Which restaurants, cafes and bars do we recommend?

Bougatsa Iordanis (a cheese pie called Bougatsa, this is ALL they sell, and it's a MUST. Morning and early lunch only. Tell them you want it sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon. No one should leave the island without trying it)

Phyllo (breakfast and brunch)

Kouzina EPE (lunch only, traditional fare, in the Splanzia neighborhood of the Old City)

Gyros and Souvlaki

ANY Gyro you cross paths with will be good. In Greece a Souvlaki is a kabob and a Gyro is meat from a spit sliced in pita bread )

Oasis (Nick's favorite gyro)

Thraka Souvlaki (another favorite)

Portes (in Nea Xora, a favorite restaurant, excellent Cretan fusion. On the harbor, which is pretty at lunch. Ask for Zach and tell him I sent you)

Salis (Greek fusion, on the water, known for its wines)

Pulse (Vegan/Vegetarian. Tell Suzanne or her son Nick sent you. She's a gifted chef)

Chalkina (Cretan food with live music. Frequented by locals and on the water. Terrific food - one of our favorites)

Ginger (contemporary, in a lovely courtyard that's away from fuss)

Tamam (in the oldest part of the Old Town, a former Venetian bathhouse)

Chrisostomos (award winning traditional Cretan cuisine; all of their products come from Sfakia, a region known for its food)

The well of the Turk (Middle Eastern fare)

Pallas (loud at night, great cocktails, frequented by locals; not skewed toward Cretan food but has a really nice view of the lighthouse from the second floor and roof garden)

Leventis Taverna (award winning authentic Cretan cuisine, in Stalos - overlooks a beautiful valley; lovely for lunch)

Thalassino Ageri (highly recommended for seafood and fish, on the water in Halepa, aim for sunset; call to book a table: +30 if dialing from an American phone, then 28210 51136)

Daliani Streetvin the old town has many good restaurants - all frequented by locals, including the following two:

Mesogiako restaurant (mediterranean fusion)

Throumbi sti Ladokola (for meat lovers. Have the fries as well)

In the Kalathas/Stavros area:

Irene Tavern (traditional Cretan fare) https://www.irenerestaurant.gr/el/?fbclid=IwAR3f_2fz3d5YgqDkbtP989z8Pro0x_Q7DsnxYuDjyAiST9fI2iR4RMeUmcE

Almyriki Restaurant (good seafood and Cretan fusion, in Stavros)

In the Platanias area:

Mylos tou Kerata

In the Falassarna area:

Captain Nikolas

Taverna Mouraki

In the Balos / Gramboussa area

Gramboussa Restaurant, Kaliviani

In the Paleochora area:

Old Schoolhouse Taverna / To Sxoleio

Bars / Cocktails

Fagoto Jazz Bar

The Monasteri of Karolos (on Daliani Street - amazing inner courtyard)

Sinagogi Cocktail Bar (in the oldest part of the old city)

Boheme (good for a midday coffee break in the shade)

Coffee and desserts

Koukouvagia (incredible view, get there early if you want to see the sunset, coffee/desserts/meals)

Carte Postale (next to Koukouvagia. Again, incredible view, get there early if you want to see the sunset.. Good for coffee/desserts/meals.

Istioploikos Sea Lounge (coffee/desserts/ cocktails/ meals with separate vegan menu)

About the Greek Orthodox Wedding Ceremony

The Orthodox wedding ceremony, which tends to be on the longer side, is full of ancient symbolism, and, primarily, two parts: the Service of Betrothal and the Service of the Crowning.

The Betrothal: exchanging of rings

The priest blesses the rings three times, signifying the Holy Trinity (God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, (most of the rituals in the sacrament are done three times) and places them on the right-hand fingers (the right hand represents virtue) of the groom and bride.

The Koumbaro(a), an Orthodox Christian wedding sponsor that guides the couple throughout their marriage, equivalent to the best man and matron of honor, then exchanges the rings between the couple three times, signifying that their two lives are intertwined. The wedding service begins with the Lighting of the Candles (lambathes) and the Joining of Hands. The right hands of the groom and bride are joined to unify them into one mind and body and they will remain joined throughout the service.

The Crowning

A single ribbon attaches two crowns, called Stefana, together. When the priest places them on the couple's heads, they are crowned by God as king and queen of their home and founders of a new generation. The crowns are exchanged on their heads three times by the Koumbaro(a).

The Common Cup

In remembrance of the miracle at Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine, the groom and bride will take 3 sips each of blessed wine from the same cup or goblet. This act represents a shared life, a doubling of their happiness and halving their sorrows.

The Dance of Isaiah

The priest leads the couple in a ceremonial walk called the Dance of Isaiah. The Koumbaro(a) shows their support for the couple by following closely behind, holding the ribbon that joins the Stefana (crowns). This "dance" celebrates the first steps as wife and husband.

The priest removes the crowns and asks God for the couple to have a long and happy life. He then brings the Holy Gospel down between the couple's clasped hands as a reminder that only God can separate them from one another. A first kiss is not part of the Orthodox ceremony, however, the priest will usually allow for this expression of love.

For wedding favors, the bride and her bridesmaids always wrap an odd number of koufeta in netting or bonbonnieres. Koufeta are white sugar-coated almonds (Jordan Almonds). The white symbolizes purity and the egg shape represents fertility and new life. The hard almond is a symbol of the endurance of marriage and the sugarcoating is a promise of a sweet life together. The odd numbers are indivisible, so it symbolizes that the couple will remain undivided.

About the Greek Orthodox Baptism Ceremony

The Orthodox Baptism service is ancient and also filled with symbolism. It comprises two Sacraments: Baptism and Chrismation.

The Sacrament of Baptism

The child being Christened is placed in the arms of the Godmother (Nona) or Godfather (Nono) at the entrance to the church. The priest blows on the child’s head three times and makes the sign of the Cross to drive away evil spirits. He then places his hands onto the child’s head, which symbolizes taking possession of him/her in the name of the Holy Trinity. Three Exorcisms follow, at the end of which the Priest asks God to drive out any evil and impure spirit and make the child an honorable member of the Church. The Godparent then faces west (which symbolizes darkness) and renounces Satan and all his works, and then blows down upon Satan. He/she then faces east and pledges their allegiance to Christ while reciting the Creed, the Symbol of Faith (the Pistevo Prayer) which is a summary of the Orthodox Teachings.

The Priest then enters the church and prays for the Holy Spirit to come down and bless the water in the Font (a tub or Kolimbithra) and make it an instrument of salvation. The Godparent offers a small bottle of olive oil over which a prayer for the renewal of soul and body and the banishment of evil is read.

In the meantime, the child will have been taken aside and undressed and he/she is wrapped in a large white towel. The priest then anoints the child with blessed oil on the forehead, nose, ears, mouth, chest, legs, feet, hands and back. The child is then immersed in the Font three times, which represents the three days that Lord Jesus Christ spent in the tomb. As the child sinks into the water, the priest announces his/her name together with the name of the Trinity. The child is now recognized as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. The godparent then receives the child and wraps them in a white cloth.

The Sacrament of Chrismation

The child will be Chrismated (known as Confirmation in Western Churches) by the priest forming the sign of the Cross with Holy Myrrh on the same parts of the body where he/she was earlier anointed with oil. With Chrismation, the Holy Spirit envelopes the child and provides him/her with an armor of faith to enable him to live as a Greek Orthodox Christian.

Following Chrismation, the Priest will cut some of the child’s hair crosswise and drop it into the Font to signify his/her allegiance to Christ in mind, soul and now body. This is traditionally the child’s first ever haircut. The Priest blesses the child as well as a “garment of righteousness” which he/she will be dressed in - usually new white clothing provided by the Godparent(s). A cross, also provided by the Godparent(s), is placed around the child’s neck as a symbol of protection. The Godparent will light a large candle (lambatha) and be led three times around the Baptismal Font. This is an act of rejoicing with the angels in heaven and all those present, at the addition of the child as a member of the Church.

Lastly, the mother will be called to thank Christ for the great blessing of rendering her child a member of His Church. She kisses the Godparent’s hand(s) as a sign of respect and gratitude for having assumed the responsibility of assisting in the spiritual development of the child throughout his/her life as a member of the Church. All present will wish the parents "Na sas zisi" which means "Life to him/her". Candied almonds are offered and a celebration follows.

The child will not be bathed for 3 days after the ceremony. The water used for the first bath will not be discarded as it contains holy/blessed oil and is used to water flowers/plants or emptied into a river or the sea. The child will receive Holy Communion for the next three Sundays following Baptism.