I saw this slogan at the Athens airport on my way to the Island of Crete.

There are suposedly 30 million olive trees growing here. They might be right. Olive trees are everywhere and they cover the hilly terrain as far as the eye can see. But not just any olive trees, Koroneiki is the variety that originates from here and it is delicious in spite of its humble looks. Fruit is very small, nothing like the olives we know from supermarkets.

One of the oldest if not the oldest olive tree is growing here. You can see it in one of the pictures below. It’s the one with the twisted and airy trunk. Cretan olive oil from the early harvest tastes bitter and intense. It leaves the stinging sensation on your tongue. It is absolutely one of the biggest local treasures.

Olive trees are undeniably the royalty here but we mustn’t forget to mention their smaller companions. Fragrant wild oregano, thyme, rosemary, artichokes, and so much more. Fig threes bearing abundance of fruit. Pink and white bougainvillea flowers hanging down from branches embracing walls and old abandoned cars.

I was mesmerized by the air laden with fragrance and salty mist from the lazur costal waters. Cicadas never got tired of playing their music. The hotter the louder they got.

What else? The cats. But this is still another story. Until next time.