SOUVENIRS FROM CRETE
THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM TRICOT
Since the Summer season 2004 one of the best sold souvenirs in Crete and Greece is the National Footbal shirt from the Winning Team of the Europe Cup in Portugal.
With the slogan "Nothing is Impossible" the German Coach Otto Rehagel and the players showed the World that any dream can come true, if you believe in it.
The National Captain Zagorakis has Cretan Roots but he lived almost all his live in Germany. Cretan fighters blood was combined with German discipline and organization. No wonder he was the Captain from the team.
KOMBOLOI
Many visitors believe its a religious symbol but the handchain from the Cretan men is a game. When they play with it than this is their way to dream away and to forget about their problems and their daily live. It's also a way to stop smoking, because when their hands are busy with the beads, than it's difficult to keep a cigarette at the same time. Although there are some acrobats that will do both. Komboloi,s you may find in all souvenir shops. They are made from plastic, ivory up to silver and gold. Some longer types go until 1 meter or more. These we use for decoration and every day that we look at them, we find them our signal to forget about stress.
http://www.kompoloi.org/kompoloihistory.htm
THE SHEPPERDS STICK
On your way trough Crete' country you will see many farmers with their best friend, which is their Walking Stick....... They give them support on the small tracks trough their land when gathering their sheep and goats. They are a perfect "table" to place their head on and than to dream away or to start thinking what they will do the next day. Today in many tourist centers the sticks are being sold as a souvenir. People buy them for decoration or to give to their grandparents. To buy them in the shop is easy, pay your money and you have a Cretan Walking Stick. To buy the original from a farmer....... that's more difficult. I tried it once and you know what the farmer said. You can buy my wife, but never my walking stick !!!
EMBROIDERIES
Cretan Women are real artist in making embroiderie, hand woven carpets, table cloths, etc. Alreaudy at a young age they learn this from their Mother. Specially in the villages you'll see the ladies sitting outside their house making a new table cloth, a curtain or carpet. Hours and hours are put in the new product so never expect to find something cheap. If you found that, than maybe you have a product made by a machine. Take for some euros more a real piece of hand woven art and it will always remember you to your holidays here.
WOOD CARVING
The last years tourist choose to buy more valuable souvenirs instead of the usual kitch. Wood carvers open their workshops to sell their products direct to the tourist. There are men producing pieces and not 2 pieces are the same. Well yhat's what I call art, unique and you'll have the only one.
http://www.siragas.gr/
OLIVE OIL
Crete is for sure the best place to buy some olive oil. Several experts made the conclusion that their quality is superb. Buying it here on Crete saves you also a good amount on the price. Extra virgin oil is the first pressing and excellent for using it in salads and to bake a steak or fresh fish. There are the decorative bottles which are more expensive than the bottle or can straight from the supermarket. The best quality you may buy direct from a friend or local in the villages near your holiday resort. Ask the owner from your favorite tavern, most people own olive trees and have enough oil to sell a few liters to their best guest.
Cretan oil is exported to Italy by many farmer co-operations. The Italian farmers buy it to improve their own olive oil. Maybe yoy buy at home a bottle of Italian oil, but its 50 or more % Cretan Oil.
Olive harvest is during the winter months and than they go the local press factory where either the farmer takes the oil back or he sell it to the co-operation.
There are several places on Crete to see how the traditional press system works.
http://kanakis.rethymnon.com/
