Eastern Crete September 1999 (Stalis, Hotel Heliotrope)

In september 1999 we spend our holidays on Crete, exactly in Stalis (Stalida), a small town at the northern coast approximately on half the track from Iraklio to Agios Nikolaos. It is located on a narrow coastline, about 1 km behind coast the mountains begin. From one end of the town to the other you walk about 20 minutes (coast) or 3 minutes (coast away). But there are no determined borders, in the west Chersonissos and in the east Malia are bounding the town.
You can find many tavernas and shops there, most open until 4 o'clock in the morning. Usually there is a Siesta between 14 and 16:30. Some tavernas and shops regulary open first in the afternoon. We haven't found a disco.

Trips:

Agios Nikolaos:

- Town with about 6000 inhabitants (without tourists)
- narrow lanes with many small shops.
- full of tourists - don't search for typical Crete here
- save money: go by bus

Heraklion (Iraklio):

- City with about 110.000 inhabitants
- many shops
- ugly big town
- historical interesting: Venezian Castell, archaeological museum

Chrissi:

- island south of Crete with "Golden Beach"
- go by ferry from Ierapetra (about 1 h)
- the best beach is in the north of the island, the "harbour" is located in the south - about 10 minutes to walk
- super beach with undisturbt areas
- stones in water - not pleasant but not painful
- you have to visit it!

Cretian evening:

- evening busjourney to a village in the mountains
- at first there is "market", means the inhabitants try to sell goods
- Cretian program with dancing and singing
- wine as much as you want (attention, you have to find your bus afterwards!)

Chersonissos:

- there you can see how fine it is in Stalis: full beach (even the rocks are used)
- one jewelry next to the other
- not so good for shopping

Dining:

Many tavernas, also a Crepes-stall on the beachpromenade (open 12:00 - 4:00 in the morning). We recommend the blue taverna at the beach in the west of the town (to Chersonissos).

Exchange:

There is no bank or post office with exchange (at the beach they only sell stamps). The next EC-automat is in Chersonissos on main street.

Busses/Traffic:

Town busses are cheap. Don't rely on the schedule, +- 15 minutes are usual. But there drives a bus every 15 minutes, so this is no problem.
Helmets are only worn by tourists.

Beach:

long, well filled sandbeach (but no problem in getting a place).

Hotel:

We were lodged in Hotel Heliotrope, which is located at the mountain about 10 minutes away from the beach. The rooms are spartanic - no radio, air-condition or refrigerator. The food was very continental, more escalope than Souflaki or Gyros.

Summary: