Travel Tips

Crete is another interesting place to go to on your Greece vacation. It is one of the more notable and the largest of the many islands in the country. It is located in the Mediterranean Sea in between the Sea of Crete and the Libyan Sea. Crete is about 260 kilometers long and 60 kilometers wide. The island is divided into four prefectures, namely, Chania, Rethimno, Heraklion and Lasithi. Crete is considered one of the most beautiful of the Greek islands and is always worth exploring.

The biggest and main prefecture in Crete is Heraklion. It is home to about 275,000 inhabitants and is the largest city and the considered capital of the whole island. Tourism is the main industry of Crete. Its economy is mainly driven by the arrival of tourists on its shores. That is why it considers its visitors with care and tries to ensure that the tourists would have a wonderful time in the island. After all, it is tourists that pump blood into the economy of the island.

Crete was once considered as the center of the ancient Minoan civilization. The island provides evidences of the achievements, knowledge and power of this ancient Bronze Age culture through the various palaces, tombs and other sacred sites found throughout the area. This provides a historical backdrop that would guide tourists of what to look for while in Crete.

The main language used in Crete is Greek. And because the island is a main tourist destination, many of the inhabitants can understand and speak English. Even those located in the small villages on the island can speak and understand English, making communication with foreigners not that much of a problem on the island.

Getting into the island can be made through various means. By plane, Crete can be reachable through the three significant airports located in the island. There’s the Nikos Kazantzakis airport that is located at Heraklion. There is also the Daskalogiannis military airport available in Chania where tourists can land on Crete. A new public airport is also located in Sitia where visitors can also make use of to get into Crete. There are several flights available for Crete that usually departs from the main island of Greece.

The island can also be reached by ferry. There are various ferry services located in mainland Greece as well as the other islands that service Crete. The trip usually takes 2.5 hours from the mainland. Going around Crete can be done through an inland bus service that operates around the island. The bus schedules are fairly frequent and serves many parts of the island. Some buses even divert trips from their usual route in order to bring tourists to small villages if asked. Public transportation is by far the most convenient and affordable means of going around Crete.

Car rentals are also available if you wish a more private and more personal adventure on your visit to Crete. But tourists may need to bring along their drivers license for this and make sure that the car insurance covers them to the places that would be visited. Petrol stations also close early, usually around 7pm.

It might be important for private car tourists to fill up beforehand so as not to let an empty gas tank on an isolated part of the island spoil your Greece vacation.

Rhodes is one of the many islands that you can go to on your Greece vacation. Rhodes is one of the largest and most fertile of the Greek islands. It is also one of the most visited islands in Greece. Rhodes is not only known for its tourist resorts and splendid beaches but also for the various archaeological sites and medieval towns found in the island.

The island of Rhodes is composed of various places of interest. It is a major tourist attraction in itself mainly because of its sunny beaches. Although most of the beaches in the island are covered by gravel instead of sand, tourists still flock to the island because of the 300 and more days of sun that it enjoys.

The initial destination on the island is the city of Rhodes which is the biggest city on the island and the seat of the local government. Another area worth visiting would be Lindos, a picturesque village which is also a site of an ancient acropolis. Next to this village lies Haraki which is a small village that was once a fishing haven. The nearest tourist resort to Lindos is Pefkos, a small tourist town that was once just a cluster of farms and private residences that eventually grew over time.

For more action, tourists may want to head out to Faliraki. This is where tourists usually go to party and have fun and some exciting action while on the island. Afandou is one of the bigger villages on the island where the golf course of Rhodes is situated. For a more rustic experience, tourists can head out to traditional villages such as Theologos where Greek culture and tradition is still given importance.

Greek is the main language in the island of Rhodes. But due to the influx of tourists and foreign visitors, most of the inhabitants have learned to speak better English than in most parts of Greece as well as a bit of German. Communication with the locals is relatively easier especially in areas with the highest concentration of tourists.

Getting to the island of Rhodes is possible from the air or by sea. If by plane, the island can be reached by way of the Diagoras International Airport located on the west coast and 14 kilometers from the town of Rhodes. Regular flights are available from Athens, Thessaloniki and Crete. There are also chartered airlines that connect Rhodes from the other major cities in Europe. There are also ferries that travel regularly via Bodrum, Symi and Tilos. There are also cruise ships that dock at the Commercial Port located east of Old Town in the city of Rhodes.

The main means of getting around Rhodes on a Greece vacation is by bus. The island has a public bus network that operates throughout the island. The bus fare is relatively cheap and with stops that do not usually follow a time table. It is sometime okay to signal a bus driver by the road side if you wish to board or get off.

There are also taxis going around Rhodes that can take tourists to the various parts of the island.

Seattle’s Maritime History Plays Important Role in its Current Culture

Seattle Washington is nearly surrounded by water. It is no wonder that water has played a vital role in the history of this great city. Water has also been a serious draws for those choosing to visit Seattle Washington as well. Not only is water of historical significance to this city, it is a cultural phenomenon as well. The maritime traditions of this great city are an important part of its current greatness.

If you are planning a visit to Seattle, one of the very first things you should do is head on over to the Pioneer Square Historic District and take the Underground Tour. This tour will explain to you a significant point in history about the relationship of this city and water. Take a tour of an entire section of the city that was literally buried in order to avoid plumbing problems. Find out where the term Skid Road originated and laugh along as you hear great stories about the colorful history of this part of town.

Many Islands and Island communities abound on the outskirts of Seattle. The Ferries here are integral to the daily lives of commuters and tourists alike. Access to many tourist attractions is easily accessible by Ferry when driving would be impossible. There are often summer concerts at the Ferry Terminal on Pier 52. The last Friday of every month from June through August, they celebrate Picnic at the Pier with live music on the upper level of the Terminal from 3:00 until 6:30 p.m. There are 10 ferry accessible communities in the Puget Sound; each of these communities has a unique flavor that is really interesting to experience. If you can’t visit them all, read about them and visit the ones that interest you most. It is a great day trip and you never know what creatures you will see along the way.

If you love the water, and by this I mean you are like me and feel that a piece of your soul was meant to be at sea, then you simply can’t pass up the opportunity to visit the Center for Wooden Boats. The visit is free and you get to actually see how these beautiful boats are crafted. There is nothing like literally riding the wind in a wooden sailboat and you can do just that on Sunday afternoons for free or you can charter one of their many boats during the right weather conditions. Remember these boats are works of art and should be handled with extreme care. If you’re going to be in town a while you can even take one of their sailing lessons. They offer group lessons (which are excellent for beginners) and one on one training (better for this with basic knowledge of sailing).

Whether you were born with webbed feet or just enjoy the idea of being on water, there is plenty to be seen and done from the water in and around Seattle. From whale watching and sailing, to kayaking, water skiing, and any number of other water activities there is a place to partake in them all in this great area. Not all areas are suitable for all activities so be aware of the water you are near and find out what is and isn’t safe to do in that area. There are some areas where the water simply isn’t safe to be in for health reasons and others where the currents are dangerous and swift. Most importantly have fun exploring the great salt and fresh water in this area and learning their role in the history here.