Heraklion Off The Beaten Path

I don’t want to deny you this pictures, I saw these cloth for very small children in a window at the market and absolute loved it, look at those tiny bow ties and tiny petticoats!
I wonder when the children wear cloth like this?

15 kms from Heraklion is village Anopolis where there is a glorious new built church of saint John. The church is located in a beautiful mountain scenery. It is an ideal afternoon ride by car, if you stay in the area.
Combine it with an afternoon drink or dinner to a nearby village. You can also combine it with visit to the nearby water amusement park.
On a small, easy ride you can experience and enjoy the scenery, a beautiful church, the religious feeling of locals and also the easy going life to the pisturesque villages of the area.
To go there, go from Heraklio eastwards by the north coast. At Kokkini Hani village turn right (there are signs to "Anopolis"), drive upwards to the hill. On the big crossroad go left to go to the church or turn right to go to the water amusement park.

On the south side of mountain Psiloreitis the local villages Zaros and others maintain a self catered furnished shelter. It might be available on request on the spot for a 1-2 nights stay. I didn't go there but I know the place and it is beautiful. Mountain scenery, overlooking the south coast of Crete and the sea. For details, ask George at tavern Votomos, see relevant tip about trout and salmon.

Rouvas canyon is on the south side of Psiloreitis mountain. Come here to enjoy hiking in a fabulous mountain scenery.
The path starting-end point is on lake Zaros (see relevant off the beaten path tip), about 50 klms south of Heraklion. The distance to cover is about 5klms to arrive to a plateau with st. John church and also the same distance backwards. It took us totally about 5 hours to enjoy it on a slow pace.
BE CAREFUL: In Crete hike either early in the morning or in the afternoon. The heat during daytime is high and you are in the danger of sunstroke.

For more details, have a look to my travelogue "Hiking in Rouvas canyon"

Lake Zaros is a lake near the village of Zaros, about 50 kms from Heraklion southwards. It is a peaceful scenery on the bottom of Psiloreitis mountain. During August there are many different activities, like a "water festival" with a fishing competition, children activities and so on. Come here to enjoy the scenery, have a drink or a meal, eat trout to the nearby fish farms or take the hiking path of Rouvas canyon - see the relevant off the beaten path tip.

Did you know that in Heraclion there is a reknown technological institute called FORTH,with some good achievements in the fields of molecular biology ,physics and computer science?Foreign students come here to have their master degree too!Now,HOW can you do science in a place like this,you wonder.Believe me you can.
FORTH

On our last day, just 'by accident', we had the best encounter of our stay ! We were driving around, to take some more pictures, and when I left the car to take a photo of a cactus, I heard some voices shouting something in Greek. I turned around and saw two elderly people making signs to come. Curious as I am, I did not hesitate and walked through the fence. They were making signs with their heads and hands towards the corner of the garden. I had to go there and take pictures. As I came closer to the corner, I saw a kind of very small open 'shower base', where 3 people stood barefoot, crushing grapes !
They started laughing when they saw my face, total unbelief ! Very friendly, they immediately handed me 3 bunches of grapes and asked me to take pictures, if I wanted ! Of course, I did not hesitate ! You can see some more pictures in my travelogue !

15 km East of Sfakia, there's very interesting spot with a small white beach dominated by an ancient Venetian fortress: Frangokastello. A pleasant point of rest. The picture is taken from the beach, and the following one from the bare interior of the caste itself.