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| CALENDAR |
 | September 2010 |  |
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| 29 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 1 | 2 | | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
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CRETE
Crete is Greece’s largest island as well as the fifth largest island in the entire Mediterranean and the most southern region of the European Union. It lies south of the Aegean Sea, enjoying a privileged geographical position between three continents – Europe, Africa and Asia. The island has an area of 8.261 square kilometers and a coastline that stretches for 1.046 kilometers. Long and thin, it extends 260 kilometers from west to east, varying in width from about 60 kilometers in the centre of the island to just 12 kilometers at its narrowest near Ierapetra in the east. Mountain ranges, snow-crested during much of the year, stretch from west to east, forming the “backbone” of the island: the White Mountains, rising to 8.045 ft., Mount Idi or Psiloritis (8.058 ft.), the Dhikti Mountains (7.047 ft.) and the Sitia Mountains (4.843 ft.).
The most notable plains are those of Messara and Chania, while a number of smaller ones are located between mountain ranges and hills. The narrow length of the island, its rock types and the relatively low rainfall have not favoured the formation of significant rivers.
Administratively, Crete is divided into the four prefectures. Chania (capital Chania) in the west, Rethymno (capital Rethymno) and Heraklion (capital Heraklion) in the centre and Lassithi (capital Agios Nikolaos) in the east.
If there was a beauty contest for Greek islands, Crete would surely be among the favourites. Indeed, some say there is no place on earth like Crete. This view is strongly supported by those fortunate enough to have visited the island. Crete is not just sun, sea and sand. It is quite a distinct place full of vitality, warmth, hospitality, culture and of course an excellent infrastructure.
Crete has two airports, one at Heraklion and the other at Chania, which serve domestic direct flights to and from Athens and Thessaloniki. There are also services connecting Heraklion with Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos and Paros. Direct international scheduled and charter flights link the island with a number of European cities, particularly during the tourist season. The five main ports of Heraklion, Chania, Rethymno, Agios Nikolaos and Sitia connect Crete with the rest of Greece. There are daily ferry services to and from Athens, usually in the evening, as well as in the morning during the summer months. In addition, there are ferry services to and from the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki and many islands of the Dodecanese and Cyclades.
Crete has a good road network and a regular bus service linking the major towns, while also providing transportation to beaches, villages, archaeological and historical sites and places of natural beauty. Taxis are widely available all over Crete. Comparatively cheap by European standards, they can be found at taxi ranks, stopped in the street or booked by phone. Another solution for visitors who want to travel around and get to know the island is to join one of the many organized tours operated by travel agencies, many of which have attractive one or two-day sightseeing programmes.
A particularly interesting way not only to reach Crete, but also to get to know the island is by yacht. There are a number of well-equipped marinas on Crete, as well as many picturesque harbours that provide safe mooring.
With its marvelous climate, unique natural beauty and vast conference and tourist infrastructure, Crete is the ideal destination for every kind of congress, summit, business meeting, incentive, seminar and product presentation. In addition, the island offers unique opportunities for research into Minoan, Byzantine and more recent cultures, as well as studies relating to natural sciences and folklore.
In addition to a number of specialized conference centres, there is an enormous variety of facilities at hotels in the main towns and resorts, fully equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting installations, simultaneous translation systems and other amenities. Many of the hotels also provide technical and secretarial support, plus a full range of office machines, computer and telecommunications systems. Some travel agents based in Crete also specialize in organizing conferences and incentives, offering complete packages that include all the necessary arrangements from start to finish, as well as special programmes for delegates and accompanying persons before, during and after the event. These programmes typically comprise of sightseeing trips or short tours and entertainment, all tailor-made, in order to meet the requirements of each particular group.
The standards of professionalism of the people involved in the congress organization sector on Crete is very high due to the experience acquired following the island’s success in attracting many major Greek and international events.
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