CRETE - A SPRING TRIP TO THE LAND OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

[ranunculus]

CRETE

There is a land called Crete
in the midst of the wine-dark sea.

Homer, The Odyssey

We eagerly anticipated our spring break on Crete as we booked the flights, car hire and the hotel on the internet in October last year, but our expectations gained momentum and our hopes positively soared after consulting Carl Hardwick and Vic Aspland about the floral potential of this beautiful island that sits equidistant from North Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
This was to be our first visit to this legendary island (indeed it was to be our first visit to Greece), so advice from such learned travelers both assisted our plans and added momentum to our already energetic searches for information on Google and beyond.
We did, of course (by traveling in mid-April), hope for mild spring weather but we could not have anticipated just how warm the western part of the island would become during our seven-day trip. We encountered three days that exceeded 90 degrees and the remainder proved only slightly cooler. These very unseasonal temperatures were, however, accompanied by exceedingly strong winds blowing in across the Libyan Sea…conditions not wholly conducive to photography and plant photography (without the aid of a tripod) in particular.
We based ourselves in a superb hotel eight kilometres west of Chania (on the north coast of the island), but flew into Heraklion (by a direct…and very cramped… flight from Manchester) where we collected a small, but quite adequate, car and then joined the nearest thing to ‘Whacky Races’ we have ever encountered!
Cretans are to road-sense as Sue and I are to astro-physics…Paris can be hectic, London can be clogged, Cairo can, without doubt, be chaotic…but Chania is bedlam without the safety-net, sky-diving without the constant of gravity…Chania is taking your life in your hands after a double amputation.
…But we survived…and if the splendid populace of Crete are not VERY good drivers they ARE exceedingly friendly and they are so fortunate to live on such a beautiful and flower-rich island.
I believe I have sufficient images that I can submit both a Monthly Feature to the main site during the weeks to come and a page or two to the forum.  I will endeavor to keep the postings in chronological order and will begin with some shots taken in and around the lovely city and port of Chania.
My apologies for the lack of titles, I have so many images to post that it would be too time consuming to name each picture. I will try to indicate a general area but will ensure that each of the images in the forthcoming Monthly Feature is correctly named.
Please enjoy our trip to beautiful Crete…and don’t hesitate to visit yourself if the opportunity arises.  Mid-April is highly recommended. 

[ranunculus]

More from Chania...the plants will follow...

[ranunculus]

Chania again....for now...

[ranunculus]

We had been encouraged to visit two sites in Western Crete...one was for the orchid display at Spili (of which much more later) and the other was the Omalos plateau in the midst of the White Mountains. 
Our recent holidays to California and Florida had, in part, been badly affected by the droughts prevalent in each of those States thereby limiting the range and quantity of plants that we saw and, unfortunately, the Omalos had been similarly affected to a limited degree.  Instead of the anticipated drifts of anemones, tulips and arums we were searching for plants in these beautiful high pastures... 

[ranunculus]

The Omalos plateau...and random images captured on the northern coast of the island...

[ranunculus]

More images from the coast of this lovely island....


MORE TO FOLLOW WHEN TIME AND TIDE ALLOW

[Maggi Young]

Cliff, you have closed this set of postings with a photo which brings me a fond memory and reminder of my MOST FAVOURITE fragrance...orange blossom! We had the good fortune to live opposite a huge citrus grove in Tripoli, Libya, and this heady fragrance filled the air and made my life an absolute joy 
thank you!

[ranunculus]

Oh that we could have transported that wonderful aroma to Whitworth, Maggi?  The warm Cretan air was simply intoxicating!

[Joakim B]

Nice anemones?! Must be fun to see them grow wild.
Here they bloomed already in January in the pots but they did not look at helthy as the ones You show. Nice variation.
We where there in August so it was a bit different landscape. The only time we went to the mountains (more correctly hills)  around Chania we did it a cloudy day that became sunny and hot so my companion had great problems getting down. She was almost passing out. It gets warm and when the mountains sweet it is warm.

Thanks for sharing and hoping to see more (orchids) and others.

Thanks for posting.

My parents brought a orange tree home from Crete so they have it in there glassed out room (glassed veranda).
It has now company with several Portuguese trees as well.

Maggi when You first talked about the intoxicating smell of Citrus trees I did not get it since they start to flower in the winter but when it gets warm it is really a smell even if it is a nice smell. Now we have one balcony full of Citrus flowers that smells lovely.

One again thanks for taking us to Crete and good pics to enjoy as well

Kind regards
Joakim

[Martinr]

That very first picture, if it's what I think it is, is a long way from home!

[TC]

If what you think it is, is the Norfolk Island Pine, they seem to be endemic in the Greek Islands.  Many gardens in Corfu have them.
I have not been in Crete for 14 years so it was interesting seeing some current pictures.  The driving does not seem to have improved !!
I can remember a hard slog on the climb up to Gingelos in the Lefka Ori and seeing Anchusa Caespitosa growing beside the paths at the 2000 metre contour along with alpine forget-me-nots. On a scree slope, just on the snow line, we found crocus sieberi  The bird life included Alpine Choughs, Alpine Accentors and a glimpse of a Lammergeier vulture.  My main passion at this time was photographing bee orchids and we found one of the best spots was off the Spili / Gerikari road, which had just been built.
I managed to slip on one of the mountain paths, take a lump out of my shin and cracking two ribs.  As Cindy cannot drive, I then had to walk a mile to the car, leaving a trail of blood, and then drive myself to the hospital in Rethymnon 14 miles away.  I waited in accident and emergency for half an hour being stared at by the local crones in black only to discover that I was in the gynaecological clinic !!
 Exit stage left looking sheepish.  They fixed me up and it did not spoil the rest of the holiday, although it slowed me down a little.

I look forward to the rest of the pictures.

[David Nicholson]

Lovely pictures Cliff that brought back memories of our holiday on Crete some years ago. We stayed in Rethymnon but I fell in love with Chania. I share your views on Creten's driving talents-it was my first experience of driving abroad, and according to Maureen, who didn't enjoy it at all, it was my last. She particularly didn't enjoy the vision, through the rear view mirror, of the enraged Creten whose motor cycle handlebars I had clipped whilst he was parking it!

Lovely Island though, and apart from said motor cyclist, lovely people.

[Lvandelft]

After I manage to go to the Dolomites, I'll have to book right away for Crete.
Beautiful pictures, Cliff and very interesting to read your story and those of the other Forumists.
Thanks for showing us your pictures.

[mark smyth]

Cliff do you know the names of the plants?

[ranunculus]

I could probably name most of them Mark (are there any in particular that you would like to know), but, as there are still well over a hundred images to post from Spili alone, I would prefer to name them correctly in the Monthly Feature article that will follow when time allows?
Many thanks for all the positive responses.
Will try to post the orchids and tulips at the weekend....though there may be a few images from East Cheshire AGS Show as well...!