Inland Crete

 

"When we were harvesting our olives,

we'd stop around eleven under the trees for the kolatsiό —

bread, cheese, tomato, our olives, a little wine for the elders, and stories.

 

An hour in the shade —

some would even doze under an olive tree —

before going back to work."

 

The grove picnic is that rest.

 

Grove Picnic

The table remains.

 

We meet in the village of Kerasia,

a name that means welcoming the guest.

 

From there, we walk to the grove,
with views across the Kerasia plain,

the Lasithi Mountains,
and the Paliani Monastery below.

 

We gather around a wooden table under the walnut tree,
open to the hills, the sky, the sea.

 

The food on the table is shared quietly,

the way we always have.

 

Afterwards, we take the e-bikes together — first to the Faneromeni chapel

in the Kerassano gorge, then down to the kafeneio in Kerasia.

 

If cycling isn't your way, follow by car, or carry on with your plans.