Enjoy A Traditional Cretan Night

Haridimos Apartments, Tavronitis, Chania

You can't come to Crete and not enjoy a traditional Greek or Cretan night - it is certainly an experience you will never forget!

Katerina and her daughter, Mary of Haridimos Apartments show the guests how it's done with help from the professional dancers.

Whether you opt for one of the organised tours to a large venue with hundreds of people, or decide to visit a small family run taverna, a traditional Greek or Cretan Night is a wonderful evening out that showcases the best of Cretan food, wine and hospitality...oh, and there's a little dancing too.

We opted for a smaller establishment as we really wanted to get the feel of Crete away from the overly touristic and mass produced food venues. Haridimos Apartments is a family run business set on the beach front at Tavronitis. Run by Hari and his wife, Katerina, and helped by their mother, also called Katerina, their sons, Giorgos and Apostoli and their daughter, Mary, Haridimos Apartments oozes that classic feel of what a Greek holiday should be; friendly, welcoming and making you feel like you are a part of the family. Their Cretan Night is run every Thursday and everyone is welcome even if you are not staying at the apartments.

As with all Cretan Nights there is as much food as you can eat and as much wine as you can drink before the dancing begins.

Katerina cooks an amazing selection of pork, chicken and lamb on the grill for the BBQ, with sausages and burgers for the kids if they want them. She also produces a wonderful Greek salad, Gigantes (giant beans), tzatziki, garlic bread, dakos, feta, gemista (stuffed tomatoes and peppers) and more to ensure that you don't go hungry. The red and white wine is free flowing and is sourced locally as well as being produced by Hari from their own grapes. The raki is also produced by Hari and there seems to be a never ending supply, which is a good thing for those who at first are reluctant to dance; it seems that raki truly makes even the most reticent of people discover their dancing shoes.

When you are not eating, drinking or dancing you get to watch some of the wonderful dancing that makes the night so special. From the world famous Zorba to the spectacular 'Fire dance' where the traditionally attired Cretan dancers step around a ring of fire, the skills and energy are a delight to watch. These guys are also very adept at persuading the audience to join in with little 'tasks' and their attempts to teach some of the more complex steps with jumps and athletic prowess on show can be hilarious. Luckily the victim, I mean volunteer, is in on the act and always leaves with a cup of wine as a thank you for their participation. Of course it wouldn't be a Greek Night with everyone joining in for Zorba and the sight of everyone in a row managing the steps as they snake around the pool is just brilliant.

If you want to know more about booking a place on a traditional Cretan night at Haridimos Apartments you can contact Katerina on her Facebook page HERE, or take a look through their website by clicking on the link - https://goo.gl/R7fBCT

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