Crete is a place that I have fallen in love with over just a few days. There are many distinct things about Chania and the surrounding towns that immediately catch my attention and puts me into deep thought: the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, the shaping of the land around me, the agriculture and vegetation, and a certain appreciation for family.
After traveling around the northwestern edge of Crete the past few days, it is crucial to mention how stunningly gorgeous the Mediterranean to the north of the island is. In addition to out course work, we have been exploring new beaches and walking by the water. Even though the beaches are different from one another, some with rockier beaches and deeper water levels than others, I was never disappointed by the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea. The water here is more vibrant than anywhere in the continental United States. Every portion is covered in gorgeous shades of blue, some spots aquamarine, some turquoise, some teal, and more. During the day, the water catches the sunlight and sparkles across the sea as far as the eye can reach. The sea is so clear that, no matter what part of it a person looks into, they can always see the bottom. Even when your feet no longer hit the seabed and all that supports you are the buoyancy of your body and the rising and sinking waves around you, the sandy floor is still visible. These characteristics send me into a state of awe every time I daze out across the sea or delve into its waters.
When facing the south, I was pleasantly greeted by a site of rolling hills in the forefront and rugged mountains in the background. Living at the institute in Alikianos at 322 feet, it was surprising to me to find out that the highest peak on Crete reaches 8058 feet (I would've guessed much smaller). However, once we were at sea level looking at these mountains, I started to realize the possibility. The mountains soar into the sky higher than any that we would ever see in New England. And to make the scene even more picturesque, the mountains' vegetation were willed with big and full green trees, with the occasional spots of gray and brown poking out where rocks lie. Adding to the beautiful landscape that surrounds us when we would drive were hundreds, maybe thousands, of trees growing fruits to support the agricultural market here. Additionally, the fruit tree that is the most prevalent here is the orange tree, especially in Alikianos, so the air always has a slight citrus breeze.
While driving around the island, evidence of high agricultural production, beautiful beaches, and soaring mountains are most definitely not the only thing that can catch someone by surprise. There are also many areas of seemingly random, unfinished, concrete (most of the time) house frames all
over the island. At first, it was just assumed that, after the economic crisis, there was not enough money to finish the construction of the houses. This, however, is not the case. These frames that lie around are houses owned by a family and built little by little throughout generations. Whenever the family has some extra money, they will add another layer onto the house that they're building. Over time, the foundation will be set, frame built, stucco put on, electricity done, and eventually there will be a finished house for all the future generations to enjoy. It is obvious here that there is a deep appreciation and feeling of importance when concerning family and what we can do not to support the future.
I'm thoroughly impressed with and enamored by Crete so far. I love it all the way from the beautiful, shining, vibrant Mediterranean Sea, to the soaring mountains. I love it because of the wonderful local agricultural production that you can get at the market each day. And I adore the fact that a family will build something for their loved ones. Something that will hopefully last a life time and will provide a necessary structure for future generations to come. I'm very happy with my experience so far in and outside of the class room, and am excited to see what else is to come.
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