by Catherine Tsounis
Agios Nikolaos, Crete, is known for its stunning beaches and coastline. Expensive boutique stores attract wealthy international visitors. We spent a Sunday afternoon in July of a previous year enjoying the scenery and hearing about life in Crete from a local person on a Kapogiannis tour.
When we arrived, there were over five cruise and tour boats docked in the harbor. A statue of Europa, the daughter of the Phoenician King Aginoras and mother of King Minos of Crete, is displayed prominently. We sat at a local café on the waterfront, eating ice cream and enjoying a Greek double espresso. Although a city train gives tours, it does not operate on Sundays. A glass-bottom boat and cruise ship sail to the island of Spinalonga daily.
Our Cretan bus driver explained, “There is no crime in Crete. They know what will be waiting for them if they break into our homes.” Strict anti-gun laws do not exist in Crete. Law, order, and public safety predominate. We spent a wonderful afternoon in Agios Nikolaos.
