Creta Maris Resort Introduces Guests to Cretan Way of Life

The Creta Maris Beach Resort, located in Hersonissos on the island of Crete, recently held two special events to introduce its guests to authentic Crete, the Cretan way of life, culture and traditions.

Nikos Vlassiadis, General Manager of Creta Maris Beach Resort., and Theano Metaxa.

The resort last month held an interactive cooking class with Theano Metaxa, the wife of Nikolaos Metaxas, the founder of the Metaxas Group of Companies that currently operates the resort. Participants had the opportunity to learn more – first-hand – on the culinary culture of Crete by making “soutzoukia”, one of the island’s most delicious desserts.

“’Soutzoukia’ consists mainly of nuts  – half walnuts preferably-  grape must with flour, a thin thread, love, sun and air,” Metaxa said. Cretans use to make soutzoukia this time of the year and enjoy them during winter, as the dessert that can be preserved for a long period of time.

Furthermore, the resort’s guests and employees, guided by Maritsa – the donkey of Creta Maris – participated in the revival the “Opsigias”, which is one of the oldest Cretan customs for the production of raisins.

First, they transferred the grapes from the vineyard to the resort, where they proceeded with the so-called “lousidiasma”, by putting the grapes in a large bucket full of water and potash. The grapes were then hung on the “opsigias”, which is a construction of parallel rows of metal joined together by wires, and will remain there until they become raisins.

Creta Maris Beach Resort

The participants completed the authentic Cretan experience by tasting the popular Cretan “sultanina” raisin, accompanied by the aromatic alcoholic beverage, “tsikoudia”,  from the Cretan vineyard, as well as local dishes with raisins.

The two events were held within the framework of the “We do Local” initiative, which provides guests with the opportunity to experience the everyday habits and activities of the locals.