(Slightly modified lyrics to Hotel California by The Eagles)

On a dark Cretan highway, Cool wind in my hair,
Warm smell of the Gyros, Rising up through the air.
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light,
My head was heavy and my sight grew dim, I had to stop for the night.
Anna stood in the doorway, I heard the big Church bell
and I was thinking to myself, this could be Heaven, or this could be Hell.
Then she lit up the Candle, and showed me the way.
There were voices down the corridor, thought I heard them say?

Welcome to the Hotel Epsilon,
Such a Lovely place, Such an ugly face.
Plenty of room at the Hotel Epsilon.
Any time of year, you can find us here.

Michaelis definitely twisted, Fly’s got the Mercedes – Benz,
Richards got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that he calls friends.
Now they dance in the courtyard, PHEW Summer sweat,
Some drink to remember, some drink to forget.

{ chorus }

So I bashed the Air – Conditioner, to turn off the whine.
Theo said, We haven’t had that serviced, since nineteen sixty – nine!.
And still those voices are calling from Safari bar,
We threw up in the middle of the night, then we heard them say …

Welcome to the Hotel Epsilon,
Such a Lovely place, Such an ugly face.
Living it up at at the Hotel Epsilon.
What a nice surprise, We’re your Alibi.

Mirrors on the Walls, real shots with no Ice.
And Jimmy said, We are all just prisoners here, of our own device!
And in Michaelis chambers, they gathered to get Raki’d.
They take it with their Nuts and Crisps, And they end up fully Mallackered!
Last thing I remember, I was stumbling for the door.
I had to find the passage back, to the bar I was before.
Relax said Michaelis, We are programmed to receive.
You can check out any time you like, But you can NEVER LEAVE.

Original lyrics by The Eagles, 1976
Adapted for Epsilon Bar by Karen, Christina & Stevie D.

www.epsilonbar.gr

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Milos Studios are in a quieter area on the outskirts of Malia, 100 metres up a track, and surrounded by the attractive gardens. There is a beach within 500 metres whilst the nearest supermarket is about five minutes away and the lively resort centre is about a ten minute stroll from the Milos Studios. The Milos has its own swimming pool and pool bar serving snacks and drinks plus all the twin bedded studios (suitable for 2 or 3 people) have pool view.

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Situated between the Cretan resorts of Malia and Stalis lies the Diasselo Apartments; a small family run apartment complex with a homely, laid back atmosphere. Popular with couples seeking a peaceful hideaway, the Diasselo Apartments resides in a quiet location, set back from the beach road, with both the beach and the resort centre within easy walking distance. Although the accommodation available at this Malia holiday complex is quite suitable for self catering purposes, if you fancy a night off from the kitchen there’s a good selection of restaurants right on your doorstep and Malia town offers a further choice of themed eateries and bars – especially in the cobbled backstreets of Malia Old Town.

Studios and apartments offered at the Diasselo are decorated in neutral colours, giving a light and airy feel to the rooms. Well appointed inside with modern amenities and fully equipped kitchenettes, these apartments provide an ideal base for those visitors wanting to explore the local area.

Outside within the grounds of this cosy complex, residents will discover a decent sized swimming pool with its own furnished sun terrace and snack bar, making a peaceful alternative to the beach close by. Evening entertainment organised by the Diasselo Apartments includes quiz nights and a weekly barbeque but if you feel you need more action then take a leisurely stroll into Malia and check the lively bars found there.

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Sport Cafe Pool bar, Nice place to chill out before you go mad in Malia. Watch all the sports live on 3 big TV’s fresh Baguettes  Meals Grills & breakfast  served all day with Good Music and atmosphere, 2 mins walk from Malia main road. Hotel rooms are also available at vergas hotel

www.thesportcafe.com

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The dentistry is located at Oplarchigon str. 15 Malia.

Dr. Michail Vlachakis D.D.S. PhD & Dr. Rania Konstantoloulou D.D.S

We practice all branches of  dentistry

• Tooth Whitening
  Family dentistry
  Orthodontist
  implants
  Root canals fillings
  Cosmetics
  Prosthetics
  Digital panoramic X-ray

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Family-run Taverna  situated in the middle of the village Koutouloufari, under a canopy of old trees. The speciality here is lamb baked in a wood oven, there’s also stuffed vine leaves, lamb kleftiki and, of course, the incomparable Greek salad.

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There are one and two roomed apartments which can accommodate from one to four persons. All Rooms in Danelis Malia they are equipped with TV set and a aircondition and safe box.

Our deepest wish and desire is for you to have the time of your life in a really friendly and clean environment, which has literally became ‘home’ to most of our customers.

www.danelis-hotel.com

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Milatos village lies on the north east coast of Crete about 20 mins.west of Agios Nikolaos and about 45mins drive east of the city of Heraklion, all in the prefecture of Lassithi. Milatos is a quiet village with narrow streets and traditional houses. It has three main areas; one part along the shore with a few tavernas on the edge of the sea, these are connected by a short road to the traditional village. The 3^rd area is the historic Milatos caves.

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The Maria Rousse Studios are family run apartments, and a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. It is set back in a quiet location amidst lovely gardens. However, the lively resort of Malia with its fantastic selection of bars, shops, tavernas and clubs is within a short walking distance. The sandy beach of Malia is just 900 metres away. All the rooms are bright, clean, and fresh and all have deposit boxes.

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Krassi has a giant plane tree on its square that is proudly announced as the oldest in Crete.

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Argyroupoli (Greek: Αργυρούπολη) is a village in the municipality of Lappa, Rethymno Prefecture, Crete, Greece, population 402 (2001 census), altitude 260m. It was previously known as Lappa or Lampa, Stimboli, and Polis.

Argiroupoli is a village just southwest of the town of Rethymno. You take the road at the exit that says “Episkopi 2″ from the highway which runs between Chania and Rethymno, and then you follow the signs. The village is located in the hills and there are many remnants from Roman times to find, such as a port, floor mosaics and many tombs. In the neighborhood are also plenty of water valances and a monastery from the 10th century wall paintings from the 12th century.

In ancient times Argiroupoli was allready a city of significance. In Dorian times it was called Lappa. In the year 67 BC the city was destroyed by the Romans. Lappa supported Octavianus in his battle with Mark Antony and when Octavianus later became Emperor Augustus, he rewarded the city and helped to rebuild it. Lappa was then a flourishing city untill the 9th century AD when it was destroyed by the Saracens. The city was rebuilt and the name changed to “Poli” (city). During the Turkish domination it was known as Gaidorpoli (Donkey City). In 1822 the village got its final name Argiroupoli.

Despite all the violence in and around the village, there are still a few things well preserved, like a Roman mosaic with 7000 stones and a Venetian gate. In the courtyard of the Agia Paraskevi chapel there are remnants from the Minoan times (one step). Northwest of the village are waterfalls and water sources and a church that is carved out in a rock (the Agia Dynamic church). Nearby are also the remains of a Roman aqueduct, Roman baths and watermills. Northeast of the village (follow the old path next to the local school) is an old Roman road leading along a large quantity of Roman tombs, a church that is carved out in a rock (the Church of the five virgins) and a thousand years old sycamore.

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The Municipality of Archanes is a semi-mountainous one, found in the south side of the municipality of Herakleion it occupies 7,965 acres and has a population of 4,548 residents. It is divided in two municipality districts:

Municipality District of Archanes, that includes the town of Archanes, which is the seat of the municipality, and two small villages, Bathypetro and Karnari.

The name of Archanes is only found once during the antiquity years in a sign of the 5th eon BC. It was found in the Peloponnesian town of Argos and it reports a treaty between Knosians and Tylissians. The root arch-, ach- of the name, is related to water. A lot of names belonging to rivers and lakes have this root. It is true that Archanes have abundant water and this is also the case for antiquity.

The 14th eon AD, sightseers report Archanes in combination with Zeus’ grave, that is located in Monte Jove, Giouchta. It is certain that between the 5th eon BC and the 13th eon AC the name of Archanes was replaced by the name of Knossos. Archanes was part of Knossos in both Greek and Roman years.

The name is not found until 1271 AD, where it is in a contract in Chandaka, as “CATO ARCHANO”. In another contract of 1280 AD it is found in the word “APANO ARHANO”. In 1577 AD two communities are reported, “ARCHANES PETREA” with 151 residents and “ARCHANES ABRAMOCORI” with 361 residents. Hence in the period of Venetian domination Archanes were two separate settlements. In the Egyptian inventory of 1834 AD the village of ARCHANES is reported with 160 Christian and 6 Turkish families. In 1881 AD Archanes is presented as a separate Municipality, the seat being in Archanes.

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The Samariá Gorge (Greek: Φαράγγι Σαμαριάς) is a national park on the island of Crete, and a major tourist attraction of the island.

The gorge is in the prefecture of Chania in southwest Crete. It was created by a small river running between the White Mountains (Lefká Óri) and Mt. Volakias. There are a number of other gorges in the White Mountains. While some say that the gorge is 18 km long, this distance refers to the distance between the settlement of Omalos on the northern side of the plateau and the village of Agia Roumeli. In fact, the gorge is 16 km long, starting at an altitude of 1,250m at the northern entrance, and ending at the shores of the Libyan Sea in Agia Roumeli. The walk through Samaria National Park is 13 km long, but you have to walk another three km to Agia Roumeli from the park exit, making the hike 16 km. The most famous part of the gorge is the stretch known as the Iron Gates, where the sides of the gorge close in to a width of only four meters and soar up to a height of 500 m.
Entrance to the Gorge

The gorge became a national park in 1962, particularly as a refuge for the rare kri-kri (Cretan goat), which is largely restricted to the park and an island just off the shore of Agia Marina. There are several other endemic species in the gorge and surrounding area, as well as many other species of flowers and birds.

The village of Samariá lies just inside the gorge. It was finally abandoned by the last remaining inhabitants in 1962 to make way for the park. The village and the gorge take their names from the village’s ancient church, Óssia María ["Saint Mary"].

A “must” for visitors to Crete is to complete the walk down the gorge from the Omalos plateau to Agia Roumeli on the Libyan Sea, at which point tourists sail to the nearby village of Hora Sfakion and catch a coach back to Chania. The walk takes 4-7 hours and can be strenuous, especially at the height of summer.

Local tourist operators provide organized tours to the Gorge. These include bus transportation from your hotel to the entrance (near Omalos village), and the bus will be waiting for you to disembark the ferry in Sfakia (Hora Sfakeon) to take you back. If you are on your own, you can make a one-day round trip from Chania (see below) or from Sogia or Paleochora. Note that the morning buses from Sogia and Paleochora do not operate on Sunday. The ferries leave Agia Roumeli to Chora Sfakeon (East-bound) and to Sogia/Paleochora (West-bound) at 18:00.

There also exists a “lazy way” – from Agia Roumeli to the Iron Gates (more or less an hour of non-challenging terrain) and back.

Information provided by the Chania Forest Protection Service

* Visits to the National park are allowed from May 1 to October 15.
* Park visiting hours are 07:00 to 15:00 daily. From 15:00 to sunset, visitors are allowed to walk a distance of only two km within the park, either from Xyloskalo or from Agia Roumeli.
* Within the park it is strictly prohibited to camp, stay overnight, light fires, or swim in the streams of the gorge.

How to visit from Chania
Upper entrance

* There are daily buses starting from Chania to the head of the gorge, called Xyloskalo. The buses, marked “OMALOS”, depart Chania Central Bus Station at 06:15, 07:30 and 08:30; the fare is €6.20
* The morning buses takes one hour. The gorge is 16 km (10 miles) long; you need five to six hours to walk it.
* The entrance fee is €5(no less money for childrens or students).
* There is plenty of drinking water all along the gorge. Sneakers or hiking boots are recommended.
* At the end of the gorge is Agia Roumeli, a village with restaurants and accommodation, and boats to Chora Sfakion or Sogia. To return the same day, take the 17:30 boat (fare: €7.50) to Chora Sfakion.
* From Chora Sfakion, buses return to Chania (fare: €6.50), departing at 18:30; the bus always waits for the boat to arrive.
* Tickets for the two buses can be reserved at the ticket office at the Chania bus station. The ticket for the boat can be purchased in Agia Roumeli only .

* There are daily guided tours operated by various travel agencies, cost is usually around €40 (2008). Price include bus fare, which stops at visitor’s hotels. The cost does not include boat ticket and entrance fee, which is usually collected separately on the bus.

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Kristalli is a family run hotel situated in the picturesque neighborhoods of the old town of Malia. Far enough but yet within walking distance from all hot spots and places to be.

We wish to help you relax in our beautiful apartments,while letting your senses embrace the unique cretan nature, let go off of stress and anxiety and dive into an unforgetable holiday.

www.kristalli-hotel.com

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Chrissi (Golden) or Gaidhouronisi (Donkey Island) is an uninhabited island some twelve kilometers off the coast of the town of Ierapetra. It is five kilometers long and on average one kilometer wide. The island’s average height above sea level is ten meters; Kefala, the highest point of the island, is 31 meters above sea level. The island is renowned for its white beaches, sand dunes and forest of pines and junipers. The western tip of the island has some remains of past settlement: a few Minoan ruins and a 13th century chapel dedicated to Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicholas). It was inhabited into Byzantine times. The main sources of wealth were fishing, salt export, and the export of porphyra (Tyrian purple), a scarlet dye made from shells. After the Byzantine period the island was abandoned, although later it was used as a hideout.

Nowadays the island is protected as an “area of intense natural beauty”. Especially in summer, the island attracts many tourists. As camping is forbidden on the island, only day trips are possible. Ferries leave the quay at Ierapetra daily at 10 A.M. and return at 5 P.M. Visitors are not allowed to roam freely over the island, but only on designated paths and some beaches close to the eastern tip of the island. There is a small tavern at the ferry landing. 700 meters to the east of Chrissi lies the rocky islet of Mikronisi (Small Island).

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Phalasarna is an ancient Greek harbor town on the northwest coast of Crete. The currently visible remains of the city were built around 335 BCE and include several imposing sandstone towers and bastions, with hundreds of meters of fortification walls protecting the town and a closed harbor. The harbour is surrounded by quays with mooring stones, and connected to the sea through two artificial channels. There is also a small acropolis above the city, which predates most of the surviving ruins. Most of these structures were revealed by excavations that began in 1986 and are ongoing.
Round sandstone tower at military harbor of Phalasarna
Stone quay and mooring stones from military harbor of Phalasarna

Today Phalasarna is an agricultural area and tourist attraction. The valley is filled with olive groves and greenhouses cultivating tomatoes. The seaside has large sandy beaches and crystal clear waters that are popular both with residents of Chania and foreign visitors.

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