*Warning: Some images may be disturbing to your sense of place, causing severe travel obsession and unrelenting cravings for Greece. Early morning harbor in Chania Three weeks back on the island that was my home for five years wasn't enough time for me. This visit to Crete was truly a vacation in the sense that …
Category: The good life
Get into the e-bike game – No shame
Years ago, my husband and I were cruising on our rental bikes along the Neckar River in Germany enjoying a relatively easy ride from town to town over the course of a week. Most of the other riders on our scenic route were on traditional bikes as well, but once in a while an E-bike …
Apologies from a homebound wanderer
Where did this year go?? Between slogging through my own grief of the loss of my son in November and the new territory of a Covid-defined world, I honestly haven't had the creative motivation to sit down and write again. Every day I look at this sweet collage art hanging on my wall that my …
My Big Fat Greek Book Tour
My book, Uniquely Crete, has arrived on the island with us in its wake. We literally hit the ground running beginning my book tour in jolly ol' England (more on that later), and finishing off in Crete. Each day has been filled with the joys and trials so typical of this Greek island. All in …
Why is summer so captivating on Crete?
I can't tell you how excited I am to start my book tour next week. I wish I could say it is all about getting exposure for my book baby that was "born" on April 30th (official book release date), and certainly that's part of it. We will start with a stop in Norwich, …
Lots of Cats, but no Easter Bunny on Crete
As we wrap up our Easter celebrations here in the States, Greeks all over the world are in the thick of Holy Week that climaxes on April 28 - Orthodox Easter simply known as Pascha (Passover) - the most sacred event for all of Greece. The typical Greek Orthodox family holds tradition very closely, and Holy Week …
Must-see south coast destination on Crete
Crete is a captivating and sometimes chaotic Greek island full of wackiness and wonder. A part of Greece, yet apart from Greece. Knit together by family, food and faith, this Mediterranean island stands on its own with its feet firmly planted in a culture that has evolved over 5000 years. In the five years of …
A peek inside a Cretan sanctuary
(The following is an excerpt from my book, Uniquely Crete: Life Redefined on a Greek Island. Available now for preorder now on Amazon) I’m sitting in a shady spot on a stone wall in the Agia Triada monastery courtyard on a divine spring morning. After the short easy 15 minute bike ride to this peaceful …
Living in the eye of the storm
From what I hear (and see in photos) of winter in Crete this year, I'm happy to be in snowy Colorado rather than in the Mediterranean. Violent storms have ripped through Crete and left devastation in various ways across the island. When we lived on Crete, I remember the wild winter weather complete with sideways …
Remedy for a Bad Day (or How to turn it around)
No HYGGE? Just say, "PYT!" Last month I wrote a blogpost about the Danish concept of "Hygge" and how its blood pressure reducing effects can be achieved anywhere. (HYGGE YOURSELF - January 29) Basically, we need to learn what it means to seriously "chill." But sometimes our best laid plans to hygge just don't pan …
Continue reading Remedy for a Bad Day (or How to turn it around)
Melanie A Crane 