Something worth looking for “Nothing to Athens, Rhodes, Mykonos, or
Santorini. Everything’s booked,” said Danny H., a travel agent recommended to
me by the owner of my B ‘n B. Danny reminded me that during Passover many
Israelis take vacations. Since I was staying in Jerusalem, I listened carefully
when Danny informed me that there weren’t many places that welcomed Jews that
were close to Israel. I didn’t need a map to know that.
He checked Malta and Cyprus. “Nope,” Danny told me. Chances
of my making good on a promise to take my younger daughter on an excursion were
slim.
“What about Crete?” asked Danny. I asked to see a map.
Part of Greece, Crete is a large island cradled between the
Mediterranean and the Cretan Seas. Less than two hours flight time made it
attractive. I asked about packages.
Danny checked; they were available. “Here’s a four star
hotel,” he said, “but I don’t know it.” He called someone who did.
As I waited, I thought about what I knew of Crete. I
couldn’t think of a thing other than mythical King Minos and the Minotaur. (Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology:
Crete
Large
Aegean island; site of the Bronze Age high culture known as Minoan. In myth
Crete was ruled by King Minos, who periodically demanded a tribute of
young men and ...
www.mythweb.com/encyc/entries/crete.html -) What I didn’t know was
everything else!
“You don’t want that one,” Danny said, “but I do have
another that comes with a high approval rating. Four stars, the Apollonion. Let
me check it first,” he said. “Can you come back in an hour?”
I did. Both the package and the hotel had radiant reviews
from a trusted friend of Danny’s.
“I’ll take it!” I said as Danny and I shook hands. I
appreciated that he was concerned enough to do research the place. Of course, I
wouldn’t know until we landed at the airport in Heraklion and trekked to the
Apollonion whether it lived up to the rating Danny’s friend had given.
After collecting our bags, we were guided to a tour bus, a
double decker, waiting for us. Of course, we rode on top. Minutes later, we
left. Our driver, knowing that almost everyone on the bus had traveled from
Israel, greeted us on the intercom…in Hebrew. I didn’t understand any of what
he said.
Neither did my daughter.
But the woman who rode with her daughter in the seat next to
ours did. She asked whether we’d like her to translate.
“Please do,” I said.
The daughter, who had been in Israel for 18 months, told us
that the driver recommended a specific car rental agency, the Auto Club. “The
others will rip you off,” she said, as she added the explanations the speaker
had given.
We thanked her and asked where she and her mother were
staying. Her mother told us that she’d made the arrangements with the help of
her sister, site unseen. She’d been told it was a really great place. I
mentioned Danny and the extra effort he’d given.
Just a few miles later, the driver announced her hotel.
“Oh, no!” she shrieked. “This isn’t what it looked like on
the Net!” Nearly livid, she said a hasty goodbye and mentioned she’d get in
touch with her sister as soon as she settled.
Nervous about our hotel after seeing hers, I sat quietly,
hoping for the best. When we pulled off the main road, turned to the right,
then right again onto a tree-lined driveway, I knew we had reached a very
special place, a resort it seemed.
And it was. The rooms and the food and the view, all top
notch. So was the landscaped area that led from the hotel to two outdoor pools
and, finally, to a beautiful sandy beach. I made a note to contact Danny when I
returned. I’d tell him this was a great place to spend a vacation. (please see: Apollonia Hotel, Apollonia Beach all inclusive resort & Spa Apollonia,
Apolloniabeach, apollonia beach resort & spa, Golf in Crete
courses ... www.apollonia.gr)
Until then, however, I had something I really wanted to explore.
Near Hania, the Etz Hayyim synagogue, the only one that had survived on Crete.
But first, I had to contact the Auto Club. Our Crete
adventure had begun!
B.Koplen 4/18/13
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