Crete covers an area of 8336 square kilometers. It is divided into four administrative units: Chania, Heraklion, Lasithi, and Rethymno. The population is approximately 2. Crete is characterized by mountainous terrain (623%), so drivers should exercise extreme caution when traveling by car. Winding roads are the norm on Crete. In the western part of the island are the White Mountains, whose highest peak reaches almost 000 meters above sea level. It is worth noting that there are 95 gorges here, including one that stands out – the longest and deepest in Europe – the Samaria Gorge.
In the center of the island you can admire the Idi massif (also called Psiloritis, with its highest peak at 2456 m above sea level), where you will see one of the two caves of Zeus, called Idahot. To the northeast of the massif is Heraklion, the capital and most densely populated part of Crete. Nearby are the remains of the ancient palace of Minos in Knossos, often visited by tourists.
The characteristic point of eastern Crete is the mountain range of Dikte (the highest peak is Dikti - 2148 m above sea level). The valley with extremely fertile soils - Lasithi is also striking. The caves located on its territory (including the second grotto of Zeus) are a real tourist attraction.
Cretans are very proud of their regional identity and openly demonstrate it. The islanders, like other peoples living on the Mediterranean Sea, do not deny themselves the right to a siesta. They work in the morning and in the evening, but you will not see them at work during the day. So do not be surprised when you cannot check into a hotel because there will be no one at the reception. Cretans treat the siesta as a sacred law that can never be broken. It even happens that after a vacation they do not return to work. Life there is very slow.
Crete, like the rest of Greece, is dominated by Orthodoxy. Masses are quite long, about 2-3 hours. Many of the faithful do not wait until the end, so some enter and others leave in the middle. On Sundays, women come in large numbers, for whom attending the service is often a great opportunity to chat with friends and exchange fresh gossip. Nevertheless, religion is very important to Cretans.
Cretans are also considered rebels. They often disagree with decisions made by state authorities. Sometimes they openly express their discontent, for example when they block roads. In protest against what they say is an unfair distribution of European funds or against the deployment of American troops on the island. Although you cannot own a firearm, many Cretans illegally keep one at home.
Cretan folk songs called mantinades are also worth mentioning. These are fifteen-syllable rhyming couplets in the Cretan dialect, eagerly sung by the locals. Cretans also love to dance, which they do on almost every occasion. The music never stops. Bars and taverns are especially lively at night, when both young and old family members sit together to feast. Tourists are also welcome, as Cretans are renowned for their hospitality.
Holidays in Crete are the same as those on mainland Greece, based on the religious calendar. The most important holidays in Crete include: January 1st (New Year's Day and St. Basil's Day, the Greek equivalent of St. Nicholas), January 6th (Epiphany), March 25th (Independence Day, Annunciation Day), Easter, May 1st (Labor Day), August 15th (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary), October 28th (Birthday - Say "No!" Day), and December 25th-26th (Christmas).
