ZEBRA: Not seen any in Crete yet.

YIANNIS: Seems to be the most popular male name.  See also Names. YOGHOURT (of the Greek variety): Gorgeous. Try it with the honey.

XANIA / HANIA / CHANIA: Nearest city. Pleasant enough but gets hot in summer. Easy to reach by bus. If you drive into it be careful about parking on the road – check for time limits. We got a parking ticket one Friday evening, the local Brits told me to ignore it. Chania has stunning [...]

WASHING MACHINE: In our villa, the water taps that serve the washing machine are under the sink. The machine may struggle when the water pressure is low. WATER: Is a valuable resource in Crete!

VERY HOT: Be sensible in the sun. Slip, slap, slop, flip, flop, flap, clip, clop and clap.

UTILITIES: Will occasionally break down. There are great swathes of rubber tubing and wires littering the countryside so occasionally someone cuts or drives over something. The water pressure will drop regularly (the villa is on a mountain that only recently discovered the joys of electricity, remember).

TELESCOPE: Our villa is equipped with a telescope – and is our pride and joy. Please feel free to use it but please use with respect as it is not a toy. See the instructions, but basically: Put in lens Switch on red spot scope (on side) and align with object (moon is clearly easiest) [...]

SECURITY: It is very safe in Crete. However, we find it difficult to relax over such matters and on going out we tend to place valuables in the villa bedroom which has in interior door key. The exterior gate should also be locked. SHOPPING: For tourist shops (with tourist prices) try theplaces along the coast [...]

RAKI: Found in plastic bottles with the word written with felt tip pen in local stores (3 Euros or so). Usually produced with the bill at the end of a meal in a Taverna. On other occasions used rather like tea by the locals and offered as hospitality (see Customs). Made locally by distilling the [...]

QUIET: Isn’t it? Enjoy