Island of Crete: Autonomous
area depending on Greece since 1898.
Politically and administatively attached to this same country since 1913 and
Europe since 1986, it counts 4 departments of the 52 which
Greece represents and join together 5% of the total population.
President of this parliamentary republic: Andreas Papandreou
Average wages of an employee of hotel: 600 euros
Rent of a studio in Heraklion :
350 euros
Health: Several private clinics deprived on the
island where only the rich persons and the tourists go. The care is good as in
the hospitals. Generally you will have to advance the medical expenses but
keep all the documents in proof to make you refund by the social security and
your own security at home.
Criminality: (2%)
Standard of living: All is much more cheaper
than in England.
Economy: Agriculture represents 50% of the GDP of
the island, thanks to the wines
and the olive groves (45millions of
olive-trees) and also thanks to the fruits and the vegetables, cultivated
there such as the tomatos, the
cucumbers, the oranges, and the lemons… Industry is particularly poor and
maritime overexploitation impoverished the fish resources. Moreover Crete is obliged to import a quarter of the production.
Thanks to tourism, the real estate and the
trade are in progression. The tourist activity represents other half of
the GDP of the island which accomodates more than 1.500.000 tourists in high
season.
Mentality: European. The Greek attaches a lot of importance to his appearance, his car, and his family..
Religion: Orthodoxe (97%).
The church is always under the obedience of Constantinople (Istambul), that´s why the Byzantine
traditions are respected. The popes (priests)
carry a long black tunic and a long beard. You will meet them everywhere on
the island. They are authorized to marry and are paid by the State.
Caution: The population is still rather reticent with its
Turkish neighbors , because of the 200 years of occupation by the Othoman
empire and because of the Cypriot conflict.
Literature: The most famous greek writer is
Nikos Kazantzakis and
his work Alexis Zorba.
Folklore:
In Crete all is celebrated with music. The folklore is
different from the folklore in Greece. Two musical instruments are specific.
The Laouto (mandoline) and
The Lyra (violin with 3 cords). Most of the
time the songs are about love, and freedom. The syrto
is one of the local dances.
The pentozalis is faster and lifting.
The sirtaki is Greek but it is also danced
for the greatest joy of the tourists.
Folklore:
In Crete all is celebrated with music. The folklore is
different from the folklore in Greece. Two musical instruments are specific.
The Laouto (mandoline) and
The Lyra (violin with 3 cords). Most of the
time the songs are about love, and freedom. The syrto
is one of the local dances.
The pentozalis is faster and lifting.
The sirtaki is Greek but it is also danced
for the greatest joy of the tourists.