Heraklion, Crete, Greece
We had never been to Crete and looked very much forward to our visit there. As it turned out, this Greek island may be our favorite! We were picked up at the port entrance by Spyros, a born and raised Cretan, and he served us the traditional Greek breakfast of spanakopita in the shape of triangles. So cute! We headed out of Heraklion for the mountains and it didn’t take long before the scenery went from bustling city to beautiful countryside with olive trees. The olive orchards are vast and we learned that Greece is the third largest producer of olive oil behind Spain and Italy. We also learned that Greece’s olive oil is often mixed with Spanish and Italian oils as Greek oil is very low acidity due to the soil.
Before we reached an olive oil factory for a tour, we stopped at a small village for iced Greek coffee and a pastry. The coffee had foam and cinnamon, and it was tasty. Soon we arrived at the family-owned Omalia Olive Press. The first brother greeted us and showed us inside. We learned about how they process olives to make oil, from many, many regional growers. And as each grower believes their olives are the best, they go to great lengths to keep them separate as they process them. Crazy. We taste tested several varieties and could not believe how flavorful they were. Maybe Greek oil is the best after all?
We headed into the mountains and the drive was gorgeous. We were amazed at the terrain and all the little villages, with single lane streets and ancient buildings, that we passed through. Spyros told us that many of the buildings are abandoned as people don’t want to do the hard work of harvesting olives (as that is the primary source of income). We stopped at a local super market to try fresh Greek yogurt with honey. It was tart and sweet and delicious.
We reached the top of Seli Ambelou at 3000ft and the Seli Ambelou windmills. These and the Lasithi Plateau windmills are used to pump water for the plateau, the breadbasket for Crete, growing vegetables and fruits for the entire island. It was fascinating to see this plateau in the mountains, with so many crops. There were also sheep and goats, which in Crete are preferred over beef, pork and fish.
Our next stop was the Pottery Workshop, a multi-generational family-operated business that creates handmade pottery for Crete and is exported around the world. Our final stop was the Lyrakakis Winery for lunch and a tasting.
Spyros was a wonderful guide from the firm Explore Real Crete. He took such good care, and provided such insight to his home land. When Tim and I became car sick, we stopped by his cousin’s house to pick two perfect lemons from his garden. He told us to scratch the peel and sniff, that it would make our nausea go away, and it did! It was the best smelling lemon and I’ll never look at a lemon the same way again. Divine!
We had an amazing day and left with a real appreciation for the culture and beauty of Crete.
Recommend: Viator, Ask for Guide Spyros, Wine Tasting, Olive Oil Factory, Old Traditional Villages
https://www.viator.com/tours/Heraklion/Afternoon-Wine-Tasting-Tour/d961-102515P6
Post Gallery
Spyros demonstrating the tool used to shake the branches to make the olives fall.
This machines separates the olives from the branches and leaves.
This machine presses the olives to get the liquid.
This machine is a centrifuge, separating the oil from water. The water is recycled for plants.
Here the oil is tested for acidity: Extra Virgin Olive Oil = .3 - .8% Virgin Olive Oil = .9 - 2.0% Olive Oil = 2.1%+
The island is covered with wild lavender, rosemary, oregano and thyme. It's everywhere!
Wild oregano.
A 2400 yr old Plane tree, in Krassi, Crete.
Seli Ambelou windmills.
Seli Ambelou windmills.
A typical village restaurant, this one in Plati, Crete.
Spyros said these are the two you never want to run into. "The doctor makes you cry, the priest comes when you die." Seriously, this is the village doctor and the priest. Spyros knew everyone!
The windmills, to pump water for the crops.
Fourth generation potter.
Lyrakakis Winery
Women's WC to the left. Men's WC to the right.
Sharon, Spyros, Lisa, Tim, Ron, Mary and Marsh
Like the horticulture, I would like to bro the pottery. Cool place to visit
I can smell the lemon from here!