Tag: Crete
Spinalónga, Lasithi, Greece
In 2005 novelist Victoria Hislop published a book called 'The Island'. The book was inspired by the dramatic stories of a family that had strong ties with the Spinalonga island during the operation of the leper hospital. A well written book that gives insights on the life within the leper colony but also the perception of healthy people at the time. The book tells stories of love, separation, pain and happiness in a vivid and touching way that will absorb any reader. I can't think a better book to read at the beach for someone having its vacations on Crete. The book was translated in several languages and sold more than a million copies
Spinalónga, Lasithi, Greece
The last inhabitant left Spinalonga in 1962. He was the father Chrisanthos a priest of the Greek Orthodox Church who spent 5 years more on Spinalonga after its abandonment to maintain the religious tradition to memorialize buried people at 3 and 5 years after their deaths. Father Chrisanthos was not a leper and never got ill from the disease during the years he spent on the island. He became a legend for the people of Spinalonga when he decided to drink last from the holy communion (this is what a priest is supposed to do) and not throw the communion away as his predecessor did before him.
Elounda Port
The first treatment for leprosy was introduced in the 1940s but it took 10 more years for a more effective drug against the Hansen disease. In 1957 Spinalonga's leprosy hospital was decided to terminate operation. The cured patients, were allowed to return to their families while some more severe cases were transferred to other hospital in Athens to continue treatment.
Spinalónga, Lasithi, Greece
Leprosy perhaps is one of the oldest documented human diseases and references can be found in texts written thousands years ago. The disease leaves marks on the skin mostly on limps and face that give a terrifying look to people infected. For this reason, lepers were treated as unclean and became outcasts of the society. The biblical perception of leprosy was that people infected were punished by the god for their sins. Today, we know that the disease is curable, is caused by bacteria and most of people are immune to it.
Spinalónga, Lasithi, Greece
Life on Spinalonga was far from being easy. Many times the leper patients on the island had to uprise in order to gain some basic benefits for their survival. In 1936 the 21 years old leper Epaminondas Remountakis, a law student from Crete was brought to the island. He was a very active man with strong will who was able to organize the lepers and create the 'Brotherhood of Spinalonga Patients". Very soon he managed to find lime to paint and decontaminate the houses of Spinalonga, while he fought to find and bring to the island an electricity generator to light up the streets during night.
Monastery of St. George Selinari
The monastery of Saint George at Selinari is located on the national road connecting Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos. Cretans believe that it is bad luck to pass by this monastery and don't pay a visit. This conception probably emerged as the monastery was the only inhabited place that could offer rest and cool water to travelers back in the old days before highways were built. There is also a popular Cretan song saying that "When you are passing by Malia, on your way to Selinari, light up a candle for the grace of Saint George"
Knossós, Iraklion, Greece
When Daedalus was ordered by King Minos to build the great labyrinth to keep inside the Minotaur (the half bull half man creature) he was not aware that the plan of Minos was to shut him up in a tower to prevent the path of the labyrinth to be spread to the public. Daedalus, which was a great craftsman, created artificial wings for himself and his son Icarus, also prisoner in the tower. The wings were made by feathers and strings while they were glued together using wax. Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too high because the heat from the sun will melt the wax and destroy the wings. Icarus, which was a young boy, amazed by the ability to fly, soon forgot the warnings of his father and flew higher and higher until the feathers came of. Daedalus who saw his son to be drawned in the aegean sea named the nearest island, Icaria in memory of his child.
Réthimnon, Greece
The old town of Rethimno, is the best preserved old town of Crete. It was build by Venetian and locals today inhabit the same structures built at that era. Walking around the narrow alleys of old town is a great experience as at the same time you can visit the local souvenir shops, eat in beautiful decorated taverns and have a chance to pick a look inside local people homes and yards through the open windows and doors
