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Island of Crete
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The Mourtzanakis Residence, at Achlada, on the Island of Crete, = is most=20 certainly a place where they would choose to live should they come = back. It's the perfect destination for aficionados of history, = nature,=20 simplicity, tranquillity and the healthy life. No doubt, you want = to know=20 why. The Mourtzanakis family history in Crete dates back to 961 A.D. = The=20 residence is set amidst medieval surroundings of historical = villages,=20 ruins and convents. Should you attend one of the conferences = offered on=20 the history of the island, you will be reminded of the mythic King = Minos=20 and legendary creatures such as the Minotaur. From the Mourtzanakis Residence, you'll enjoy a breathtaking = view of=20 the Cretan Sea, the surrounding mountains and the village of = Achlada. Your ecotourism activities should include a visit to a few of = Crete's=20 3,000 known caves. They are examples of nature's ability to create = exceptional settings and some of them are said to have sheltered = the gods,=20 such as the Diktaian Cave, known as the birthplace of Zeus. Agrotourism activities should also be on your agenda, including = visits=20 to centres where the famous organic olive oil and raki, Crete's = national=20 spirit, are produced. If you just want to relax and enjoy the sun and the sea, you = can walk=20 or drive to one of the four nearby beaches. You can even choose = one of the=20 naturist beaches that Crete offers. Heraklion, the capital, is a 20-minute drive from the = residence. This=20 is where you will land on the island when you fly or sail to = Crete. Crete is the largest of the Greek islands. It therefore offers = a=20 diversity of scenery: mountains, some with snowy tops, believe it = or not;=20 hills planted with thousands of olive trees; and plateaus, such as = the=20 Lassithi Plateau at an altitude of 900 metres, where 7,000 = windmills were=20 built to irrigate orchards of apple and pear trees. Also worth seeing is Lake Kournas, the island's only freshwater = lake,=20 whose colour changes depending on the temperature and the = light. As you can see, there is a lot to discover and to enjoy on the = Island=20 of Crete. Ten years of scientific research has proven the virtues of the = Cretan=20 diet, also known as the "Mediterranean diet." The = island is=20 known to be the place on earth where you can find the greatest = number of=20 old people in good health. Moreover, statistics show that Crete = records=20 nine cases of coronary illness per 100,000 people, whereas in the = United=20 States the proportion is 424 for every 100,000. The secret is the olive oil that Cretans use in abundance. As a = matter=20 of fact, each Cretan consumes 30 litres a year, often in salads = made=20 mostly of indigenous plants, such as purslane, or with snails that = store=20 many oligo elements found in the Cretan soil. In short, a holiday in Crete can be a source of many benefits = for body=20 and mind alike. Especially if you bring back some of its famous olive oil! |
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