Crete enjoys a mediterranean  climate spending  summers dry and warm in winter particulary sweet .In Winter rains are rather concentrated on the North-Coast while the  central part of the Island undergoes a more rigorous weather ( the mountains of Crete are covered with snow from November till April ).

         It is the South-Coast which knows least precipitation, it is not almost raining from April till  October  (the african continent is not far!) .

         Of all the Islands of the Mediterranean and in this case Greeks Islands ,it is in Crete where you can bathe from the middle of April till Novembre.

         In Summer , the Temperature oscillate without surprise from 28 to 35°celsius but the heat on coasts is bearable because moderated by Meltemi (the wind of North).

  meteo: www.voyages-tourisme.com/previsions-meteo/meteo-crete/

            You can visit a few very useful websites for the Discovery of the Island  with magnificent Photos, practical Information and Ideas of Strolls...

www.ile-de-crete.com

http://perso.inooi.com/v2/fr/cr/cr.php?lang=fr (beautiful  photos!)

            

	impressions of Crete   by Christine Castiglioni Largest of the Greek islands is a small paradise on all its extent. his coasts are divided between long beaches and small wild splits with calm water. On the mountains the cri-cri - local wild local goats-,come across with the muleteers, the shepherds and the hikers who want nothing to miss of fabulous panorama. Tiny villages protected by their orthodoxe chapel  from white dressed, are disseminated at every bend.
The History hundred times rewritten mingles its vestiges with fabulous legends: Minotaure, Dedale and Zeus, God of the Gods, were not they the first tourists?  aniway, in Crete, time stopped and yesterday is never far from today. What makes the atmosphere so singular. It is in the small still intact harbour  that it best is felt. At the south-west extremity , Paleohora (or Paleochora) is one of prettiest place  between sea and mountain, we call it '' fiancee '' of the sea. The Mediterranean vegetation is particularly luxuriant there: tamaris and eucalyptus dispute the ground with pomegranates and with the palm trees. It is necessary to be carefull  with his charm: some people say that the one which put the foot there wants to leave there never again. When the mildness of the evening settles, the fishermen sew up again the nets with the hands, the old ones look at the world passing on a bench by drinking Raki (the local grape alcohol). At the terrace of Kafenion, the players of Tavli (a kind of jaquet) seem rivetted to their seats. The hour does not have any more course. Crushed by the torpor,  begins to think of all that it is necessary to see on the island. To start with Knossos, the fabulous palate-labyrinth of the legend of ARIANE ''or large towns of Crete'' Heraklion, the modern capital whose daily market attracts crowd, Chania or Hania (pronounce Rania) with its Venetian port, its weavers and its embroidering-machines, the old lanes of Rethimno where one eats best the souvlaki of Crete (meat skewers) been useful with tsatsiki (of cucumber to yoghourt). But in Crete, the important thing is to take its time. And, for us, time passes too quickly.                         Crete with two faces In Crete, the sea is omnipresent. But contrary to all expectations , Cretan are not sailors. They are mountain dwellers. Center of the island to the littoral, the high reliefs give rise to a multitude of landscapes, of which none resembles the following: rare but exceptional forest, many pastures, fertile high plains where all kinds of fruits grow¦ In Omalos, close to Hania, the orange groves extend as far as the eye can see. The trees flower and produce at the same time, in spring and in autumn, scenting the atmosphere. The place is a point of passage obliged to go to the gorge of Samaria, an immense rock fault several kilometers, which leads straight to the sea. More in the east, the  high plateau of Lassithi, is another moment of amazement. Located in edge of bay of Mirabello, one of the cretan wonders, it is used as point of anchoring with multiple windmills with white veils. These windmills draw water in the ground water and make it possible to irrigate the fruit-bearing cultures: fishings, grape, figs, melons matured with the sun have an unforgettable perfume and a savour. It is in these mountains which the heart of the island beats, at the rate/rhythm of the traditions that did not succeed in erasing seven centuries of Turkish occupation.During the festivals, the cretan still cover the traditional costume: boots and broad breeches, scarf with fringe and money dagger for the men; baggy breeches, underskirts, apron and black waistcoat for the women. Far from any idea of folklore, they dance pendozali (not the sirtaki which is Greek), to the sound of a kind of heady mandoline , launch flowers and invite the spectators to go with them. Then come the evening, they settle around the soiled tables of the tavern of the village and taste shovel-mixes, with the fork, salads of octopus or of aubergines, the dolmades (stuffed vineleaves), the gigantes (broad beans with tomato) And if one of them invites you to drink the coffee, do not refuse this hospitality to him which makes its pride. You will share one moment the heart of this paradise.