... I got to know in 1996. I was unemployed at the time and, through various research, had found a project order from a German company in Crete. I faxed my application documents, made a phone call 3 hours later to check whether the documents had arrived, waited for the ticket and a few days later I landed in Heraklion.

Through this entry, I got to know Crete from a completely different perspective. I wasn't a tourist, but a "guest worker". Especially through my work colleague Ingo Dietrich I was introduced to our local bar at the time, the Sky Park, presented to many locals as well as German and English speaking immigrants. I see these lovely people every year and that's why for me, and now also for Ulrike, a holiday on the island is like coming home.

Through this entry, I got to know Crete from a completely different perspective. I wasn't a tourist, but a "guest worker". Especially through my work colleague Ingo Dietrich I was introduced to our local bar at the time, the Sky Park, presented to many locals as well as German and English speaking immigrants. I see these lovely people every year and that's why for me, and now also for Ulrike, a holiday on the island is like coming home.

We meet the first familiar face after our arrival at the Airport in Heraklion. An employee of Eurocars hands over our jeep to us. Fill out papers, pay and then it's about 70 minutes along the north coast of Crete to Platanes. On the way we stop to refuel and drink our first can of ice-cold Fanta Lemon. The vacation begins.

After about 1 hour we arrive at Antje's in Platanes, but not without Ingo in his office in Adelianos Campos to have greeted by loud honking. We'll see him at the latest in the evening at dinner.

Antje is originally from Düsseldorf. She married her Greek husband Geórgios many years ago and then stayed in Crete. The two then built a house less than a hundred meters from the sea, with six rooms and apartments that serve as accommodation for travelers to Crete. Here we too find refuge year after year, far from the tourist noise and the organized constraints of a hotel. Family connection included.

In the basement there are 3 spacious rooms with an integrated kitchenette. Each room has its own bathroom.

Antje, her husband and currently 15 cats live on the mezzanine floor.

On the first floor there are 2 more double rooms and a family room with 2 bedrooms. Again, each room has an en-suite bathroom and one room offers a private balcony with sea views. The floor includes a communal kitchen, a hallway with seating and a spacious, separate balcony that can be used by everyone.

If you want to customize your holiday, can do without an oversized buffet and don't need a footman to carry your beer after you, this is the place for you. All rooms are very clean and offer enough space. Hotel hustle and bustle, schedules and annoying neighbors do not exist here. Antje pays meticulous attention to who wants to take advantage of her hospitality. So it can be that you use the upper floor for yourself or share your stay with other nice guests. Either way, the days are always pleasant and relaxed. And if you don't have anything else planned in the evening after a culinary treat in "Sky Park", "Kellári", "Remember" or "Fantástico", you can sit comfortably with Antje outside with a glass of wine or beer. There is always something to talk about.

After a long welcome with Antje, we move into our room. Usually Ulrike puts our clothes away in the closet and in the drawers while I go shopping. Water is most important as tap water is undrinkable due to high levels of chlorine. I also get everything that is needed for a snack in between: bread, margarine, sausage and cheese, etc.

Depending on the time we arrived, we go to the beach or the pool of the neighboring hotel Minos Mare or we can sit on our balcony for a bit longer, until around 8 p.m. in our favorite bar, the Kellari to meet Ingo for dinner. After a friendly hello with the landlord, Stavros Karamanis, we take our usual place at the window and order some culinary delights - including house wine, of course.

After the meal we go back to our accommodation. Sometimes we sit together with Antje for a moment over a MeCo, whiskey and/or a glass of wine to end the day.

Here the Cretans could not agree on a clear place name. If you come from one side, "Platanés" is written on the town entrance sign, from the other side you will welcomed in "Plataniás". But it doesn't matter at all, every bus or taxi driver knows what is meant in both cases. We chose platanés.

The formerly small suburb is about 8 km east of Réthymnon and today offers everything a tourist's heart desires. Tavernas, bars, supermarkets and shops can be found in sufficient numbers on the through road to the east. Even a "Lidl" is available. If you don't have a rental vehicle or just don't want to use the stuffy, hot bus to Réthymnon or a taxi, you'll also find what you're looking for in Platanés in every respect. You can live here.

Antjes Villa Dorothea is also in Platanés, but about a five-minute walk away from the tourist crowds.

This makes it nice that you don't need a car in the evening, be it to eat in "Kellári" or "Remember" or to visit a disco in "Sky Park". You walk comfortably into the village, only to stagger back just as comfortably later.

The Greek supermarket and Lidl open their doors as early as 8 am, while other shops and tavernas don't open until around 10 or 11 am. Incidentally, the English breakfast in the "Kellári" (from 11 a.m.) is highly recommended.

In the morning, after getting up, coffee is drunk and, if necessary, something eaten before we set off with our jeep to explore the island. On average, we cover about 600 km per week, drive to many well-known places, but always discover something new. Crete should not be wasted as a package tourist in a 5-star all-inclusive resort, Crete must be explored and discovered. In the mountains there are many small towns that invite you to linger, as well as nice tavernas and restaurants where you can have a small lunchtime snack. The path is almost always the goal, because the many winding roads and serpentines as well as unpaved slopes make it Go on a little adventure often.

Sometime in the afternoon we come back home, change clothes and go to the sea or to the pool of Minos Mare.

In the evening we meet up with friends again and go to restaurants, such as the Kellari, the Sky Park, the Fantastico or meet us privately for a cozy barbecue at Michael's or Matthew's.

Another very good friend was Michael Dirksen. Michael emigrated to Crete in 1984 after studying geology and knew the island better than many locals. Over the years he had explored Crete by car, enduro, mountain bike and on foot. He spoke perfect Greek and through his friendly and open manner had made friends with Cretans all over the island. As a result, he had gained a lot of insider knowledge, which he passed on to individual tourists on adventurous and unforgettable tours. Touring the island with Michael was an unforgettable experience.

Michael passed away on November 8, 2018 at the age of 72.

Ingo Dietrich ended up in Crete in 1995 and he too couldn't part. He is our first point of contact in many situations, simply because he has a solution ready for (almost) everything and can be reached all day in his office at Eurocars.

Ingo knows everyone and everyone knows Ingo.