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CretaMorphosis, Heraklion (2026)

02/02/2021

~ • Straight out of the sea • ~ Fish day today in Crete? All you need to know is where the fishermen are moored! You go there n the morning at the time, when fishermen return with the catch of the night. And just take what they have catched! 🐟

"Pity, nothing good for today... Only three fish out of a 30-meter net," says fisherman Adonis. He also adds that the beginning of February is always like this: the fish leave the shores and pull further into the sea, for which Adonis's boat is too small.

"Take the biggest, at least the boat's fuel will pay off for me," he says. So this is a tuna cousin called Atlantic bonito – a fish of the mackerel family. Therefore Adonis advises to cook it in the oven with herbs, lemon and drizzled with olive oil.

Let's get to the kitchen, lets cook a fish! 🧑‍🍳

What are you going to cook for lunch or dinner today? 😋 ☀️
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With love,
💗 Jurgita & Audrius
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• photos of Mano Kreta
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29/01/2021

~ • Where shepherds pray for their goats • ~ When hiking in Crete you never know where the mountain path is going to carry you ⛰ But almost often those paths have a peculiar history that they usually hide.

An unheard-of story about Saint Charalambos we have learn walking the abandoned path on the slopes of Psiloritis mountains. There are only a few churches devoted to him in Crete-all mainly near the mountains where the shepherds live.

Agios Charalambos reside in the second centuary AD has been a bishop pf Magnesia or Magnesia on the Maeander (nowdays Turkey) and lived for 113 years, eventually became the patron saint of animals and new harvest.

For more than 1,500 years, the Greek Orthodox believed that prayers to Agios Charalambos would stave off hunger, protect them from unlucky accidents and bring prosperity to the home. Moreover, his name means the brightness: translated from the Greek – Charalambos (Greek: Χαράλαμπος) – radiated with joy.

It is said that while still alive, Saint Charalambos trampled the devil. Therefore, in sacred paintings he is often depicted with a black devil under his feet. Strange as it may seem,
the fire-spitting devil is in feminine form.

We we surprised not only by the icons found in the church but also by the votive offerings – thin metal prayer plates next to them. For the first time, we saw animals depicted in those plates: goats, sheep, horses. Of course, who else may visit a lonely church in the mountains, if not the shepherds with their daily troubles and prayers to the Agios Chalarambos.

Would you be really keen to challenge yourself or perhaps want to hike at a such mysterious path? ⏳ 📜 ☀️

Check the photo carousel: 4th photo – thin metal prayer plates, 5th photo – holy picture of Agios Chalarambos.
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With love, ⁣⁣
💗 Audrius & Jurgita
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photos by Mano Kreta
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26/01/2021

~ • There was a shipyard here • ~ The Minoans who lived in Crete 4000 years ago built their vessels here! ⛵️ You don't have to be a historian or geologist to discover a man-made estuary on a rocky beach.

Take a look at the first photo: Jurgita is standing in the middle of a rectangle of rocks framed. It appears like a port or pier has been built here, but the waves of the sea have swept away what man once had built ⚒

After examining this rugged coastline on the northern shore of Crete in front of Dia Island, the archaeologists concluded that there was a shipyard around 3,500 to 4,000 years ago in the Minoan period. The 50-metre-long yard of ships built by the Minoans of Crete.

Same Minoans who introduced us to legends of King Minas, the son of Zeus, the labyrinth of Minotaur, a monster of Crete who had the body of a man and the head of a bull.

It was revealed that there was a village near the shipyard that is now under the sea 🌊 As a result of the eruption in Santorini in ~1450 BC, the northern coast of Crete changed considerably. That is why the shipyard itself sunk underwater.

Thousands of years have gone by. The northern wall of the shipyard was completely swallowed up by the sea, and the southern part is so straight that there is no doubt of humans handwork 4000 years ago.

Are you keen to learn the other enigmas of Cretan history? ⏳ ⛅️ 🏺
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With love, ⁣⁣
💗 Jurgita & Audrius
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photo of Mano Kreta
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19/01/2021

~ • When almonds blossomed • ~ 🌸 Nikos Kazantzakis wrote about the almond tree: "Suddenly we see it blooming in the cold wind of mid-January". Indeed, we have seen the first pinkish-white charming blossoms, touched them and rejoiced that the almond tree the same as a human heart is feeling the upcoming spring! 💐 ☀️
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With love, ⁣⁣
💗 Audrius & Jurgita
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photo of Mano Kreta
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15/01/2021

~ • To the top • ~ "Let's walk up to this hill" – Jurgita told me one day checking weather forecast 🌤 for the next few days here in Crete. Seems we expect quite bad weather following with rain and strong winds. Therefore we used our chance to enjoy quite a few sun rays and winter greenery in the very old olive groove. The centuries-old olive trees – pruned many times, even cut up to the roots regrowth manifesting their triumph of immortality.

A stone boundaries built a century or two ago, framing the old path between the evergreen olives which still produce the olives. Walking the path between the crowns of the trees glistening with greenish silvery, it is not possible to overlook a top of the hill ⛰ Furthermore strange feeling arise that something interesting is going to be discovered in that place.

Yes, indeed! There is a wooden table on the top covered with loads of ceramic fragments. Who put these fragments together, when and why? How old are these ceramic parts of the wares? Maybe they are old as the olive trees just below on the slope? 🏺 🌿
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With love, ⁣⁣
💗 Audrius & Jurgita
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photos by Mano Kreta
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12/01/2021

Olive 😋☀🍯
This is not a joke, but the real olive made from mashed olives, green apples and a delicious mix of honey, sugar and glucose. The sweetness does not overwhelm the taste of olives - it feels like eating olives or olive spread.

We have meet Giorgia, the daughter of the family producing olive oil here in Eastern . She explained that olive marmalade pairs quite well with Cretan graviera or any other kind of hard cheese. The family mainly produce the olive oil but she was always wondering what else they could make from the

Actually a lot of: starting from sour olive spreads of various flavors and ending with sweets treats such as olive marmalade or olive lukumi sweets. By the way, there is also ice cream made from olive oil.
Have you ever tried such incredible as olive marmalade or ice cream? Highly recommended!
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With love,
💗 Jurgita & Audrius
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• photo by Mano Kreta
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08/01/2021

~ • Did you ever taste the lotus? 🍑• ~ Strangely enough, but by the word 'lotus' (Greek: λωτός) the Greeks name for persimmons - the fruit of the ebony tree, which pleases the palate with every bite of a pleasant sweetness 🤗

"Diospyros kaki" is a deciduous tree native to China that was taken to Japan and Korea many centuries ago. Obviously the name of the fruit vary depending on the country and language. The English common name is derived from the Algonquin language, in which the word persimmon means “dried fruit.” Russians name is "churma", derived from the farsi (Persian language) "khormalu'" meaning date plum.
"Kaki", its Japanese name, was chosen to be the tree’s species name.

However, since the ancient times use own version of the name. It is "lotus" - both for fruit and tree. It is hard to explain why.
Dozen of etymological dictionaries were checked but no explanation why Greeks call the lotus, actually used for another plant, lotus flower (Nelumbo nucifera, Nelumbonaceae) - the symbol of purity and perfection in Buddhism and Taoism.

Most of those dictionaries refer to the mythological "lotophages" people, who lived at the coast of Northern Africa and mentioned in Homer's Odyssey. Those people consumed only fruits of lotus, since tasted for the first time they passed into oblivion. So, it is not clear at all what those mystical "lotus" fruits were 🤔
Maybe persimmons? Maybe, cause it is possible to forget everything about in world when you feel such a divine sweetness taste at your mouth.

By the way, the old varieties of never ripen on the trees to eat them immediately when picked up. If you will try - you will be surprised of the pungent bitter taste. They lose their pungent taste in several days (sometimes weeks) after were picked and kept aside - thus revealing the sweetness of persimmons.

Old persimmon varieties also include 'Λωτός ο Κρητικός' - a Cretan - persimmon variety that still grows on the island. However, even now, during the harvest season, trees cannot be easily found. Unfortunately, less people keep persimmon trees at their fruit gardens. Usually we see them in old or abandoned gardens. But when somebody gives you such a treat straight from a tree - it's absolutely worth to wait for one or two weeks for the fruit get ready for to divine sweet bite! 😋 🍑 ☀️
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With love,
💗 Jurgita & Audrius
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• photo by Mano Kreta
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21/12/2020

~ • The light is coming back • ~ It is symbolic to see such a sunrise - like a message that the sun will soon begin its journey backwards ☀️

The shortest days starting from December 19th until December 23rd!
For example in Crete the day lasts for 9 hours 46 minutes, in Athens shorter for 14 min. ⏰
In London (UK) the day lasts for 7 hours, 50 minutes, in Berlin (DE) - 7 hours, 39 minutes, in Stockholm (SE) - 6 hours, 5 minutes.

Keen to know about your location? Here we are: https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/
Open this link and select your current location in the search box. What is the length of the day at your location? Write in the comments below!

The closer to the equator, the less the difference between day and night length depends on the time of year.
We celebrate the solstice and travel towards the spring equinox! 😊
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With love,
💗 Jurgita & Audrius
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• photo by Jurgita Uzsieniete
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̊ndet

15/12/2020

~ • Heights • ~ Admire 🥰 boundless space from the high cliffs. Sometimes it scares but always exciting! Indeed, high up views are usually the most breathtaking.
How about you? Do you have a fear of heights?⁣
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With love,
💗 Jurgita & Audrius
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• photo by Jurgita Uzsieniete
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10/12/2020

~ • Straightly off the tree • ~ Freshly picked berries or fruits from a tree are the most delicious, isn't it? 😋
We are lucky to be able to collect fresh fruits all year around here in Crete. At the beginning of December yummy berries of strawberrytrees get ripen and those trees are called "koumara" in cretan dialect.

Strawberry trees blooming right now and their bell type blossoms remind tiny lilies of the valley. Every tree hurry up to ripen delicious berries - cherry-sized, sweet, just melting in the mouth 🥰

The locals use them in pastries, make jams and a sort of liqueur. Our friend Adonis place his beehives next to the strawberry trees, so his bees can collect "koumaromelo" - the honey of strawberry blossoms, and it is so flavourful!
There are plenty of berries on each tree this year, doesn't it look amazing?

Would you be keen to try those heavenly tasteful strawberries on the trees? 🍓🍓🍓
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With Love
💗 Jurgita & Audrius
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08/12/2020

~ • Cretan hospitality • ~ It is a pleasant surprise to be invited by the local mate to his mountain house after a nice walk in the highlands.
No matter at all if you see that person for the very first time in your life! However, the doors of the house are widely opened. This is an amazing experience of real Cretan hospitality 😄🥰
Firstly, you are offered a glass of water, then a glass (or two, or three....) of wine 😊🙃, next to it you are served what is available today: olives, traditional dried whole-grain bread "paksimadia" with feta cheese and capers, marinated artichokes with olive oil and lemon juice 🍴, also freshly picked oranges 🍊 sliced and sprinkled with cinnamon. And great company to talk, discuss and laugh!
Would you join?
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With love, ⁣⁣
💗 Jurgita & Audrius
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(...remembering winter walks in Cretan mountains last year)
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01/12/2020

~ • Meditation • ~ Does it help? What it means? Wherever you are, it is great to start new day, new week, new month or any other significant phase of your life ☀️

The Greeks have their own word to describe . Instead of the Latin 'meditatio', which literally means contemplation with great concentration, the Greeks use the word 'dialogismos' (gr. Διαλoγισμός). It has the same roots as the well known term ‘dialogue’.

While the apparently first suffix of the two words 'dia' (gr. διά) is more in line with number 2, in Greek it is still used as an adverb in terms of transformation or shift, by means of a tool, process or motive. And that means that should never be associated with controversy.

Are you in the mood to have your inner dialog with ?
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With love, ⁣⁣
💗 Jurgita & Audrius
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CretaMorphosis

02/02/2021

29/01/2021

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19/01/2021

15/01/2021

12/01/2021

08/01/2021

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