rapec
Age: 2023
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Malta,A bicycle trip to Minotaur’s palace Articles Rhodes Island, Sicily, Crete& They are united not only by the Mediterranean sea, but also by tourists, who are ready to say goodbye to the big land and get acquainted with the smaller one. Island vacations will make you perceive space and time in a different way. Even if there are only several kilometers from the island to the mainland, you cant surmount this way on feet or by bicycle. That is why travelers prefer to spend their time observing the island. Such isolation is the reason why travelers concentrate on one thing only. For instance, on diving or windsurfing. Or the Antique ruins.
A talk about Crete may be compared to the erudition exam. Historians associate this island with the ancient Mycenaean civilization which appeared about three thousand years BC, or with the bronze age (at the same time, any professional will specify that when we talk about Crete we should call it a Minoan civilization, as king Minos once ruled here). Bibliophiles who read lots of Greek myths are likely to remember that Zeus was born here, and bull-headed Minotaur lived in the labyrinth. Archeologists will honour Sir Arthur Evans, without whom we would never know about the Minoan civilization.
However, it would be wrong to say that the most interesting period of Cretes life was left far behind. Its present is really fascination as well. One of the best ways to get familiarized with this present is to get here, hire a car or a bike, get a good and detailed map and a guide book, and start you trip.
You might ask: What has a bicycle to do with Crete observations? This is all very simple. The advantages of a bicycle when getting acquainted with the island (as well as its disadvantages, especially if we compare it with a car), are obvious. Bicycle rental centers are not as widespread as car hire. Still, there are some. But there is even a better variant! Some Crete travel companies offer bicycle tours of different levels. The first and the easiest level is, for example, a 38-kilometre descent down the Psiloritis mountain or a programme that starts with a visit to the Monastery of Arkadi and a further trip around the picturesque suburbs of Rethymnon and Adele, during which you will visit the Agreko farm.
The second level is more difficult. It may start in Arsani, then you will climb the Gargani hill (700 meters along the graveled paths with a bicycle in your armpit), and further make a difficult descent to the Amari Valley. After you cross the river (dont forget that youre still carrying a bicycle with you), you again will have to climb 450 meters high, and will then overcome hummocks, pits and bumps when descending to Rethymno. Despite differences in expenses, these two programmes cost almost the same amount. In addition to bike, you will be provided with a helmet, a lock, a pump and a map. They can also provide you with a saddle for you child.
If you were not planning to spend your vacations in such an active way, you can use a bike for other purposes for instance drive to Knossos excavations. Knossos is located 5 km east of Heraklion. It was here that in 1900 BC a famous labyrinth palace was built. Its corridors are so tangled that once you come in, you wont get out. According to the legend, this palace was the masterpiece of Daedalus. Here Minos kept his wifes (Pasiphae) son, who was a terrible beast with mans body and head of a bull. In theory, every schoolchild should know what it ended with. But Crete children have got more reasons to know this story: they can not only hear it on their lessons, but also see the site (with the throne and a sepulchre) after school.
If you liked the palace of Knossos, there are two other objects that you are advised to visit. Those are the Palaces of Malia and Festos. Each of them was the centre for a settlement. Radamanthis, brother of king Minos, once owned the palace of Festos (Phaistos) and in contrast to Knossos, it was never reconstructed. That is why you can not only walk around here, but also free your imagination. As for Mallia, many exhibits of the Heraklion museum were found in this palace. There must be something left there!
