Rules: The below rules apply to all flights, no matter the airline DO NOT SMOKE CIGARETTES, HEATED TOBACCO OR VAPE!!! This is considered a criminal offense as the smoke detectors can shut down the engines. Any smoke in the cabin is considered a threat to the passengers’ safety and the pilots must perform emergency landing.… Read More First time flying, part four – on the plane
If you have never been at an airport beyond check-in desks or arrivals/departure halls, here are some rules and steps to follow. Steps: Be very careful from which airport or terminal you will depart. Major cities and capitals have more than one airport (e.g. London has 6 major airports – City, Southend, Gatwick, Luton, Stanstead… Read More First time flying, part three – at the airport
Following 9/11 and a threat at Heathrow Airport, security controls at airports became more strict and an international convention has been adopted in terms of prohibited items. Remember that NOT the airline is checking your hand luggage, but the airport security. Therefore, questions such as: “I am flying to X city with Y airline, am… Read More First time flying, part two – prohibited and allowed items
If you are flying for the first time in your life (either solo or joined by someone in your situation) then you are in the right place 😊 We’ve all been there … fear of the unknown, anxiety, feeling lost at the airport, going through security checks, etc. I hope this helps you overcome your… Read More First time flying, part one – about planes and airlines
European Union (EU) vs Schengen Zone (or simply Schengen) For anyone outside of Europe, these two terms are either overlapped or confused. Let me explain shortly what they mean and how to distinguish them. Although they might sound familiar at a first glance and Schengen Zone overlaps EU territory, both involve free movement between its… Read More European Union (EU) vs Schengen Area
28th of October or Όχι day is celebrated all over Greece, in Cyprus (the southern part) and all over the world, especially in countries with very large Greek communities (U.S. and Australia for example). This day is the second national day of Greece, after 25th of March (Independence day). On 28th of October 1940, around… Read More 28th of October – The day of the big “No” – Ημέρα του όχι
Although kind of sheltered from natural disasters, such as Medicanes (hurricanes that form in the Mediterranean Sea), massive wildfires or floodings, Crete is prone to earthquakes ☹. I am from a country with seismic activity and my city is experiencing earthquakes up to 5 degrees on Richter scale quite often. Ten years before I was… Read More Shaky, shaky – a small guide of earthquakes
As my previous blog had a contact form and also a Facebook and Instagram account, I was often asked: what other islands can I visit from Crete? Of course, I also get to know who failed geography lessons or who never had the curiosity to write Greece or Crete on Google maps 😊. That’s because… Read More What islands or regions you can visit from Crete
As I mentioned in my previous post about getting to Crete by ferry, not all people get there by plane. There are many tourists that go by car, especially those that cannot fly for certain reasons or stay more than a week on the island. Also, those that stay in Crete over the winter or digital nomads… Read More Getting to Crete by car
Bali (Μπαλί in Greek, with emphasis on the last syllable) is a popular tourist destination in Crete. What was once a quiet fishing village is now a bustling tourist area, filled with hotels, tavernas and villas. It is located approx. 50 mins drive from Heraklion, mid-way to Rethymno. Its calm and shallow waters, as it… Read More Bali – the Cretan fishing village turned into popular tourist destination
