# Thimari Tales

> Where my heart beats


## Posts

- [The Folklore Museum in Chania](https://thimaritales.blog/the-folklore-museum-in-chania/): This small museum is situated right in the city centre, on Halidon Street. To enter it, you must first go into the inner courtyard, which is home not only to the museum but also to a Catholic church. A picturesque flight of stairs leads up to the museum. The museum itself is small, but the exhibits are interesting and provide a good insight into life in Crete in the 18th and 19th centuries. On the two floors of the historic house, you can see rooms recreating a traditional bedroom or kitchen, as well as everyday objects used for cooking, processing raw […]
- [I'm itching to get going!](https://thimaritales.blog/im-itching-to-get-going/): This post is for those who, after three days in one place, start to feel restless and can’t sit still. And think: where shall I go? I’m someone who craves experiences and sensations; I’m always on the lookout for something to stimulate my senses. A day on the beach isn’t for me – I’ll always choose a trip, a new place, or exploring unknown nooks and crannies. And although I love Chania dearly, whenever I have the chance and the time, I fire up my little car and set off to explore not just the immediate surroundings, but the whole of […]
- [Horse riding at Grillo’s Stable in Georgiopouli](https://thimaritales.blog/horse-riding-at-grillos-stable-in-georgiopouli/): If you’re looking for outdoor activities, love horses and are able to drive from Chania to the Georgiopouli area (a 45-minute drive), I highly recommend using the services of Grillo’s Stable. The place is run by Maggie and Giorgos, the incredibly friendly yet attentive and professional owners of the stable. The horses available for rides are Cretan horses (Messara horses), light, relatively small animals known for their stamina and comfortable trot. It is believed that the breed originated during the Ottoman era from a cross between local mountain ponies and Arabian horses. Grillo’s Stables offers several options, for both beginners and […]
- [Monastery of Agia Triada](https://thimaritales.blog/monastery-of-agia-triada/): One of the most appealing nearby excursions is a trip to the Agia Triada Monastery, located on the Akrotiri Peninsula. It is only a 30-minute drive from Chania, and the route largely follows the same path as the one to the airport. The drive itself is a real pleasure; a narrow strip of asphalt leading to the monastery is flanked by a row of whitewashed cypress trees, with vineyards and olive groves (including trees up to 500 years old) belonging to the monastery stretching out behind it. As you might guess, the monks are hard at work, reaping the benefits not […]
- [Why do I love winter in Crete?](https://thimaritales.blog/why-do-i-love-winter-in-crete/): First, let’s determine when winter begins and ends in Crete. According to the calendar, one could say that it begins on 22 December, but that is not entirely true. Winter begins when the crowds of tourists stop coming, that’s all. In Crete, this means the beginning or, at the latest, the middle of November. By the same token, spring begins in early March, although here the calendar loses out to the logic of the nature of the Mediterranean climate. Winter, or the low season, is a time of calm, peace and respite for the people on the island, but also a […]
- [Gates, doors, entryways, openings and rose windows](https://thimaritales.blog/gates-doors-entryways-windows-small-rose-windows/): Sometimes they allow us to peek inside, often strictly shielding what is private or secret. They speak of the status of the residents, their ups and downs. Some demand that we stop respectfully and use a knocker or bell, while others allow us to glance inside through a crack worn by time. Sometimes, half-open, they invite guests in. They show time, its passage, history, civilisational changes, and bear traces of wars, shootings and protests. Crete is full of wonderful stories, many of which can be admired or deciphered in its ancient portals, medieval monastery gates, ornate Venetian doors with arched lintels, […]
- [El Greco - the artist's road from Fodele to Toledo](https://thimaritales.blog/el-greco-the-artists-road-from-fodele-to-toledo/): In this post, I will tell you about an outstanding artist who was born in Crete, where he received his early education, before going on to become a respected and generously rewarded artist in his own time. Nearly forgotten for two centuries, suddenly, at the end of the XIX century he got rediscovered, diligently studied and admired again till our times. I am writing about Domenikos Theotokopoulos, known by the pseudonym El Greco. The artist was born in 1541 in Crete, near present-day Heraklion (then Candia), in the tiny village of Fodele. We must remember that at that time Crete was […]
- [Nistisimo - Greek-style fasting](https://thimaritales.blog/nistisimo-greek-style-fasting/): I believe that everyone has heard about Orthodox monasteries in Greece. The monastic cuisine is a culinary tradition naturally shaped by centuries of Orthodox Christian fasting, local agricultural practices, and in case of Crete abundant natural resources. Cretan monks cook with fresh vegetables, wild greens, legumes, and grains, all seasoned with local herbs like oregano, thyme, marjoram, and fennel. Agia Triada Monastery in Crete photo credit allincrete.com Both, the attitude and the practice is shared by plenty of the faithfull and as there are numerous days associated with religious holidays in Greece, many who wish to follow the recommendations of the church may and do fast or […]
- [A great patriotic holiday – the Anniversary of the No](https://thimaritales.blog/a-great-patriotic-holiday-the-anniversary-of-the-no/): The Second World War began for Greece not without warning, but suddenly. Shortly after 3 a.m. on 28 October 1940, Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas was harshly awakened by the envoy of Italian Ambassador Emanuele Grazzi. The Greek Prime Minister was presented with a written ultimatum. Italy, led by Benito Mussolini, together with the Axis powers, demanded access to strategic positions in Greece. Rejection of this condition would mean the start of war. Prime Minister Metaxas proudly replied to the ultimatum, ‘Alors, c’est la guerre!’, which means ‘Then we have war!’ in French. photo credit omilo.com However, in popular historical accounts, […]
- [Greek mezedes – dips](https://thimaritales.blog/greek-mezedes-dips/): The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Greek cuisine is the simplicity of the dishes, their freshness and the social aspect of eating, i.e. enjoying delicacies together and sharing them. In Greece, hardly anyone eats alone, and as proof of how deeply and long this has been rooted in the culture, there is a whole selection of tiny dishes, appetisers, or as the Greeks say – mezedes (from the singular meze), which we share while sitting at a common table. Meze(des) always occupy a large part of the menu in restaurants and taverns, and it often happens […]
- [Ntouroudous - a patisserie and breakfast spot](https://thimaritales.blog/nrouroudous/): Breakfast category. If you don’t want to limit yourself to a sweet or savoury pastry from a nearby bakery in the morning, head to Ntouroudous: a patisserie, breakfast spot and shop all in one. Ntouroudous is a large establishment consisting of shop counters beautifully displaying products, refrigerators, cash registers and a few bar stools on the ground floor, and a large number of tables for guests on the first floor. There are QR codes on the tables with access to the menu, and there are also many electrical sockets, which tourists will appreciate. The menu is extensive, ranging from Greek-style sweet […]
- [Reviews](https://thimaritales.blog/reviews/)
- [Diving in Chania](https://thimaritales.blog/diving-in-chania/): This is another attraction available in the city, aimed at young and old, beginners and certified divers alike. I have experience with one company, but I assume that others with good reviews operate similarly. My 11-and-a-half-year-old daughter had the opportunity to try diving with Blue Adventures Diving Centre, whose centre is located 300 metres from Thimari Gardens. The option we chose involved entering the water from the beach, not a boat. First, everyone taking a dip on that day underwent a short theoretical training session. I must admit that the information was conveyed efficiently and clearly, and my daughter had no […]
- [Imbros Gorge](https://thimaritales.blog/imbros-gorge/): If I had to choose an inviting gorge to start with, one that is not too demanding, not too long, offers plenty of excitement and is not too far from Chania, it would be Imbros Gorge. The gorge (Greek: Φαράγγι Ίμπρου, Faragi Imbrou) is an 11 km long canyon located near Hora Sfakion in southern Crete. It runs parallel to Samariá Gorge, its narrowest part is 1.60 m wide and it ends at the village of Kommitádes (8 km/ 650 m for hiking). It is a historical fact that The Imbros Gorge was used for the retreat of allied troops during […]
- [Milia – mountain retreat and restaurant](https://thimaritales.blog/milia-mountain-retreat-and-restaurant/): Milia is a secret known only to those in the know, but I will share it with you. To reach this magical place, nestled between mountains and gorges, you have to drive for over an hour from Chania, and the road winds like a snake, eventually turning into a dirt track. At the end of the journey, a unique place awaits us, beautiful in its simplicity and fidelity to tradition. Milia is now a tourist resort, but it is housed in beautifully restored cottages that were once part of a mountain settlement. The owners have put a lot of work into […]
- [Dolmadakia](https://thimaritales.blog/dolmadakia/): In fact, in every tavern, and certainly in a traditional Greek tavern, you will find dolmades (or dolmadakia, the diminutive form) among the starters. What is it? Of the dishes known to us Poles, it most resembles stuffed cabbage rolls, except that it has a vegan filling based on rice with onion, parsley and herbs, which is formed into neat oblong parcels using young grape leaves. Although the roots of this dish are Turkish, it is now considered typically Greek, served cold, lightly drizzled with olive oil, but I have also eaten it warm with yoghurt to break up the flavour. […]
- [The Snake Goddess](https://thimaritales.blog/the-snake-goddess/): The Snake Goddess is one of the most recognisable artefacts of the Minoan civilisation, dating back to around 1600 BC. The statuette, excavated at the Palace of Knossos by Sir Arthur Evans in 1903, was considered enigmatic and shrouded in mystery from the outset, and the explorer’s actions further confused the matter. Sir Evans, known for his rather free but creative approach to interpreting finds, actually excavated two figurines, not one. The better known one was incomplete, missing one arm and the head. The archaeologist decided that it would be reconstructed from other elements found at the excavation site. In his […]
- [Love at first sight](https://thimaritales.blog/love-at-first-sight/): I first set foot in Crete in 1995. We had so little money at the time that the small amount we had saved allowed us to escape from an uninteresting town near Heraklion for only two trips. One day by car, to the southern tip of the island, through the mountains, to Vai beach, and one day by scooter (oh my God!) to the caves carved into the rocks in Matala. Although we came back from the scooter trip soaked, because somehow it was raining in the summer, I also came back stunned by the beauty of this island. It was […]
- [Botanical Garden in Crete](https://thimaritales.blog/botanical-garden-in-crete/): It doesn’t take long to get there, just half an hour by car from Chania. The road itself is a feast for the eyes, with valleys and mountains and picturesque twists and turns in the asphalt. Eventually you arrive at an oasis, a place that offers respite, especially in summer – the Botanical Park and Gardens of Crete, located 20 kilometres south of the city. Twenty hectares of park and gardens are spectacularly spread out on the slopes and, even from a distance, encourage visitors to come and explore. We park, pay a few euros for admission, and the park is […]
- [Knossos – the treasure of Minoan culture](https://thimaritales.blog/knossos-the-treasure-of-minoan-culture/): Let me start from the end. Summer is not the best time to visit this place. It is hot, really hot, and you are exposed to the scorching sun, because most of what you want to see is located in open courtyards or terraces. But if you have no choice because you are on holiday in Crete in August and consider the Palace of Knossos a must-see (after all, it ranks second among the most visited archaeological sites in Greece, after the Acropolis), do it in the morning, right after opening, or an hour or an hour and a half before […]
- [Archaeological Museum in Chania](https://thimaritales.blog/archaeological-museum-in-chania/): We were assured that tickets to the museum could be easily purchased on site, so we set off leisurely from Thimari Gardens on a beautiful October day around 11 a.m. Leisurely and on foot. Google suggested that the walk would take 25 minutes and would run picturesquely along the coast, from Splantzia in the old town of Chania, eastwards towards the Halepa district, where the modern and eco-friendly new building of the Archaeological Museum is located. We were not disappointed. The coastal road winds along the high rocky shore and allows you to either see the magnificent Venetian gate of Chania […]
- [The olive tree, its fruit, oil and wood](https://thimaritales.blog/the-olive-tree-its-fruit-oil-and-wood/): The olive tree, which we know and see today in many Mediterranean countries, has an extremely long history, growing alongside us and satisfying our needs with its wood, fruit and oil. For example, we know that as early as 100,000 years ago in Africa, its wood was certainly used as fuel, and people at that time may also have consumed olives. We also have evidence that it was cultivated in the Mediterranean basin as early as 7,000 years ago. In Crete, its importance as one of the basic crops (along with cereals and vines) reached a very high level in 3000 […]
- [What (wild) creatures live and roam the wilderness of Crete?](https://thimaritales.blog/what-wild-creatures-live-and-roam-the-wilderness-of-crete/): Being an animal lover and a fan of Crete, I thought I had the perfect topic for a blog post. However, exploring the topic turned out to be not entirely satisfactory, and the material I gathered was rather sparse. Well, Crete, being an island, is by definition practically devoid of predators, boasts a small number of mammals, and, in addition, human activity has decimated and limited the local fauna. Unfortunately, though once upon a time even small elephants lived there, now if someone spots a WILD animal in the wilderness or in a ravine, it immediately becomes an event, as if […]
- [The Queen is one!](https://thimaritales.blog/the-queen-is-one/): Khoriatki salata (Χωριάτικη σαλάτα) is one of the most classic Greek dishes. The ingredients of this salad, brilliant in its simplicity (rural in its name), are always the same in Greece, small variations are allowed. But really small ones, and I will defend this conviction like King Leonidas – Thermopylae. Well, the bowl should contain ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, which are juicy and sweet in the south, peppers (but green, green!), all chopped thickly and drizzled generously with the best quality olive oil. A thick slice of feta cheese is placed on top and sprinkled with Greek oregano. Often you’ll […]
- [Contact](https://thimaritales.blog/contact/): Our property – Thimari Gardens – is located in the old town of Chania, Crete, Greece. The exact address of our home is : 11, Vourdoumpa, 731 32 Chania If you are interested in renting the property, either short or long-term, send a request email on aniolmagritta@gmail.com. Our property is also rented via Booking.com and Airbnb and its official registration number is 00002853123.
- [Frangocastello - beach and castle in the south](https://thimaritales.blog/frangocastello-beach-and-castle-in-the-south/): It is a little bit longer trip (80 km) but what awaits you at your destintation is double worth it. We are heading South, to Frangocastello and its beautiful beach. Frangocastello is a small village of no apparent appeal, but what does have tons of charm and beauty is the sandy, child-friendly, peaceful and laid-back beach located just by the Venetian castle which gave the village its name. The castle, what is interesting, played a significant role in the Greek War of Independance. To spoil you further, when you turn your eyes from the beach towards the land you will see […]
- [Aptera – little explored, yet dazzling](https://thimaritales.blog/aptera-little-explored-yet-dazzling/): Ancient Aptera, a 30-minute drive east of Chania, stretches across a plateau near the hill of Paliokastro, which dominates the south-eastern part of Souda Bay. Recent archaeological research suggests that settlement in this area began in the 11th-12th century BC. The 3,480-metre-long defensive wall surrounding the main settlement was built before the mid-4th century BC. The city enjoyed an era of prosperity during the Roman period, but after a terrible earthquake in the 7th century, it was so badly damaged that it was not until the 12th century that it became a significant urban centre again and played an important role […]
- [Nea Chora beach](https://thimaritales.blog/nea-chora-beach/): If you like basking on the sand, we recommend Nea Chora beach, which is valued by users for its clean, soft sand, many bars and restaurants nearby, but is not overcrowded. You can reach this beach on foot in 25 minutes or take bus number 11 and get there in a quarter of an hour. Nea Chora beach and its whereabouts may turn into an eerie and strangely beautiful place during evil weather spells. Kalima (Saharan sandstorm) transforms it into a science fiction film scene and light rain and wind do not deter kids from playing there.
- [To Stachi slow food](https://thimaritales.blog/to-stachi-slow-food/): If you are a vegetarian (or not!), you must go there. A wide selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes that will satisfy all palates. Non-alcoholic beers and wines, natural wines – you are sure to find something to accompany your meal. On top of that the intergenerational family that runs the restaurant are the lovliest people in town!
- [Laganon - eat you pasta](https://thimaritales.blog/laganon-eat-you-pasta/): The name says it all 🙂 Choose your pasta, then your sauce, and enjoy! Affordable and delicious.
- [Maridaki - seafood restaurant](https://thimaritales.blog/maridaki-seafood-restaurant/): It is a place of reference in Chania when it comes to fresh fish and seafood. The restaurant is located very near Splantzia square, offers outside and inside tables spread on two floors. It is always bustling with the sounds of conversation, laughter, the clatter of cutlery and plates, and waiters rushing about.
- [Open air street market](https://thimaritales.blog/open-air-street-market/): On Saturdays, don’t miss the market with fresh fruit and vegetables. You will find it on Minoos Street in Chania, a 5-minute walk from the apartment. Want to live longerMake yourself a garden ofFruits and vegetables. by Hugo Sarvida Jr.
- [Rooms and spaces](https://thimaritales.blog/rooms-and-spaces/): Our apartment, which is spacious and airy (ca.100 m2) can accommodate up to 6 guests. It has one private bedroom that sleeps two, a living room that sleeps two more and a mezzanine just above the living room for two more guests. The private bedroom (after you enter and to the right) comes with a double bed (153 x 200 cm), a wardrobe, two bedside tables, and a chest of drawers. The window overlooks the front porch and the garden. There is an air conditioner and a ceiling fan, if you get hot in the summer, and a heater +air conditioner […]
- [Our apartment - history, style and location](https://thimaritales.blog/our-apartment-history-and-style/): Thimari Gardens is more than yet another Airbnb place. A century old house was built on ruins of Dominican Convent dated back to 1320 A.D. 100 sqm house with a mezzanine, gives a lot of space, while green spaces we have on both sides keep temperatures moderate. What is really unusual for old towns, it remains calm, without street noises. You will find the apartment in the historic Turkish quarter of Splantzia, next to the Dominican temple of St. Nicholas and Splantzia Square (aka ‘Plateia 1821’). Our apartment  once constituted part of the closter built during Venetian rule and assumed its […]
- [Splantzia (Square)](https://thimaritales.blog/splantzia-square/): The area has a long and interesting history, going all the way back to the Venetian era. Back then, it was called Ponte Dei Viari, which means ‘bridge of the viari’ in Italian. This was because there was a bridge that connected the eastern gate of the Kasteli settlement with modern Daskalogianni Street and Splantzia Square. The bridge was named after a rich Venetian family who helped the city out when it was down on its luck. The area had lots of underground water, which explains why there were underground Venetian water tanks that could supply the city for six whole […]
- [Tabakaria (a lovely walk)](https://thimaritales.blog/tabakaria-a-lovely-walk/): Today we headed to Tabakaria (Ταμπακαριά), roughly two kilometers from Thimari Gardens to the east. What a marvelous walk there, full of celestial blue, carpets of flowers in bloom and sweet scents of spring. Tabakaria, which used to be an area full of tanneries from the mid XIX century to the 70s of the XX century (80 of them at a certain point of history) now is slowly but constantly being revitalized. I predict that in 5-10 years its popularity may catch up with the old town of Chania as the views and its general ambiance are truly captivating.
- [Wine and olive tasting in Anoskeli](https://thimaritales.blog/wine-and-olive-tasting-in-anoskeli/): Wine tasting at Anoskeli Olive Mill and Winery, Chania region, Crete. Another relaxing and short trip from Thimari Gardens took us to Anoskeli Olive Mill and Winery. It takes about 35 minutes to reach the rolling hills where this place is located. Tasting sessions at Anoskeli are led by an experienced sommelier and include olive oil tasting, wine tasting and food pairing. We opted for the Signature wine tasting and had the opportunity to try their excellent, very fresh olive oil and six different wines with vegetarian food in our case. Both the wine and food were beautifully presented, the tasting […]
- [Kouzina e.p.e.](https://thimaritales.blog/kouzina-e-p-e/): Greek home cooking with a smile. Popular among locals, this place attracts customers with its varied menu, pleasant decor, and friendly service.

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