist and a few cells.
   The glorious period of the monastery is connected with the activities of a crook of the time named "GERONTOYANNIS" (Yannis Vitsentzos). He had been using the monastery as a hideout when he believed that he could make money by curing people! It was rumoured that he had Divine visions and with the help of the God he was able to cure the pilgrims (only the really faithfull) of any illness.
   A large number of people started then visiting the monastery, bringing lots of gifts and Gerontoyannis spent a lot of them to built new cells and a second chapel dedicated this time to the Holly Trinity. A renowned craftsman of the time, Hatzi Minas, made the splendid wooden temples (1869) and Antonis Alexandridis made the beautiful icons (1870).
   Gerontoyannis died in 1874 at the age of 75. His grandson Iosif many years later came to the monastery to continue his grandfather's work. He added some new cells, brought running water to the monastery and cultivated the surrounding gardens. The monastery celebrates every year in August 29, name day of Saint John.

  We were with out seniors group, Kapi, and the day included good time in Ierapetra and them on to Viannos high in the hills. In total it was 12 hours on the road, glorious weather, and great company with a total of three buses.

Yes - No - Yes - Maybe!!!

IN OUR village, Pano Hersonissos, Crete, taverna owners are keeping their fingers crossed. Weather in the last few days has been uncertain, but, if the Gods are with them this Monday, they hope to have the first of the Music Nights, which is certainly needed to boost incomes.

   The start to the season has been a little quiet - not too bad, but it could certainly be better. People are drifting into the hotels and they were being given the information that last Monday there might be the traditional music and dancing - it was a little too uncertain weather wise so it was not staged, but they have high hopes for next Monday. 

  The weather forecast is looking good. Visitors who have been before will soon notice a colourful change to the square. Almost all of the establishments have taken a great deal of care and time to update their look. One has even had all its tables and chairs hand painted with flowers and birds - a vast improvement from the usual brown/black options
  The music nights are very traditional, although it's well planned, the dancers are not on a stage but show their craft around he square, dodging the traffic which makes it way through the square, despite signs advising drivers to take the rout away from the square, tourists accept this but the Greeks have a habit of failing to notice the traffic signs!.

Dinosaurs roar into Crete

IF you don't know your T-Rex dinosaur from a Raptorex or a Dicertops from a Diploducus then a new exhibition in Crete is the place for you.

  Dinosauria opened this week through to October/November on the Greek Island of Crete, and brings together a well balanced exhibition that will thrill children of all ages and inform and delight adults at the same time. 

  Situated at the National Exhibition Centre at Gouves, Heraklion near to the CretAquarium and spread over 2,500 square feet of space it is an educational exhibit that will take you back to the heart of the prehistoric period.

  However you have to be prepared for ther sheer size of the animals on display, with clever work to re-create the past. All the signage is thoughtfully displaced in four languages

 The life size exhibts move and roar their sounds in a realistic manner. You will certainly be surprised by the actual size of the beasts. We have all seen then depicted on television screen as well as in the movies, but nothing prepares you for reality.

  The exhition cleverly uses sensors so the models all start to move as you approach them, and the staff are very informative and helpful making the whole experience memorable for all the right reasons.

  There is  a 5D cinema experience, the first in Greece to complete the well thought out show, as well as a large car-park, refreshments and souvenirs making it al all-round educational and entertaining experience.

  The exhibition is open daily from 9am through to 8.pm. Admission is €8.50 for adults €6.50 for children, under fours are free. Group admission is €5

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