People and Places: Archanes, Crete Island, Greece

Archanes has won some coveted European awards including the 2nd best restored village in Europe and 1st in long term development prospects. Strolling through the village, it is easy to understand why - the streets have been newly stone-paved, there are splendid displays of blooming flowers, fruit trees and plants in the yards, terraces and balconies of the houses. All of these make walking around Archanes a delight to the senses.

After a hearty lunch at a local bistro, we began our exploration of the village on foot. The exterior surfaces of the buildings are dyed with watercolors in ochre and terra sienna tones, a dye that gives nuances in warm red. These colors exude an overall warm tone.

What makes Archanes so very charming, however, is its inhabitants.  The villagers welcome visitors with wide open arms.  We were busy taking photos of a typical Cretan village house when its owner came out and invited us in.

We entered the house through a courtyard filled with flowering plants and fruit trees. The various rooms surround this central courtyard which functions like an open air living room, against a backdrop of colorful blooms.  The courtyard is the hub of the house where the family gathers for meals and entertain friends and visitors.

Although we had planned to stay for just a few minutes, Elena succeeded in persuading us to stay for tea and meet various members of the family.  We were completely bowled over by her warmth and hospitality.  When we finally bade farewell, she offered us a parting gift of pomegranates - a symbol of wealth and good luck - harvested from their own tree, no less.

Holidays are not about just the sights, food and shopping.  It is experiences of kindness, love and generosity like what we encountered in Archanes that make holidays extra special.

Getting to Archanes:
We got into Archanes from Heraklion by bus.  Regular buses depart from Bus Station A (near the port) every half hour in the early morning and thereafter every hour on the dot.  The bus will pass the Knossos Palace, so it is possible to cover both Knossos and Archanes as a day trip.