completely-crete.com Completely-Crete's Guide to A Short Stay in Kalyves Enjoy a stay in Kalyves with this great FREE mini Guide AlisonYates This fabulous Mini-Guide presents you with a special itinerary that we have offered to many visitors staying in Kalyves, near Chania. If you are planning a trip to Crete, why not stay in Kalyves, and take advantage of this great mini-Guide! This itinerary will help you plan a great trip taking in the sights, sounds and tastes of this beautiful area, without the stress of working out what to do and how to do it! Complettely Crete Welcomes you to Crete Crete is an ancient land, largest of the Greek Islands that lies outstretched at the southern edge of Europe. Look on any map and you‟ll find it embraced by the bluest of blue Mediterranean, Aegean, Ionian and Libyan Seas gently caressing the golden sands of its numerous pristine beaches. The most southerly point in Europe, it basks in glowing sunshine for over 300 days every year. Welcome then to the beautiful Greek Island of Crete, where you‟ll find: . Kalyves Wonderful Weather Brilliant Beaches Irresistible Resorts Spectacular Scenery Magnificent Mountains Gorgeous Gorges Warm-hearted People Fabulous Flora and Fauna Fantastic Fresh Food White Washed Villages Stress Free Lifestyle The island of Crete is a unique and captivating blend of ancient civilisations and modern lifestyles. Steeped in myths and legends, it is the birthplace of Zeus, home of the Minotaur and King Minos, and setting of many enthralling episodes of Greek mythology. As the centre of the ancient Minoan civilization there are many archaeological sites to explore, Knossos being the most famed. Museums of natural history, folk art and archaeology scatter the Island. This wonderful Greek island is not just known for its ancient relics and old fossils! Young and vibrant it can be – when it wants to. With a cosmopolitan café culture, exciting nightlife, a lively music scene and chic shopping. music scene and chic shopping. The Cretan scenery is spectacular and stunning. Magnificent mountains, gorgeous gorges, lovely landscapes and beautiful beaches create an environment of unsurpassed natural beauty. Rare flora and fauna, marine and bird life find their home in this lovely setting. This is truly a nature lover‟s paradise. If you are into photography you‟ll get some brilliant pictures too! The fertile Cretan plains are home to thousands of olive groves, vineyards, organic fruits and vegetables and wild herbs. The seas are awash with fresh fish. This abundance has led to the development of the famous Crete diet and is a foodies delight. The Cretan Diet is internationally famous and prolongs life and health for all those who enjoy it. Here are some useful Greek phrases to help you get the best from your stay (though almost everyone you meet will want to talk to you in English!) Yassoo means both Hello and Goodbye Ef garys toe means thank you Kali mera means good morning Kali spera means good evening Kali nikta means good night We‟ve put together the following suggested itinerary so that you‟re able to get the most from your stay on this wonderful Island. To learn more about Crete, visit Completely Crete for a true insider's guide: Completely-Crete.com Day One - Kalyves Village Kalyves has two super beaches with soft golden sand and scenic backdrops of the White Mountains (Lefki Ori). Plenty of extremely good tavernas, some waterfront, others around the pretty village square, offer the hungry holidaymaker a fabulous array of food and drink. The locals are very friendly here and there are lots of shops, tavernas and bars, and a magnificent church, making this a charming fishing village and a pleasure to stay in. Try the beach front Taverna named Medusa. This lovely restaurant, ideally located at the gorgeous beach of Kalyves is just a 2 minute stroll from the centre of the village. The traditional Lamb Kleftiko is highly recommended. The paper wrapped slow cooked lamb is cooked with fresh seasonal and locally grown vegetables and potatoes topped with traditional local Feta cheese. Delicately flavoured with wild hillside herbs the melt in the mouth Medusa Kleftiko has to be the best on the whole island! Wash this down with a glass or two of George‟s (the owners) own house wine – a very pleasant Cabernet Sauvignon and you‟re sure to be ready to say: Kali nikta! Day 2 - Chania From Kalyves, it is just a short drive or bus ride to the historic and beautiful harbour town of Chania (pronounced Hanyar). This is a stunning town where modern, Venetian and Turkish traditional architecture are blended together making it a fabulous place to visit. First stop is for a leisurely coffee – maybe a strong hot and sweet Greek coffee or an ice cool cafe frappe – at the very chic Cafe in the Park in the heart of Chania on Tzanakaki Street. The park is well used by locals who use it to promenade and take their children to the lovely play area and to see and feed the captive Kri Kri goats. The endemic wild Cretan Goat or Kri Kri is a small brown stocky animal with very distinctive curled horns. Its usual home is the famous Samaria Gorge. After coffee in the Park, you can walk the couple of hundred yards to the famous Chania Market. Turn right out of the park and walk down towards the end of Tzanakaki Street and the market is across the road. The daily indoor Chania Market is very popular with tourists and locals alike, with all manner of Cretan foods on sale. Said to be the best indoor market in Europe. It's a fabulous place for all manner of spectacular ingredients that make up the famed Cretan Diet. It is has a lively and vibrant atmosphere. Greek Mountain tea, and numerous other herbs and spices, thyme honey, olive oil and raki are enticingly displayed to tempt the passer by. If you haven‟t yet shopped until you‟ve dropped at the market, make your to Leather Lane in the heart of the Old Town. From the indoor market's rear entrance, turn left and walk the few hundred yards along Tsouderon Street and soon the smell of leather will fill the air and you will be stunned at the dazzling displays of locally- made leather goods, from belts, sandals, wallets, handbags, and the traditional black boots named "stivania", worn by the men of Cretan villages. Your lunch venue will be the renowned and much recommended Ela Restaurant. Snuggled in the small winding back alleys of the Old Town. Ela means "Come!" and offers a welcome second to none. Ela can be found in the back streets of the Old Town of Chania, at Kondilaki 47 (turn into Baladinou off Halidon Street for the alleys of the Old Town). This is a wonderful place to eat. It's only open in the summer months as the restaurant is in the shell of an old Venetian building without a roof. The décor can only be described as rustic, with no plaster on the walls, exposed supporting beams and lots of overgrown vines and flowers decorating the old stones that surround you. After returning to Kalyves and indulging in a much needed afternoon siesta, we suggest dining at the gorgeous Aphrodite Restaurant in the heart of the village. Newly opened in the summer of 2008 this up-market restaurant is situated on the popular village square. In sharp contrast to the Ela restaurant, the Aphrodite is smart and very chic. Decorated with a beautiful flair the restaurant lives up to its Greek Goddess namesake and is indeed decorated with lovers of beauty in mind. The glassware, table linen, crockery and cutlery are top of the range. Diners have a choice of eating inside the plush interior or dining al fresco in the patio garden at the rear, where the aroma of jasmine flowers fills the air and swallows swoop gracefully overhead. The menu offers a wide choice of Greek food and is carefully prepared and beautifully presented. The staff are very attentive and are eager for you to have the best dining experience possible. Try the plentiful and colourful Greek salad, laden with fresh tomatoes and cucumbers and topped with local olives and fabulous Feta cheese. The cheese has to be the best the area has to offer. Or try the homemade Skafia herb and cheese filled pies, smothered in honey – a local delicacy. A plateful of deep fried potatoes and a wholesome Stifado (beef stew) should allow you to waddle your way back to your accommodation. But don‟t forget to save room for the complimentary sweet and a glass or two of Raki served at the end of your meal. Eating in Greece Guidelines At this stage it might be a good idea to read a section from our informative guide to "Eating in Greece." Tavernas The Crete Taverna is the traditional eating place for Cretans and tourists alike and in the past was an informal type of restaurant only open in the evenings. Now the name applies to almost all restaurants and most are open all day (especially during the tourist season). Estiatorio ...was the name given to the more formal restaurant, although the distinction between taverna and estiatorio is now blurred somewhat, although you will still see both names (in Greek!). All the traditional Greek and Cretan dishes will be served here, including: Moussaka - baked minced lamb with aubergines, potatoes and béchamel sauce Kleftiko - slow baked lamb with potatoes and cheese Yemista - peppers and tomatoes stuffed with rice and vegetables (sometimes minced meat) Stifado - beef casserole in tomato sauce cooked very slow Pastitsio - baked minced beef with macaroni pasta and béchamel sauce Greek salad - with feta You'll find some Cretan specialities too, including delicious pies (sfakia pie) made with lamb, some cheese ones, and also chicken versions.