Building, as an act of faith or from a dying dream to a multicultural reality

 Crete: place of dreams and wonders

Special note: Today we are doing something different. Instead of just talking about politics, we will begin a new series by the talented Colette Hartwich. In it, Ms. Hartwich will discuss her current project of finding a new home on the island of Crete. Stay tuned for more about her adventures in Greece. 

By Colette Hartwich

As a family, we consider Crete (Greece) our second motherland. With its magical diet, Crete is linked to longevity, fabulous jewelry techniques and of course olive trees. Crete, embedded in Minoan culture, is also the birthplace of the labyrinth and the Minotaur, or at least the legend of it. 

For seven long years now, we have been looking for the ideal spot for a house: close enough to the sea as there is nothing better than a fresh morning dive straight from your porch; close enough to a village, so that, in recent years the frequent forest fires, at least to a part one could rely on some sort of fire brigade; with a few olive trees hopefully still not decimated into oblivion by some bug which has been infesting the Mediterranean basin for years now. 

We managed to spend a whole day discussing olive tree care with a local expert: when is best to water them, when can we pick the fruit and when should we prune the trees. Funnily, we were far-sighted enough to hire a hard working expert genius for the next couple of years. Our trees are saved! Today, more than a year since the contract was signed, the olive trees (all 46 of them), are doing well and this Mediterranean deadly bug has not dared to touch them yet. There are still further negotiations to be done: the local cooperative of oil pressing. We need to figure out, amongst ourselves and collectively with the co-op how we may participate and pay for the whole olive oil making process from our whole park of olive trees – 46 trees represent a lot of money, and maybe a small business venture could finance our future house construction costs?

We have spent many friendly hot sunny days with the two possible construction companies, with which we managed to become friends. In our plan for the future house to be, we would like to respect the local architectural tradition: several connecting units and a chance of swimming pool (well the pool may not be in the local tradition, but it certainly is a luxury on a hot day). Due to worldwide pandemic, the bureaucratic side of things took us a little longer than expected, but I hope there will be less paperwork and more of actual building in the coming months. 

The village where we actually met about four years ago made friends over endless cups of Greek coffee with the Welsh owner of our dream plot of land, is an example of the past, with the retirement of the local café owners the village empties in front of your own very eyes. In walking distance, it is easy to find this village’s predecessor: a Venetian 15^th century village linked to the coast by Winding River. As occupiers, the venetians could sail down to the shore to check for possible invaders. The only living soul there is an old lady friend, who lives alone with her flock of hens. 

The village, close to which we shall start building very soon, is in contrast incredibly alive and shockingly international. Many non-Greeks have settled here for retirement, including an internationally renowned singer! The air here seems to vibrate with exciting projects that await your visits like seminars of adventure, during which you may learn the secrets of the local herbs. The local restaurant is a local meeting place for all, new and old. Our Norwegian neighbors show us what they have realized in their lovely house and creative garden. It seems like a place for everyone who wishes an active holiday and/ or retirement. I promise to keep you abreast when we start building our dream house. 

About the author: Colette Hartwich is a writer and a Development Assistance Specialist for the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg. She is also a patriotic diaspora Ukrainian who co-created a therapeutic farm for young Ukrainian autists in West UKraine.  She has four grandsons and a tiny granddaughter in the US. Ms. Hartwich lives in Berlin.

The opinions expressed in her postings are her own.