CRETE, GREECE #125
OUR FIRST EXCURSION - IT ALL STARTS HERE IN CRETE, GREECE
The largest island in Greece, Crete is renowned for its pin-up beaches, wild natural beauty, exquisite cuisine and thousands of years of culture and history. To be enjoyed on your Greek Islands vacation.
Ancient Olympic...
Gymnasium, Olympia
It functioned as a training facility for competitors in public games. It was also a place for socializing and engaging in intellectual pursuits. The name comes from the Ancient Greek term gymnós, meaning "naked" or "nude". Only adult male citizens were allowed to use the gymnasia.
To be enjoyed on your Greek Islands vacation.
The Philippeion
The chryselephantine material used is for the statue of Zeus at Olympia (comparing the Macedonian royal family to the gods).
The statues depict members of the Macedonian royal family: Philip II, his parents, Amyntas and Eurydike, his wife Olympias and his son Alexander the Great, who was responsible for the completion of the building after his father’s death in 336 BC. Witnessed from our Greek Islands vacation tour.
The Philippeion in 2020
The temple consisted of an outer colonnade of Ionic order with 18 columns. Inside it had nine engaged columns of the lavishly designed Corinthian order. It had a diameter of 15 metres. The naos contained two windows, much like Hera II at Paestum. It had a carved marble roof which was decorated with a bronze poppy head on top. Witnessed from our Greek Islands vacation tour.
Temple of Hera
Historical landmark in Greece.
The Temple of Hera, or Heraion, is an ancient Archaic Greek temple at Olympia, Greece, that was dedicated to Hera, queen of the Greek gods. It was the oldest temple at Olympia and one of the most venerable in all Greece.
Witnessed from our Greek Islands vacation tour.
The Sanctuary of Olympia
The sanctuary of Olympia evolved gradually on the southern slopes of the Kronos hill, on the Alpheus River with it's tributary, the Kladeus. Dedicated to Zeus Olympios during the 10th - 9th c. BC.
Witnessed from our Greek Islands vacation tour.
The Philippeion
The Philippeion, erected by Philip II of Macedon after the Battle of Chaironeia (338 BC), in which the Macedonian king defeated the Athenians and their allies, stands close to the Heraion.
The circular building stood on a base of three steps, on which there was an external colonnade consisting of 18 Ionian columns which surrounded the circular cell, the roof of which bore marble tiles, antefixes with palmettes and drip mouldings in the form of lions’ heads.
Witnessed from our Greek Islands vacation tour.
Ambrosia Garden...
Beautiful flowers
Beautiful flowers
Beautiful flowers
Beautiful flowers
Beautiful flowers
Beautiful flowers
Beautiful flowers
SHOPPING...
The Winery, wine tasting and lunch...
Great Wine
Fields
Museum
Nice tasty lunch
Nice tasty lunch
Great Wine
Nice tasty lunch
Our travel back to the ship...
OUR NEXT EXCURSION...
JOIN US ON YOUR "VIRTUAL VACATION"
THE BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE OF VAMOS
Witnessed from our Greek Islands vacation tour.
Very enjoyable "Walking Tour" around the Village.
Beautiful mountains on our way to Vamos Village...
The White Mountains...
Vamos village is located in Chania perfecture, in West Crete on the foothills of ‘The White Mountains’, 25 km from the beautiful city of Chania.
To be enjoyed on your Greek Islands vacation.
Very beautiful!
Can be seen for many miles.
Witnessed from our Greek Islands vacation tour.
Featuring...
The local map...
There are two mini-markets, bakery, butcher, pizzeria, creperie, a traditional grocery shop, many cafés (with free Wi-Fi), a post-office, bank (ATM), police station, pharmacy, health center and two petrol stations.
Witnessed from our Greek Islands vacation tour.
The local map...
The local map...
People from the cities as Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion drive to Vamos for a nice village atmosphere and for the delicious local food. Witnessed from our Greek Islands vacation tour.
Our walking tour through the small town of Vamos...
The back featuring lots of plants and the great flag of Greece.
The back featuring lots of plants and the great flag of Greece.
The back featuring lots of plants and the great flag of Greece.
Nice picture over the pool.
The back featuring lots of plants and the great flag of Greece.
The back featuring lots of plants and the great flag of Greece.
Notice the beautiful stone work!
The back featuring lots of plants and the great flag of Greece.
Notice the beautiful stone work!
Notice the beautiful stone work!
The architectural heritage is well-preserved and Vamos is one of the most attractive traditional destinations of the area: along with the preserved traditional stone road.
To be enjoyed on your Greek Islands vacation.
Monastery of Agios Georgios - Karydi...
The Monastery of Agios Georgios (St. George).
The Monastery of Agios Georgios (St. George) is located about 2 km east of Vamos, in the region of Chania. The monastery was abandoned for a long period but in recent years basic works were carried out for the restoration of the monastery complex, in order this important monument of folk architecture to be revived and highlighted.
Witnessed from our Greek Islands vacation tour.
Was founded in 1600.
The monastery at some point had around 3600 olive trees.
Witnessed from our Greek Islands vacation tour.
Beautiful!
Beautiful!
The monastery of Agios Georgios is without doubt a masterpiece of the time and among the most interesting monuments in the prefecture of Chania.
Witnessed from our Greek Islands vacation tour.
Beautiful!
WINERY, RAKI & OUZO DISTILLERY ...
RAKI DISTILLERY
Our tour started with the visit of a sensational Cretan success story. What started as a limited, friends-only raki distilling experiment, turned into one of the most successful raki brands in Greece.
To be enjoyed on your Greek Islands vacation.
Mrs. Braoudakis
She explained the 5 quality products of raki and Ouzo at the distillery and walked us through the tasting and explained the whole distilling process.
To be enjoyed on your Greek Islands vacation.
Smashing grapes
A lot to observe and very educational - a visit I really enjoyed and took away some little sample bottles of their wonderful and tasty olive oil.
To be enjoyed on your Greek Islands vacation.
Cretan Products...
Lots of shopping in their private store.
To be enjoyed on your Greek Islands vacation.
Sharing a wonderful sampling of the tasty olive oil.
We enjoyed a delicious traditional meze style lunch made of fresh and homemade products while taking in the unobstructed sight of the White mountains and Rethymno town.
To be enjoyed on your Greek Islands vacation.
Wine tasting...
Great samples of the wine with lunch.
To be enjoyed on your Greek Islands vacation.
Down town Crete - walking tour - lots to experience...
Nice T-shirt!
Lots of people!
She's a life-size beautiful lady!
She's a life-size beautiful lady!
Nice colorful sign...
Nice colorful sign...
She's a life-size beautiful lady!
Church...
Nice colorful sign...
Nice T-shirt!
Nice T-shirt!
Nice colorful sign...
Nice T-shirt!
Back at the port...
Order your own 30-minute Movie/Download
What a beautiful VIRTUAL VACATION for only $12.00
To be enjoyed on your Greek Islands vacation.
CRETE, GREECE - #125 Join us as we travel Greek Island
The largest island in Greece, Crete is renowned for its pin-up beaches, wild natural beauty...
Ancient Olympia Tour
The Winery; wine tasting and lunch
Monastery of Agios Georgios - Karydi
WINERY, RAKI & OUZO DISTILLERY
Downtown Crete - walking tour - lots to experience...
Get your own VIRTUAL VACATION for only $12.00
Get your own VIRTUAL VACATION for only $12.00
CRETE, GREECE #125
Ancient Olympia Tour
The Winery; wine tasting and lunch
Monastery of Agios Georgios - Karydi
WINERY, RAKI & OUZO DISTILLERY
Downtown Crete - walking tour - lots to experience & to be enjoyed on your Greek Islands vacation copy. All the info on this page is included for your own Virtual Vacation!