Visiting Houdetsi festival is experiencing the Cretan culture, people and food in almost distilled, condensed and pure way and as authentic and genuine as it can get. Here are 3 main reasons why to combine your visit to Crete with the time of Houdetsi village Festival.
Crete is know for its hospitable and wonderful people but this festival is truly an amazing opportunity to experience the hospitality in a multiplied way. The Cretan people are honoured you have visited their village (and island) and are genuinely interested in your likes. It is a celebration where you as a guest are warmly welcomed by hosts - Cretan people. So, do not miss the opportunity to chat up with people and exchange smiles. Don't get discouraged by your scarce Greek vocabulary, Cretan people like the rest of the Greeks usually are happy to practice their English and to make you feel at home.
This is probably one of the best ways to learn about key ingredients of the Cretan cuisine - variety of cheeses, spices, honey, herbs and of course, Cretan spirit - raki as well as wine from local varieties. All of that goes for sale as well as for tasting and sampling in generous portions. Options are abundant including souvlaki, hortopitakias (pastry with greens and herbs), tiropitas (pastry with cheese), loukomades (fried-dough pastry soaked in honey and cinnamon and sprinkled with sesame), halva and so on. Every second seller offers generous shots of raki to train your taste buds and to seal the newly made friendship (having said that you would never see any drunk person there).
This festival is about celebration of Cretan and world music in the first place and therefore a unique opportunity to listen and dance to the sounds and tunes of lyra, laouto, percussions and other instuments. The jam sessions take place spontaneously in the narrow pathways of the village as visitors pull out their own instruments to share their music experience.
Houdetsi Music Festival this year takes place from 4 to 7 of August. Here you can find more information.
Having traveled for over 30 years, since 6 years now, I have found the whole world in one of the most fascinating and unique places on earth – Crete. It is a diverse, rich and inspiring island which even after so many years does not stop surprising me - its rich history and unique traditions, its people, the delicacies of Cretan cuisine, its landspace and its stunning nature. Here I reveal some of its secrets.
Contributor
I see Crete through turquoise - pink glasses.
Press here for more snapshots from the Houdetsi Festival 2013
