Activity Holidays for Singles
Easter Holidays to Crete

Easter, in Greece is the most important date in the year and guests who join the Gialamarakis family and their friends at The Mistral will have the chance to celebrate in true Cretan style. Each day has its special significance; on Thursday evening there's a trip up into the hills to visit the thirteenth century monasteries of Gouverneto and Agia Triada . This is not a tourist event, and you will join the local people as they listen to the priest chanting the Easter rituals in the beautiful candle lit interiors. The atmosphere there is very intense and devout, as the congregation lay wreaths and genuflect at specific points in the service. Outside in the courtyard in one of the monasteries, there is the heady scent of jasmine and roses, and in one of the monasteries you will see a symbolic tree bearing four different grafted citrus fruits, representing the coming together of the nations.

Good Friday too, is a special time, and guests will have the opportunity to join the local dignitaries and the people of Chania. Everyone wears black and carries a lighted candle as, accompanied by a band playing the funeral march, they process solemnly through the streets following the Effigy, which had lain all week in the church. When it finally reaches the cathedral, it is held aloft by priests, as the congregation pass underneath touching the effigy for a blessing.
On Saturday evening, the Mistral guests join the local people as they meet to celebrate at the local church. Everyone carries an unlighted candle and waits in the forecourt of the church then, just before midnight the priest emerges carrying an ancient silver bible. The rituals come to a climax on the stroke of midnight, when everyone cheers and kisses their neighbour.“ Christ is risen!” is the greeting. “He is risen indeed!” you respond. Rockets and fireworks go off in all directions and a huge bonfire blazes away, burning a macabre effigy of Judas on a gibbet. The priest lights the candle nearest to him, signifying the triumph of good over evil, and soon a forest of twinkling candles illuminates the scene. To bring good luck for the coming year, guests try to carry their lighted candles back to The Mistral house shrine year, stopping to make a sign in smoke over the doorway.
Easter Day is a time of celebration at The Mistral. Preparations for the feast begin early and a whole sheep and a goat are roasted over a spit in the garden, as guests help to lay the long tables and family and friends start to arrive. All day the kitchen is buzzing with activity; red dyed eggs hard boiled eggs- the custom is to crack them with friends- are piled up in baskets, and plates of Katerina’s special Easter cakes appear. The huge meal, which goes on for several hours, is accompanied by copious quantities of wine and much laughter. Later in the evening, you'll be able to witness some real Greek dancing and maybe even attempt some of the complicated steps of the traditional Butcher’s or Drunkard’s Dance, as the family and friends celebrate in true Cretan style, into the early hours of the morning.
Easter is a lovely time in Crete, especially for nature lovers. The olive groves are full of full of flowers and birds and look spectacular against the backdrop of the snow-covered mountains. If you are a bird watcher, there is a chance to see rare migrating hawks and even catch a glimpse of Golden Auriole in a mulberry tree behind The Mistral.

Vassilis may take you orange picking in the family fruit grove, wine tasting in the hills, at the home of this friend Andreas, or to lunch at the tiny village seaside village of Sfinari, where Yannis and Eleni will cook an unforgettable fish soup. This, served up with the catch of the previous night and accompanied by local wine, is a memorable feast.

The Greek Easter week is not something that most tourists have the privilege of experiencing first hand. Guests at The Mistral have the opportunity of enjoying the true flavour of this special holiday week, mingling with family and friends, and taking part in the unforgettable and often moving Easter celebrations. This, together with the unique ambiance of The Mistral makes for a perfect holiday break.

Dates

Greek Orthodox and British Catholic Easter dates change every year.
Easter in Greece and the UK in 2011 is Sunday April the 24th. We will be open for our special Easter holidays for the week from Tuesday 19th April.

Traditional Greek Easter week 19th to 26th April 2011 activities include:

Holy Thursday night trip to Gouverneto monastery for the evening special Easter service
Good Friday morning to open market festivity at Voukolies and Easter fasting lunch
Good Friday night early dinner and attending the Effigy at Chania Cathedral
Good Saturday free day and at church on midnight for the representation of the resurrection of Jesus
Easter Sunday festivities and Easter feast all day at the Mistral
Monday free day and optional trip to the village of Argiroupoli (Minoan and Roman city of Lapa) and the water falls

Prices include transfer from Chania airport (35 minutes), seven breakfasts, five dinners (inclusive of wine and coffee) and Easter Sunday big feast. Also are included all excursions and transportation costs. The only additional costs will be for some lunches and 2 dinners out.

Prices do not include flights and travel insurance.

Flights for Easter

There is one direct flight with Monarch from Gatwick to Chania. Number is MON 1472. Possibly one Manchester flight too but that is not certain. There are more flights to Heraklion both from Gatwick and Manchester.
Due to shortage of flights options in April we will be picking up small groups of guests from Heraklion airport (two and half hours drive) by agreed arrangement.
This might result in considerable airport waiting before we can depart from Heraklion airport due to joining guests from different flights.
Please contact the Mistral before you book your flights so we can arrange airport pick up. There is also a route of Olympic airlines scheduled from Heathrow to Athens and Chania is also attractive as it has only a couple of hours stay in Athens and is definitely a good option for some of our guests. Olympic will check the luggage all the way through.

Please contact Sue at Cannon travel in Hoddesdon (tel : 01992 441521 email: admin@cannontravel.co.uk) for your flight cost and availability.

Lamb on spit on Easter Sunday

Juda on Fire