The summer of 2018 on Crete has been eventful for our team here at Argo. So far we’ve enjoyed the company of superb friends and family, and we’ve shared some of this incredible island’s most beautiful attractions too. For those who’ve visited Crete, here are a few reminders to jog your memory. And for those who’ve never been, these Instagram shares should tweak your adventurous genes.
The share below is from a perfect day in Agia Pelagia when our editor-in-chief’s best friend Mike Parrish visited the island on vacation from North Carolina in the U.S. Here Parrish joined other divers with the experts from Diver’s Club Crete for an adventure to a nearby reef. For those who’ve never visited, Agia Pelagia is a small village on the south side of the small Cape Souda, surrounded by several coves with beautiful beaches. You’d have to search hard to find a more picturesque or inviting spot on any island.
The Instagram below is from a short visit to the beach at Palaiokastro, a small coastal village just 9 kilometers from Crete’s capital in Heraklion. Our founder’s mother was visiting from Bucharest when Paul Jules Butler and his mom Mihaela began clowning it up by the sea. At this tiny village, the Venetians created extensive fortifications built into solid rock, that housed many cannons to help secure the bay of Heraklion. Ruins of the fortress walls survive to this day.
The photo below was taken from Fillosophies Cafe just across from the famous Lion’s Fountain (Fontana Morosini) and 25th of August Street. Built by the Venetians in 1628, the fountain is surrounded by eight tanks, which are decorated with figures taken from the Greek mythology: nymphs, dolphins, tritons, sea monsters, while the hot the main and supported by four lions.
When friends from Moscow who because of their diplomatic status required a unique accommodation asked our founders for recommendations, the fabulous Mythos Palace was a logical all-inclusive choice. Situated along one of Crete’s finest blue flag beaches at Georgiopoli, the stellar resort offers an uncompromising five-star experience.
For people familiar with Greek mythology the Amari Valley is understood to be the Eden-like valley where the god Zeus spent his childhood. Epic in its history and geography, the region is unsurpassed in its uniqueness any mystic grandeur. When our founder’s father visited in early Summer introductions to our friends at Aravanes in Thronos was a must. This Instagram is from the balcony of one of the quint guestrooms of the amazing traditional taverna.
On Crete there are forgotten places of unbelievable beauty. One such places is the nearly deserted resort town of Kokkinos Pyrgos where our founders take friends to experience pristine nature and the way things used to be. Here Russia-1 TV producer Evgeny Marushkin emerge from the Gulf of Mesara on a perfect day.
A side of Agia Pelagia not many have seen online. This Instagram was taken by our editor while accompanying Russia-1 TV’s Evgeny Marushkin to the other side of the bay. The view looks out over Almyra Seaside Restaurant and Diver’s Club Crete.
Made famous in modern times by singer Joni Mitchell, Matala is most noted in antiquity for the artificial caves in the cliff of the Matala Bay created in the Neolithic Age and later used by the Romans. Supposedly the site where Zeus delivered the princess Europa and later transformed himself into a giant eagle. Legend says he later flew her to Gortys where he had sex with her. Nowadays tourists flock to the picturesque bay to bask in the sun and to enjoy events like the Matala Music Festival. Our founders were there with guests just days ago, when the also partook of the famous Greek beer Mythos and the lesser known but still marvelous Zaro’s mineral water pictured below.