Crete, anyone been, tips and that please...

[prunus]

Do we need a 'Dreaming of retiring to Crete' thread?

It was always my plan, but I thought Brexit had probably fubar'd it - though Chilli.s might have re-opened the hope window...???

I was looking day-dreamily at this place when I was last there:

Detached house for Sale in Voukolies, Chania, Crete, Greece

Elizabeth Estate Agency - Houses for Sale in Chania, Crete - Municipality of Voukolies.

www.elizabethestateagency.com

Needs a lick of paint or two.

 

[Chilli.s]

Refreshingly honest Estate Agents description here izz

"PROPERTY TYPE: RUINS"

Check out this Ruin for sale on Rightmove

Ruin for sale in Episkopi, Rethymnon, Crete, Greece for €45,000. Marketed by QPS Real Estate, Rethymno

www.rightmove.co.uk

I think that would be "may require modernisation or updating" over here.

I could move into that as it is

 

[Chilli.s]

Brexit had probably fubar'd it

I think Portugal has a similar visa for retired people too

 

[smmudge]

Cool i look forward to moving to the Urban 75 Crete retirement village in 31 years.

 

[Voley]

You can tell who's in their mid 50's on this thread can't you?

Thailand have a retirement visa scheme these days too. Last time i looked you needed 3 million baht* in a Thai bank account to get one. Plus good medical insurance and no criminal record. The last bit discounts almost everyone I used to know on Ko Pha Ngan so I'm not sure how they're all getting by these days.

*£65K+ atm

 

[prunus]

One of my most prized possessions is this marvellous book:



In which I found this, which hopefully you'll find interesting given where you're going Voley

 

[Voley]

Thanks for that prunus. The Minoans were creating some incredibly beautiful and advanced buildings for the time weren't they? I'm used to hut circles etc from a similar era over here.

Looking forward to seeing Knossos, it looks fantastic.

 

[Voley]

Flying out tomorrow.

 

[izz]

Flying out tomorrow.

Eeeeeeeeee lush ! Where you stoppin' ?

 

[Voley]

Eeeeeeeeee lush ! Where you stoppin' ?

Makri Gialos. Is that how you spell it? South coast.

Looking forward to exploring some ancient stuff, swimming in bath-like temperatures, walking a gorge or two, eating loads of olives.

 

[Voley]

My spelling not too bad. This place:

CreteTravel

www.cretetravel.com

 

[zahir]

Looking forward to seeing Knossos, it looks fantastic.

Don't miss the archaeological museum in Heraklion.

 

[Mattym]

Refreshingly honest Estate Agents description here izz

"PROPERTY TYPE: RUINS"

Check out this Ruin for sale on Rightmove

Ruin for sale in Episkopi, Rethymnon, Crete, Greece for €45,000. Marketed by QPS Real Estate, Rethymno

www.rightmove.co.uk

I think that would be "may require modernisation or updating" over here.

Georgiopolous (sp.) is a lovely beach just to the North of that property.

 

[Pickman's model]

Don't miss the archaeological museum in Heraklion.

Saw this there


Snake woman with cat on head

 

[Voley]

Vai beach earlier today. Bit touristy tbh ...



... so we wandered over the headland and found this:



Walking the Gorge of the Dead tomorrow

 

[zahir]

Walking the Gorge of the Dead tomorrow

I was there in May - it's well worth doing.

 

[Voley]

Back home now. Will have some pics in a bit. Right now though, I'm looking out at a drizzly Cornwall afternoon and wondering why I can't go for lazy lunch of dolmathes and Greek salad and have a swim in a sea the temperature of your bath.

 

[Voley]

Well that was just brilliant. What a place. Stunningly beautiful, incredibly friendly people, delicious food, some great ancient stuff. TIcked all my boxes. Could quite happily move there tomorrow.

A few pics.

Diaskari beach, first thing in the morning. Pretty quiet at the best of times, this one, but literally deserted first thing.



The view down to Makri Gialos from up in the hills near Agios Stephanos. Really loved it up in the hills here. Absolutely stunning with beautiful little whitewashed villages clinging onto the hillside ...



... such as Pekfi that you can see here. The monastery on the hill to the left is a great walk, if vaguely life-threatening in July's heat.



View from the top was worth it, though.



Totally fell in love with Crete. Only saw a fraction of the island but already have a lengthy list of stuff we've got to do next time. Brilliant place.

 

[Voley]

One here for Pickman's model - the snake goddess with her cat on her head from the museum in Iraklion.





Had to buy Mrs V a replica. Minoan history is mindboggling.

 

[Voley]

And for zahir

The Gorge Of The Dead. This was tough in the heat of July. It was 37 degrees that day but the beach / tavernas at Zakros were very welcoming at the end of it.

 

[Elpenor]

Lovely pics Voley

I went to Crete after my A levels. I had two weeks there, and spent a lot of time getting the bus from where my accommodation was to various classical sites.

I particularly enjoyed the bus over the mountains to the south of Crete to Gortys / Phaistos (I think). Amazing views! I recall looking around the ruins there and having a beer in a cafe afterwards.

 

[Epona]

One here for Pickman's model - the snake goddess with her cat on her head from the museum in Iraklion.


View attachment 434853


Had to buy Mrs V a replica. Minoan history is mindboggling.

When you find yourself having to deal with inter-pet squabbling before you've had time to put your top on in the morning.

 

[Voley]

Lovely tho innit ? Yes it needs rebuilding but it'll be uh-may-zing when it's done. Or rather, it'd be uh-may-zing if I had anything to do with it

Since getting back from Crete, I have been spending inordinate amounts of time looking at totally impractical but gorgeous old properties.

izz Do you reckon your renovation magic could turn one of those "ruins" we were talking about before into something like this.

Particularly like the pool that's practically in a jungle on this one.

Renovated 3Bed 3Bath Venetian Villa with Sea & Mountain Views for Sale in Lyridiana...

Renovated 3Bed 3Bath Venetian Villa with Sea & Mountain Views for Sale in Lyridiana Kissamos

www.green-acres.gr

 

[belboid]

I'm just listening to a You're Dead To Me episode about the 'Minoan' civilisation. Its jolly good

You're Dead to Me - Minoan Civilisation - BBC Sounds

Join Greg and his guests to learn all about the Minoan civilisation.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Skim]

Ooh, thinking about going to Crete in October. Thanks for posting the pics Voley!

 

[Mattym]

Since getting back from Crete, I have been spending inordinate amounts of time looking at totally impractical but gorgeous old properties.

izz Do you reckon your renovation magic could turn one of those "ruins" we were talking about before into something like this.

Particularly like the pool that's practically in a jungle on this one.

Renovated 3Bed 3Bath Venetian Villa with Sea & Mountain Views for Sale in Lyridiana...

Renovated 3Bed 3Bath Venetian Villa with Sea & Mountain Views for Sale in Lyridiana Kissamos

www.green-acres.gr

That's lovely!

 

[Voley]

Ooh, thinking about going to Crete in October. Thanks for posting the pics Voley!

Ooh where you going? October's meant to be a great time to go.

 

[Skim]

Ooh where you going? October's meant to be a great time to go.

The only thing we’ve decided on is Crete… annual leave booked but haven’t actually booked the holiday yet!

 

[izz]

Since getting back from Crete, I have been spending inordinate amounts of time looking at totally impractical but gorgeous old properties.

izz Do you reckon your renovation magic could turn one of those "ruins" we were talking about before into something like this.

Particularly like the pool that's practically in a jungle on this one.

Renovated 3Bed 3Bath Venetian Villa with Sea & Mountain Views for Sale in Lyridiana...

Renovated 3Bed 3Bath Venetian Villa with Sea & Mountain Views for Sale in Lyridiana Kissamos

www.green-acres.gr

Not without metric fucktons of money

 

[Voley]

The only thing we’ve decided on is Crete… annual leave booked but haven’t actually booked the holiday yet!

I've already done the same for 2025.

Two weeks in May. I'm hoping that'll be a bit cooler than July and we can walk some more hills and gorges.