Mihaela Lica Butler: Travel Writer, Recipe Developer

Cigarette rolling is not a vice but a daily ritual. A first-person look at the island’s smoky habit, the rhythm of hands, and the stubborn beauty of tradition.

Crete’s villages echo with the song of canaries. Argophilia explores this living tradition, with Mihaela Lica Butler reflecting on her own beloved bird, Gim.

In Crete, goats feeding on carobs produce milk with a sweeter taste, giving local cheese its unique flavor.

At Delina Mountain Resort in Anogia, I witnessed a snake with a koi fish in its mouth. A personal encounter with Crete’s hidden wildlife.

Cats rule the trash bins and tavernas. From nightly dives into containers to one little kittikins at the doorstep, strays remain part of the island’s heartbeat.

Crete is home to over seventy wild orchid species, many endemic to the island. Blooming in spring, these fragile flowers are protected by law and must never be picked.

Argophilia’s lifeguard-turned-writer who still saves lives on Crete’s beaches and secretly loves chocolate more than anything else.

Knossos’ new €3.5M entrance project adds toilets, ticket offices, and shade — a long-overdue fix for Crete’s busiest archaeological site.

Pitsidia hosts its Raki Festival unusually early on October 4, while most villages celebrate in November.

In Heraklion, tap water is treated but not always safe for drinking. Locals rely on bottled water like Rouvas, Zaros, Samaria, and Selinari.

Heraklion’s Chartodiadromes tours return, starting with Arkadi Monastery in Rethymno, plus stops at Eleutherna Museum and Margarites village.