Stalida on the map. Stalida beach
Stalis is a resort village located in the Heraklion region between the villages of Hersonissos and Malia, popular among young people. The distance from Heraklion to the village of Stalida is 30 km. Despite the neighboring resorts, Stalida is popular with a completely different audience. Elderly tourists and couples like to stay here to relax.
Although there are also enough young people in the village, because the neighboring villages of Malia and Hersonissos are not so far away.
Stalida is known for its long sandy beaches and clear sea with a smooth sunset. That is why this place is very popular among tourists with children. Essentially, there are two beaches in Stalida, separated by a small rocky area. The beaches are quite wide, but during the season they are crowded, as this place is very popular among vacationers.
But Stalida is popular not only for its beaches. It has one of the best promenade areas in Crete with all kinds of souvenir shops, cafes and mini-markets. The choice of vehicles offered for rent here is amazing. And prices at local rental offices are slightly lower than at other popular resorts.
Interestingly, the village of Stalida most likely did not exist before, but was just a vacation spot for residents of the neighboring town of Mochos, located south of Stalida in the mountains. This is indicated by the absence of transverse roads in the resort village. The village is pierced by two main roads, one of which runs through the middle of the village and is more of a pedestrian road passing through the promenade area.
During the season, this road is closed to traffic, but when walking you should be wary of cyclists and motorcyclists. Walking along this road, you can see the church of Agio Ioanis, which is mentioned on Venetian maps. The second road is a highway running parallel to the National Road and connecting Hersonissos and Malia. It is worth noting that this road is quite busy and there is practically no place to turn around. In the area of the village of Stalida there are no pedestrian crossings and the only places where you can safely cross to the other side of the road or turn around by car are the tunnels under the road. Buses regularly travel past Stalida, taking you to Heraklion or Agios Nikolaos.
To summarize, we can say that Stalida is a resort village located near the main airport in Heraklion, with excellent infrastructure and everything necessary for a calm and measured holiday. And the advantageous location of the village allows you to explore all the sights of eastern Crete. In neighboring Malia you can visit the excavations of a Minoan palace. To immerse yourself in authentic Cretan culture and traditions, you can visit the village of Mochos, which can be reached by car, or you can walk along the old pedestrian road built by Bulgarian prisoners of war during the First World War, admiring the views of Stalida, Hersonissos and Malia.
Stalida is located near the most important attraction of Crete - the Palace of Knossos. You can also visit the Lasithi plateau, the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion, Cretan St. Tropez Agios Nikolaos, the island of Spinalonga... And these are not all the attractions that you can visit while staying in Stalida.
There is an opinion that Stalida, Hersonissos and Malia will soon unite into one large tourist village, especially since the border between them is, indeed, gradually disappearing. New hotels and cafes are being built, new beaches are being developed. But the fact remains that Stalida differs from neighboring villages in its more measured and relaxed holiday, where you can take a walk, sit in a cafe or stroll through souvenir shops. And those who want to have fun can easily reach neighboring villages with an abundance of nightclubs and all kinds of entertainment.
Updated: 2019-07-31 Reading time: 13 minutes
Stalida or Stalis is a small coastal village located three dozen kilometers east of the island's capital between the very famous tourist resorts of the northern coast. Needless to say, this is a great place for a vacation, because there are good beaches, a variety of accommodation options, and proximity to highways with the ability to conveniently travel both to the west and east of Crete.
The resort boasts a large number of different apartments, villas and hotels. For lovers of budget holidays, you should pay attention to the hotels Neon (Νeon 2*), Triton (Triton Hotel 3*), Aglaia Apartments 3*. There are also good four-star options here - Stalis Horizon Beach 4*, Semiramis Village 4*, Nana Beach Resort 4* and Residence Villas 4*. For those who appreciate maximum comfort, it is worth considering Nana Princess 5* and Sentido Blue Sea Beach 5*. We work with all hotels, villas and apartments in this resort.
Overall this is a very good place to spend a week or two of holiday: a good combination of a good location, a good beach and a good selection of hotels to suit different tastes and budgets. Here you can definitely relax in the full sense of the word: with benefit and interest, combining time in the hotel and on the beach with trips around the island and exploring its attractions. 
Where to go in Crete from Stalida
All the attractions of Stalida are good beaches and beautiful views, so if the plan for relaxing in a hotel and on the local beach has already been completed, then you need to choose where to go and what to see - on the island... or beyond!
For example, you can see the sights of eastern Crete - the city of Agios Nikolaos and the island of Spinalonga, or go to the islands of Chrissi or Koufonisi.
In the central area, you should definitely go on a sightseeing tour, visit the Palace of Knossos, the Lasithi plateau and the Cave of Zeus. For vacationers with children, you can go to a water park - two large water amusement parks are located nearby.
The west of the island will delight both lovers of active and beach holidays: it’s a bit far, but from Stalida you can go to the Samaria Gorge, to Balos Bay at the confluence of three seas, and to the pink Elafonisi beach.
Of course, it is worth mentioning excursions from Stalis to Santorini: sea cruises from Crete to this famous volcanic island are held almost every day. In short, study the excursion schedule and plan your vacation!
Where to buy excursions in Stalida
For Heraklion.ru clients, we simplify the task when searching for a place to purchase excursions from Stalida. At our holiday agency, you can choose and pay for the trip you like either online in advance or by making a free reservation on the website. By the way, for this reason, our prices for excursions in Russian are noticeably lower in comparison with the offers of tour operators, and payment for the reservation can be made later when meeting with the manager or online.
Buying and ordering online is also a good opportunity to save precious vacation time, because long walks along the streets of the resort from one street office to another and back are unlikely to bring much pleasure. It is much more pleasant to prepare and resolve all issues in advance, and spend your vacation on vacation - in the full sense of the word, when the travel plan is drawn up and all the documents for them are already in your hands.
Less time on city streets - more time on vacation.
The order can be made while planning your future vacation or while already in Crete if you don’t really like the options from your hotel guides. Our customer care managers will be happy to advise you on all possible questions regarding travel by email, phone, Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram and, of course, will provide all the necessary information during a personal meeting. Read more about us at, but for now let’s return to the excursion program.
Prices for excursions from Stalida: cost of trips for the 2019 season
The final cost of any trip is determined from the cost of transfer (buses, ferries...), the work of guides, the cost of tickets to archaeological sites and some other components. Most often, it is the remoteness of the areas and the transfer that play a decisive role. For these reasons, other things being equal, the closer the resort is located relative to the place of interest, the cheaper the trip will be. The reverse is also true.
If you are traveling with children, then we offer discounts from 50% to 100% for them!
Below we publish the entire list of trips and prices for excursions from this resort village.
Beach trip from Stalida to Balos Bay and Gramvousa Islands
Balos Bay is known outside the island of Crete, and even throughout Greece. A place unique in its beauty, which does not need any special introduction. A trip to the confluence of three seas involves a bus ride, a boat trip, a walk on the island of Gramvousa, and, of course, a beach component in the lagoon. It is the lagoon and the beach that are the main and main point of this trip. We dedicate a whole day to the trip to Balos from Stalida! 
Travel to Western Crete: Venetian cities and natural beauties of the island
A trip to the west of Crete: we go for a walk in the cities of Chania and Rethymnon, and then visit the turtles on Kournas, the only freshwater lake on the island of Crete.
Agios Nikolaos and Spinalonga: an informative excursion to eastern Crete
An impregnable fortress island that has brought us a rich history and a lot of memories. The island of Spinalonga is one of the most popular attractions in Crete, so visiting it plays a central role on this trip. Also during the trip you will have a walk around the city of Agios Nikolaos, swimming in the sea in the bays of the island of Kolokyta and lunch!
Beach trip to pink Elafonisi beach
Full day beach trip: we will travel along the entire northern coast of the island to the pink sand beaches of Elafonisi! The places are very beautiful, but they are far away: departure will be early in the morning, and return to the hotels will occur after sunset.
Mini-groups from Stalida: private travel format
Sightseeing tour of Crete
On this day, the true Crete awaits us, because during the trip we will visit two regions of the island at once - eastern (Heraklion) and western (Rethymno). The path leads to the Messara Valley, the most fertile region of Crete. Kaliviani Monastery, Matala beach, winery with tasting, waterfalls of the village of Spili, the city of Rethymnon... Trips are carried out in comfortable Mercedes Sprinter minibuses in groups of 8 to 15 people!
Semi-private format: groups from 8 to 15 people. Messara Valley, Kaliviani Monastery, Matala Beach, winery with tasting, waterfalls of the village of Spili, Rethymno city...
Transfer: Mercedes Sprinter minibuses.
Price: 64€
Days of the week: Tuesday.
Cremaston Monastery, Lasithi Plateau, Zeus Cave and Critical Evening in the Village of Mochos
An easy trip for the afternoon: first the group goes to the Cremaston monastery, then the route goes to the Lasithi plateau, where a visit to the cave of Zeus and a pottery workshop is planned, and closer to sunset everyone goes together for a Cretan evening in the mountain village of Mochos! The trip is carried out in small groups of 8 to 15 people in Mercedes Sprinter minibuses.
Orthodox Crete
A trip to significant Orthodox shrines, which is carried out in a special mini-group format: minibuses with groups of 8 to 15 people travel on the route. On this day we are waiting for the mountain monastery of Savvatyana, the cell of St. Myron, the Paliani monastery, the village of St. Thomas...
Western Crete for connoisseurs
Trip to western Crete along the northern coast of the island. Ahead of us are the monastery of Agia Triada, the Venetian city of Chania, Lake Kournas and the Melidoni cave on the way back. The trip is organized in small groups of 8 to 15 people on Mercedes Sprinter minibuses.
Holidays with children in Stalis: the largest water parks in Crete
An excellent amusement park with a wide variety of water activities for children and adults, and at the beginning of 2017, Acqua Plus, in addition to all the other attractions, built two new high slides for real thrill-seekers. There is no higher place in Crete yet! By the way, transfer to the water park and back is already included in the price!
Do you like active recreation? The large Water City water park near the village of Anopolis will delight you with a wide variety of slides and pools, among which there will definitely be something suitable for both adults and children! By the way, on this trip, transfer to the water park and back is already included in the price!
Legends, myths and stories: grand excursion from Stalis to the Palace of Knossos and the Cave of Zeus
This is a very informative trip that will take a whole day. The program will include a visit to the monastery of Our Lady of the Heart, the Lasithi plateau and the Cave of Zeus, a pottery workshop and lunch in a traditional tavern on the pass with a stunning view of literally the whole of Crete (the photos and reviews of this place are wonderful!). At the end of the day, take a tour of the Knossos Palace. We leave in the morning around 8-9 o'clock and return to the hotels after 18:30.
Lassithi Plateau, Zeus Cave and Krasi Village
Quite an easy trip to the Lassithi plateau and the cave of Zeus, pottery workshop, monastery of Our Lady of the Heart and the village of Krasi. We will also see the Seli Pass and excellent panoramic views of Crete! We leave in the morning, approximately at 8-9 o'clock, return to the hotels by 16-17 o'clock.
Knossos Palace and the main Archaeological Museum of Crete
Excursion from Stalida to Santorini: tours for every taste
Most cruises operate on ships that depart from the island's main port. It's just outside Stalida, so you have a variety of ferries to choose from almost any day of the week.
The route of the sightseeing tour in each tour is almost completely the same, the differences are in the ship and the information part (the guides give a different amount of content: history, facts...). All this allows you to choose the most suitable tour - both in terms of cost and schedule.
The most punctual large ferry: for those who also value their time
The route of the sightseeing tour around the island is completely the same, but this tour is carried out on a fast and direct ferry. This allows (if desired) to slightly change the program on the island and visit the volcano instead of the black beach. Also, if you don’t want to be late in the evening on Crete, then pay attention to this tour. Departure early in the morning, return to hotels around 9 pm. The ferry follows the schedule very strictly.
The fastest large catamaran: a combination of speed and comfort
The snow-white houses and squares of Fira, the bright and colorful Oia, the blue-domed churches, the black volcanic beach of Perissa during this trip from Stalis to Santorini you will see all the key attractions of this amazing island. Comfort on a sea voyage will be ensured by the fastest ferry Santorini Palace. Study the details of the trip and get your camera ready! 
Small catamaran: slower, can rock on the waves, but cheaper
A slightly less informative tour of the island's key attractions, which, however, will allow you to see the same places, while saving on small ferry tickets.
Big slow cruise ship: 7 hours at sea
A very affordable tour to Santorni on one of the slowest ships: you will have to spend about three and a half hours at sea in each direction, leaving about five hours to visit the island on this day. The trip route is almost the same (instead of the volcanic beach in the resort of Perissa, the group goes to a smaller black beach in the village of Monolithos), so this is a good way to save money. Details on the cruise page.
Tour to Santorini from Stalida for two days: sightseeing trip and sunset on the island
In addition to the ship, multi-day trips are additionally distinguished by the hotel on the island: on a more expensive cruise, this can be one of many options, up to five-star hotels with sunset views, but on an economical tour there is no such choice, and there can only be one hotel.
Fast catamaran tour and many hotels on the island
During this cruise you will also see all the main attractions of the island on the first day, but most importantly you will stay here for the night, because the final price of the trip from Stalida includes all transfers, tickets, hotel and breakfast! This means that you will have a great opportunity to watch the sunset, and spend the second day on the island according to your own program! By the way, we can increase the number of days to three, four or more. We go out to sea on the fast ship Santorini Palace. 
A high-speed ferry and a simpler hotel are a great opportunity to save money
If you want to go to Santorini for two days, but would like to minimize the sea part of the trip, but are not ready for the most expensive tour on a high-speed ferry, pay attention to this trip. In it, the sea crossing is carried out on the same fast ferry, and savings are achieved by spending the night in a simpler hotel without a view of the caldera. There will be only one hotel, and it is known in advance. Otherwise, this is exactly the same tour, but noticeably cheaper.
Small ferry and simple hotel
A smaller ferry, no choice of hotels, plus a little less informative information this tour to Santorini is suitable for those who want to spend more time on the island while spending less money. Details on the excursion page. 
Air tours over the island and Santorini
A great opportunity to see the island from a bird's eye view or fly to Santorini in 40 minutes. Helicopter flights and aerial excursions are a completely different world, and we go to it every day during the season. Moreover, even the youngest travelers regularly fly with us! For example, in 2016, the youngest passenger celebrated his third birthday on the flight, and in 2019, a family with two children traveled with us, the youngest of whom was only 9 months old:
Tour to Athens from Stalida: exploring the capital of Greece with a tour in Russian
Visit the capital of Greece, see the Acropolis with your own eyes, walk through Syntagma and the old city... many people dream of visiting Athens. And this can be done while on vacation in Crete! A huge liner will take you to the capital of the country, where you will spend the whole day, and on it you will return to Crete the next day. A sea voyage on a liner, a sightseeing tour of the capital, a lot of attractions and free time in the city – we’ll have time to do it all! Departure is planned in the evening, overnight on the ship and in the morning you are already in Athens! 
We return to Crete and continue with trips in maritime style!
Yacht trip from Koules Fortress to Zeus Island
A sea voyage for those who want to diversify their holiday on land. We set off to the open sea to the island of Dia: swimming in the bays, fishing, sunbathing and, of course, lunch or dinner on a yacht, because you can go out to sea both in the first and second half of the day!
Beach day: the uninhabited island of Koufonisi
The uninhabited island will definitely delight those who decide to take a break from the noisy and crowded beaches of the island. On this boat trip you will find beaches for literally every taste. What is especially important is that only those who will be sent here on this ship will be on them. We leave in the morning to set out to sea at the beginning of ten and head for Koufonisi!
Beach day: Lebanese cedar groves and golden beaches of Chrissi island
An even more southern island, which is famous for its wonderful beaches and crystal clear water. Moreover, on the island there are groves of truly old Lebanese cedars: some trees are hundreds of years old! The path to the island is not close, so we set off early in the morning and head to the port of Ierapetra on the southern coast of Crete. A ship, a short passage by sea and we are there!
Price: 58€
Days of the week: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
The capital of Crete and the Saturday market of Heraklion plus the Cretan Marine Aquarium
Olive oil and fresh, salted, pickled and dried olives and olives, honey, cheese, spices this is the Saturday market, a gastronomic paradise for those who love tasty and healthy food. This trip to Heraklion includes free time for walking and a visit to the market, and finally the largest aquarium in Greece.
Traditional Cretan evening... at an olive factory!
This is not an ordinary Cretan evening, and its main difference is that it is held on the territory of a real olive factory! Therefore, first you will have a short tour of the plant, and only then will there be music, dancing and treats prepared in front of you! Departure around 6-7 pm, return to hotels after 23:00.
How to buy excursions from Stalida yourself?
Quickly, easily and without wasting time and effort. So, you only need:
- 1 Select a trip on the desired date, departing from a suitable area of Crete;
- 2 Place and pay for your order;
- 3 Receive documents by email, Viber, WhatsApp or Telegram and save them on your phone or tablet.
Another important point:
By ordering an excursion with partial or full payment, you guarantee yourself a place and a ticket in advance!
This can be especially important during the high season, when tickets for the most popular trips simply run out.
Holidays in Stalis: your holiday program in Crete
See all possible trips from your island holiday area. Also take a look at our private guides and the ability to create personalized itineraries and organize private trips just for you.
Lovers of sea trips should definitely explore our fleet of motor and sailing yachts and catamarans, and for those who want to see the island from a bird's eye view, we will offer sightseeing helicopter flights.
Don't know where to start? We can help you!
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In our article we want to talk about one of the Greek resorts. Stalida (Crete) is a resort village located in the Heraklion region, between the popular youth resorts of Malia and Khrsonissos. From Heraklion to Stalida the distance is only 30 kilometers. Despite the fact that the resort is located in the area of famous villages where young people prefer to relax, it is aimed at a completely different audience. Stalida (Crete) is a quieter town, aimed at sedate family holidays. In addition, older vacationers like to come here.
A little about the resort...
Currently, the active development of tourism has led to the fact that all three cities on the coast - Malia, Stalida and Hersonissos, located close to each other, have practically connected with each other. The connecting link was a modern ten-kilometer embankment, walking along which you will definitely not be able to understand where one village ends and another begins.
As we already mentioned, Stalida (Crete) differs from its neighbors in that it does not have such a vibrant nightlife as in neighboring towns. It is for this reason that married couples with children come here. Even if you want to have fun, Malia and Hersonissos are very close.
There are a lot of European pensioners and families with children in Stalida. And young people here sometimes live in budget hotels and go to neighboring cities to have fun.
What is Stalida?
The resort itself is a small village consisting of one long street stretching along the coast. In the depths of Stalida there is also a road that leads to Malia (Greece). All the other streets, like streams, lead to the sea, descending from the mountains to the water.
The local Beach Road embankment, unfortunately, is not divided into vehicular and pedestrian zones. Therefore, during the daytime there is very active traffic on it. But at night the embankment becomes pedestrian, as it is closed to cars. But even at this time, scooters and bicycles actively move along it.
Despite such inconveniences, the promenade of Stalida (Crete) is considered one of the best on the island. It is worth noting that the resort, unlike neighboring towns, does not have an ancient history.
Not long ago, the villagers of the village of Mokhos were resting in temporary light houses. But over time, the beautiful and convenient coast gradually attracted the attention of residents of other cities. So gradually Stalida (Crete) turned into a popular resort.
How to get to the city?
In order to get to Stalida, you need to take tickets to the international one and then take a taxi to the resort (about 30 kilometers). The fare will be approximately fifty euros.
There is also a more budget option; the distance can be covered by the Heraklion - Malia bus, which departs from the bus station every thirty minutes. The fare is 3.8 euros per passenger. The journey takes just under an hour.
Resort Beach
The beaches of Stalida are the pride of the resort. It is thanks to them that the city has gained such popularity among vacationers. The sandy coast has a wide, gentle entrance to the sea, and the water on the coast is clean and transparent.
The entire coast of the resort is divided into two parts by a rocky embankment, because of this it is believed that there are two beaches in Stalida. It is worth noting that there are no wild areas of the coast in the city. At the height of the holiday season, the beach is crowded with vacationers.
The resort coast has a well-developed infrastructure. There are all conditions for a good comfortable holiday. On the beach you can rent a sunbed and an umbrella (the service costs three euros). The shore is equipped with showers, toilets and changing cabins. There are several children's playgrounds for young guests of the resort.
On the coast, vacationers can ride on water attractions: a banana boat (ten euros per person), a jet ski (forty euros), a catamaran (fifteen euros per hour). There are sports equipment rental points on the beach. Diving enthusiasts can go in a group with instructors towards Hersonissos, near which at a depth of about 24 meters there is a sunken plane that has become a kind of landmark.
Lifeguards are always on duty on the local coast. When coming to the beach, you need to pay attention to whether the red flag is raised, warning vacationers to enter the water due to strong waves.
Along the coast there are a large number of taverns and cafes where you can eat without leaving the coast.
Attractions of Stalida (Crete)
The resort has a convenient location not only relative to the airport, but also relative to Cretan attractions. Local travel agencies vie with each other to sell excursions from Stalida to interesting places on the island. In principle, you can explore all the sights on your own by renting a car.
For those tourists who are visiting the island for the first time, we can recommend going to Elounda. Once the town was a small fishing village, but now it has turned into an elite resort. On the way to Elounda, vacationers can see how ordinary Cretans live far from the sea coast.
No less interesting may seem to be a journey to which was once fortified for defense, and later turned into a leper colony. The place has a creepy history, but at the same time it looks very nice. You can get to the island not only as part of an excursion, but also independently on ships sailing every thirty minutes from the ports of Plaka, Elounda, Nikolas and Agios. The cost of a boat trip is 4-5 euros. You can visit the fortress on the island for two euros.
You can visit Plaka only to admire the picturesque view of Mirabello Bay. From the village, following the signs, you can get to the ancient city of Olunta, most of which is now under water. And from here tourists can easily go to Agios Nikolas - one of the most popular cities in Crete. In the village you can admire the architecture and sea views and visit Lake Vulizmeni, in which, according to legend, Athena once swam. The reservoir itself is small, but has a round shape. A long-standing legend said that the lake was bottomless. But in the twentieth century, the famous explorer Jacques Cousteau proved that it still has a bottom, like any other body of water on earth. The deepest part of the lake reaches 64 meters. At its bottom lie the remains of German equipment from World War II. This excursion route is quite interesting and not tiring. The length of the route is 89 kilometers, and the cost of the excursion trip is 25 euros per tourist.
Knossos palace
The main attraction of Crete is the Palace of Knossos. It is located not far from Stalida, so you can reach it by car in about twenty minutes. In addition, you can get to Knossos by bus, but with a transfer in Heraklion, since there is no direct flight. The fare from Stalida to Heraklion is 3.8 euros, and from Heraklion to Knossos is 1.6 euros.
Resort hotels
The city has a fairly large selection of hotels. Of course, the most popular hotels in Stalida are those located near the coast. In our article we want to mention several hotels that are worthy of attention, based on positive reviews from tourists.
Horizon Beach is a three-star hotel located 150 meters from the beach. The complex has four swimming pools, a children's playground and a terrace leading to the sea. The modern apartments are well equipped, with rooms overlooking the sea or the pool. All rooms have kitchenettes with cooking stoves and refrigerators. Therefore, hotel guests have the opportunity to cook for themselves if they wish.
Horizon Beach has a restaurant and a pool bar. A buffet breakfast is served daily. Positive reviews from tourists give reason to recommend the hotel for a holiday. According to numerous guests, Horizon Beach is a very good establishment with new spacious rooms, plentiful and varied food and a high level of service. Particularly pleasing is the beautiful area with swimming pools filled with sea water and a promenade to the sea.
"Akti Lounge Hotel and Spa"
Modern hotel located right on the beach of Stalida. The complex is equipped with good furniture, a sun terrace and a swimming pool.
Comfortable rooms, entertainment and good food make your stay unforgettable. Aktia Lounge Hotel Spa 5* has its own spa where you can enjoy wellness treatments and massages. The hotel operates on an all-inclusive basis. According to vacationers, the food in the main restaurant is always delicious, and the choice of dishes is very large. The service is at a high level. On the beach, hotel guests are provided with free umbrellas and sunbeds.
Hotel Triton 3*
Triton 3* (Stalida) is another hotel on the coast of the resort. The complex is located ten meters from the beach. On its territory there is a bar, a swimming pool, a well-equipped recreation area and modern comfortable rooms. All apartments are equipped with flat-screen TVs and satellite channels, refrigerators, new furniture and bathrooms. A buffet breakfast is served daily in the restaurant. Near the hotel there are cafes and taverns, although hotel guests do not need additional food, since the food at the hotel is tasty and varied, as evidenced by rave reviews from tourists.
In general, the choice of housing in the village of Stalida is quite diverse. Among the local hotels you can choose a fashionable complex or a cozy family hotel. Depending on your budget, you can rent an apartment with a kitchenette, the presence of which will allow you to save on food. But still, the majority of tourists prefer hotels with an all-inclusive system. Fortunately, there are plenty of such hotels in Stalida (Greece).
Local taverns and cafes
At the very end of the beach is “Anatolia”. The establishment is known not only for its amazingly delicious food and excellent service, but also for its very reasonable prices. For example, a lunch for two consisting of several simple dishes and two liters of wine will cost about 60 euros. Visitors to the establishment recommend ordering pizza, red mullet and kleftiko.
In the Golden Beach area you will find another worthy place - the Maria Tavern. The establishment is equipped with a nice outdoor terrace with a beautiful view. According to tourists' reviews, the tavern serves very tasty food. Perhaps “Maria” can be called the best establishment in terms of visitor ratings. The cafe staff is very respectful of Russian tourists; there is even a Russian-language menu for guests from Russia.
The establishment is named after the owner herself, who is also named Maria. She is said to sometimes personally help the staff. The food portions in the tavern are very large, and the cost of the dishes is quite affordable. For example, a dinner for a family with drinks will cost approximately 35 euros. Regular guests of the establishment recommend trying meat dishes, pizza, meze and garlic bread.
Katherine's Tavern
The tavern is on the list of popular establishments in Stalida (reviews from tourists are direct confirmation of this). Despite the fact that the cafe is located some distance from the beach, it is so popular that it is worth booking a table there for the evening in advance. The restaurant's menu includes dishes that are traditional Cretan food. Here you can try cheeses, preserves, pies with all kinds of fillings, home-made olive oil, homemade wine and delicious meat dishes, well, there’s no need to talk about seafood, they are prepared simply excellently here. The tavern has been run by the same family for over twenty years.
There is an Irish pub called Dewer's on Stolida beach. Of course, it is far from the only one on the coast, but many tourists say that it is special. In the evenings you can listen to live rock music here, and at night take part in a party on the seashore. If you are lucky enough to borrow an umbrella and a sun lounger at the bar during the day, you are guaranteed to be able to dine for just three euros. Beer of different types costs from three to six euros in a pub.
Resort climate
The peculiarity of cities such as Stalida and Malia (Greece) is that they are located in several climatic zones - North African and Mediterranean, like the whole of Crete. It is for this reason that summers in the region are dry and hot, and winters bring a lot of rain.
In general, the climate at all resorts on the island is incredibly mild and ideal for the human body. Stalida delights tourists with sunshine more than 300 days a year. The resort attracts vacationers with its good ecology. It’s no secret that there are no harmful industrial facilities near Crete.
The best time to relax is from April to the end of October. During this period, the air temperature is very comfortable, and there are practically no winds. But from November to the beginning of April, the weather cannot be called beach weather: it rains very often and the winds blow, and the sea is constantly stormy.
Some tourists dare to swim even in April, but the water becomes more comfortable in May, since summer weather sets in on the island at this time. Many tourists who do not really like the heat tend to the resort in May. The comfortable temperature allows you not only to swim in the sea, but also to see the local beauty and attractions.
When planning the trip, the task was simply the sea, the beach, wine, fruit, national food - that’s it, no excursions, stress (like a car) or other fuss. It should have been a fairly budget trip. (It wasn’t)
The company's services were taken from Pegasus, which has a very solid presence on the island (it worked clearly and specifically). Hotel Pela Sophia 3* in Stalis with a stingy owner (described in another place)
The sea is very clear, the waves are small, it was calm a couple of times in the mornings, once there was a red flag and then we swam, there were no living creatures - small fish of 2-3 species, no jellyfish, few hedgehogs, no seagulls - in the stones, it seemed, someone... I saw a moray eel once, the crabs were small, there was practically no debris in the water. I think masks and fins are not really needed. Perhaps this is the best sea I have seen from 5 countries.
The public beaches are sandy with a small inclusion of stones, the depth is meters. 30, you can be on any beach around, wherever you want, sunbeds and umbrellas are paid (1.8 EUR per unit, i.e. a set of 2 sunbeds and an umbrella - 5.4 EUR. A check is given for the whole day, i.e. if you come again in the evening - you don’t have to pay. Those who need cheaper prices can sunbathe by the pool and go swimming in the sea (everywhere is not far) or buy an umbrella - 10 units, a mat - 2 units.
Nothing is imposed on the beach, no one bothers you, once a day there is a baker and 2 times a day Vietnamese masseurs with expensive massages. (from 15 to 40 euros)
The water at the beginning of June is crisp (they say it was cool in May), 20-21 degrees, there is no information anywhere on the temperature, so by eye, if the water was a little cold, the folk method was used - vodka-rakia inside. Locals start swimming after the 15th.
The weather was super-20 degrees in the evening, up to 30 degrees in the afternoon, it was easy to breathe, the humidity was normal, and the clothes dried quickly. Mosquitoes were moderate, fumitox was necessary. There are a lot of “not young” German women topless on the beach. Not all Germans swam in early June. The tan is brutal. We need to be careful.
Although many still lay there from 10 to 5, from afar they could be confused with blacks. As always, parachutes, bananas and other beach paraphernalia are available.
About the village of Stalida, also known as Stalis. One long straight street (Stalida Beach road) parallel to the shore. Along it there are many hotels of 2-3 floors on both sides. There are few local residential houses. Lots of small souvenir shops, olive cosmetics, mini food markets, taverns, car, motorcycle, and bicycle rentals.
ATVs are popular. Pedestrians and cars are mixed together walking along the street, there is no sidewalk, wild ATVs of inadequate Englishmen from Malia are rushing around. The street is closed at night, but a small part of it towards Hersonissos, in the Pela Sophia area is noisy at night. Therefore, you need to choose a hotel with windows not facing the street. (Who thinks of sleeping at night). Prices in Stalida: gasoline 1.7-2 units liter. food prices: bread-1.5 units, eggs-1.5 units 6 pcs., a pack of olives-2.5 units, feta from 2 units a pack, wine (retsina) -3.5-5 units. for 1.5 liters or more, draft brandy 4-6 units liter, sausage-12 units, hard cheese-12 units, meat 7 units kg., watermelons-melons 1 units.kg, cherries-5 units.kg (Egyptian), strawberries-4 units. none, honey is prohibitively expensive, beer from 1.3 euros, ice cream - 2.5 euros (initial prices). The numbers in euros are deceptive, it seems like a small thing, when translated into rubles it is a significant amount, so there is no need to translate, you just need to spend. There is no bargaining as such, except that %10 will be discounted as a regular customer. Prices are about the same everywhere, it seemed cheaper in “Vasilise” than in Gemini. The quality of products also differs in different markets. The locals again praise Vasilis. Magnets can cost from 0.5 to 1.5 euros. Lots of shells and stars at reasonable prices. Souvenirs are not only Chinese, but there are also Greek ones. Prices for similar products such as toothpaste, etc. much higher than ours - Europe. Good prod. "Halkidiki" store in Malia near the church.
Count the receipt in small shops, there have been cases of cheating, at the checkout they count not by barcodes, but by hand. Some markets have containers with wine and brandy, you can taste it for free until you like it, pour it into the container and buy it. Ouzo is better than Turkish rakia, but not everyone likes the taste of anise.
We visited the market in Heraklion on Saturday - only fruits and vegetables, expensive fresh seafood, a small selection of homemade wine (very sour) and rakia. Eg. a loaf of 1.5 liters of homemade olive oil - 4ev. There is nothing interesting in terms of folk crafts. Lots of junk, but didn't look.
In Heraklion there are many gypsy women in the central squares, asking for handouts with dirty children, like ours.
Of the six taverns visited in Stalida, I liked “Camelot” (huge portions, delicious), I also liked “Calipso”, I didn’t like “Paradis” on the border with Malia (they didn’t splash it on the road, the portions were small, the dolma was the size of a fingernail). In general Most of the portions are not huge (definitely not for two), as described, maybe because it’s a tour. zone - it’s a pity I didn’t try it in the villages. They pour it on the road everywhere, sometimes they add something of their own, such as fruit salad (a small thing, but nice). The main national ones. I tried the dishes, everything was delicious, each tavern has its own menu. Live music is often found, but at an amateur level, although “sirtaki” is always good and fiery. Prices are somewhere around 12-15 per person or more, seafood dishes are more expensive. Check the bills if you understand Greek (there was an extra salad at “Sergianis” for 7 euros). There are barkers along the road, but it’s tolerable.
We counted and shed tears (just kidding) - food in general is expensive, so normal food in the hotel is important, and only then taverns and markets. In our 3* hotel, the food is more than modest (worse than in other two-room apartments), so the hotel needs to be knocked out and according to this indicator. Yes, there was a kitchen corner with everything necessary, but I would like to see the lucky one whose wife will stand at the stove on vacation. But all costs are compensated by the beautiful sea and relaxation, so the money is counted at home when the impressions subside.
To Malia (to the church) about 40 minutes on foot. This is a town with a completely different intensity, with a lot of noisy young people. My Soviet stereotype was dispelled - “all English women are thin and flat”, they turned out to be simply “super-sexy”, clothes on the verge of a foul, but without vulgarity. Eh! Let's get off our shoulders for thirty years and climb into this English chicken coop! Therefore, I recommend only Malia to young people, not Stalida.
It seemed that in Stalida up to 50% were Russians (there are also many of them in Malia), the rest were English and Germans.
The Greek people made a very favorable impression - they are friendly towards the Russians, natural, not irritated. There was a case when an elderly Greek tried to give us (knowing that we were from Russia) his potatoes for the barbecue, which we did not have time to order (we were in a hurry to catch the bus), perhaps this was his only food for the day. No words! It’s better to communicate, of course, not on tour. zone, in the tourist zone money prevails, not feelings. There are a lot of saleswomen from the former Soviet Union, they have been there for more than 10 years, but they don’t take Greek citizenship, although they could. Russian-speaking service is in demand - there have been notices for appointments, which means more and more of our tourists are arriving.
I haven’t noticed a crisis, although the staff are cutting their salaries and social benefits. help. Everyone is waiting with horror for the June 17th elections. Off. The minimum salary level is 330 euros. There is no hint of strikes.
Duty-free Heraklion is rather weak, but Metaxa is noticeably cheaper there, oil is a little cheaper, although the choice of oil is smaller, other prices are the same as in cities, incl. and on branded alcohol. There are few souvenirs there. But this can be carried in hand luggage, which does not affect the total weight of the luggage.
Of course, I really want to return to Crete again, somewhere in the western part, but there are still so many interesting countries!
I described my impressions - as I saw, so I wrote. What is not biased is for sure.
When we were getting ready to go to Greece, I “cast a bait” and asked people:
-What kind of Crete is it?
Most often answered:
-A little bald, but you'll like it.
My mood was this: Crete is more empty than dense, so the island was gradually accepted by the soul, in an ascending manner. My fascination with Crete grew in proportion to the inevitable need to go home, that is, the closer I got to home, the more I liked Crete. But first we had to get to him. Haven't flown with Greek airlines before. Departure was scheduled for three o'clock in the morning, arrival at about seven in the morning. We were counting on an air box, but the side was very good, new. The distances between the seats are large, very comfortable. The flight attendants did not speak Russian well, but were smiling, and fed without inspiration - there was no choice of dishes, like Transaero or Aeroflot, but the food was quite edible. They didn't provide blankets either, but it was very warm, in a word - comfortable. The waiting room at the Domodedovo port was packed to capacity, the flight schedule was very tight. The hardest time was the time waiting for departure, from approximately one in the morning until the landing was announced. I wanted to sleep, but there was nowhere to sit. Still, we found a place opposite gate 19 - from here people go to the Maldives. My thoughts were there.
“But, that’s it, we need to forget about the Maldives, we’re flying to Greece,” I reminded myself.
On the plane, time was divided into such “interesting events” as drinking and eating, and while we were habitually picking at foil boxes with forks, waiting for coffee, and then asking for refills, the flight ended. A taxi was waiting for us at the port of Heraklion. A brand new Mercedes, polished and polished to such an extent that it was even awkward to feel like a simple passenger - a VIP person no less! But my proletarian origin reminded me of myself, I wanted to change my shoes into house slippers, so as not to leave dusty shoe marks on the rubber mats. And the rugs are like children's galoshes - "...the galoshes are real, beautiful, shiny!" They were treated with something to make them shine and were so slippery that they almost rolled up when landing.
“You’re on a slippery slope,” I warned myself. Twenty-seven kilometers flew by in one breath.
We stopped in the small resort town of Stalis (Stalis). I liked the city. The history of its popularity is the same as that of all resorts: it was once a village, became a favorite leisure town,
comfortable, warm and well-fed, not very expensive in pleasure for idle tourists. Tourists are “loved” everywhere - for the money they don’t mind spending. This is how any resort town lives and lasts from season to season. This is love-carrot.
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The city is small, stretches along the coastline. Hotels, apartments and streets go down from the mountain to the sea,
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Heading towards the only and main street of Stalida: the embankment street - Beach Road. She is both walking and driving.
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The entire active life of the city is built around it: the promenade, shops, souvenirs, taverns.
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In Stalis the beach is considered one of the best. The sand is yellow, coarse, but not river sand. The entrance to the sea is calm. The beach is public. We never stopped there, we always passed by. We had our own piece of the beach five minutes from the apartment, everyone could use it, not just us. There were never more than 5-8 people. And on the common fund there are apparently no people, but there is an organized crowd: sun loungers, umbrellas, mattresses, cocktails. Here in the shops there are creams, glasses, towels, T-shirts, Panama hats... People “live” on the beaches: they sleep, eat, swim, their bodies are shiny from sunscreen and dripping with tanning oil.
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They sunbathe until their internal organs turn black. There is almost always a high wave on the beach. A full range of entertainment: banana boat, parasailing, jet skis, lap riding. I always looked away to the side, imagining what kind of “graters” a rubber balloon was rushing along. It was painful for me to watch, but people enjoyed the strong shaking - along the crests of the waves. At enormous speed, the boat drags a bloated gut or “doughnut”, which flies like a stone, at the very tops of the waves it generates: splash-splash, up and down, a series of blows on the water, like a stick on asphalt. People probably have spines of steel. But, as they say, everyone has their own taste... It’s fun to watch from the outside, especially when, at a sharp turn, the boat manages to throw people into the water into the wave covering them, then there is noise, screams, and delight. But I liked more to look at the foam trail left on the water by a rapidly rushing boat - a large white brushstroke on a blue canvas.
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Often, huge parachute balloons hover over the water. They are bright, multi-colored, hang in the air for a long time, standing out favorably against the bright blue sky. From a distance they look fun, like balloons on a string. You smile looking at them. Special thanks to parasailing lovers. A holiday for life.
Our apartments were on the very outskirts of the city,
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It was the most beautiful and quite secluded place,
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At the same time, the entire party was in the access zone. And the view from the open veranda,
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Allowed me to see the whole of Stalida, arcing around the coast, sheltered from the winds by the mountains.
I felt so relaxed that when I plopped down on a chaise longue or chair, my eyes closed on their own. The swaying jellyfish, the quiet sighs of the sea and the blue, one common blue between the sky and the sea, plunged me into numbness.
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The head was completely freed from thoughts, the soul was hiding on the verge of leaving the body. Through narrowed eyelashes, a lulled half-asleep glance slid over the bright, lush inflorescences of bougainvillea in raspberry and burgundy tones. This colorful spot seemed to enhance the effect of the blue haze, and the mountains visible in the distance through it seemed like a mirage.
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Only the lush greenery of cacti and palm trees brought us back from Nirvana to reality to the yellow-orange sand of roads and paths.
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The sea was calling.
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As a rule, at seven or eight o'clock, I went swimming alone - the children were still sleeping soundly, and my husband refused to join me. For vacationers, it was time to get up too early. For the morning itself is its most fertile time. The pier, left in complete peace by people since the evening, was resting with all its planks, and it was pleasant for me to step on them and feel their quiet creaking under my feet, as if I was catching the first movements of awakening, liberation from sleep.
One day, at the pier, I saw something similar to a reptile, but I can’t say who exactly it was. She saw only a dark brown, wet, curving tail sliding into the sea from stones as dark as herself, warmed by the sun and slightly submerged. Were you warming yourself? Suspicion fell on a young moray eel, although the thought that it could be a snake made me numb. At first what popped into my head was:
- Shouldn’t we turn back?
Then sensitivity returned to my hands, I felt that I was holding fins, a mask and a camera, then to my legs.
“The ice has broken, gentlemen of the jury!” she remembered Ostap Bender and resolutely moved towards the descent stairs. The ladder to enter the water was a bit short. When the tide was high, from the last step you had to splash flat into the water and try not to run into a stone under the water. I didn’t always succeed, I was wounded several times until I bled, the abrasions were small, but unpleasant. The low tide did not improve comfort, the water became less, but my feet still couldn’t reach the bottom of the stairs. The descent for me was a little controlled slide. The ladder is too small! After the “snake vision” I stared in all directions with increased attention. This helped me notice a tiny frog huddled sideways in a shallow scratch in the stone. She stretched out to her full length, resting her hind and front paws, like struts, on tiny stone notches. It was very difficult for her to maintain this position, but she saved herself from me, looked with her beaded eyes towards me. For the second time that morning I was surprised:
-Where are there frogs in the sea, even tiny ones? (Approximately 3 cm in full length with extended limbs).
But what was supposed to be in the sea - fish - was very disappointing to me.
They were a light green faded color, barely visible against the background of greenish water.
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Sometimes, the color changed from almost transparent to speckled.
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With brown spots on the back they became a little more noticeable, and they were all pot-bellied, apparently it was time to spawn.
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While diving for fish, I found myself at the boundary of mixing layers of cold and warm currents. And only by the fact that the water was mixed, that is, the process was ongoing and was not completed, I can explain this phenomenon: diving and finding myself in this layer, my eyes lost focus, everything blurred before them, I could not see anything except the vibrations of the water, as if Vaseline was mixed into clear water. I have never experienced anything like this in my life. At first I blamed the mask, I thought it was just another fogging problem. I surfaced with annoyance, pulled it off and realized with horror that even without the mask I couldn’t see anything. This lasted only a few fractions of a second, then the pupils narrowed, sharpness appeared and I saw the water and the shore around me, and everything became normal. Over and over again I repeated my attempt to dive and catch some fish. Nothing worked, but then I got distracted and sailed to another place, where I noticed a “shaggy hoof.”
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Waves - hard workers painstakingly sharpen and polish stones, completely devoting themselves to work.
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I watched the process for a long time. Sometimes the wave was weak, and then I got closer to the stones, but the waves are treacherous and sometimes unexpectedly pushed me with force onto sharp piles of rock formations.
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The blow could cause serious injury, but it was more dangerous to run into a sea urchin.
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Sometimes, a wave, sighing deeply, rolled onto the gently sloping slabs, thickly covered with short curly algae, as if it wanted to stroke or grab a handful of them. Then, exhaling noisily, as if disappointed that she could not do this, she rolled back, and, angry with herself, broke into pieces, crumbling into many small bubbles.
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Near the shore, in the depths of silence, between two shaggy stones, a small red fish, similar to a beautiful anthias, was hanging out. Somehow I managed to hook her.
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I took great pleasure in examining everything that was under water. The catch, however, was not rich, but visibility was good and the water was a real pleasure.
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The sea is always beautiful, especially in the predawn and sunset hours. Stalida is located on the northern coast of the island, and therefore there were no sunsets as such, but there was such charm in the early evening! The mountains turned pink and I always called to my people: “Look, look - pink mountains!”
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I always wanted the sea, but I also wanted roads, because Stalida is not Crete, but just one of its provincial cities.
For this we rented a car. We took an Opel Corsa with a robotic gearbox and an engine power of 85 horsepower. As it turned out later, the power along the mountain serpentine road was insufficient. Two drivers were included in the insurance: me, the backup driver, and the main driver, Alexey. I really wanted to test myself on the serpentine road. The lack of experience driving someone else's rented car in a foreign country filled me with fear: will I be able to cope? I know my “horse”, I trust her as myself, and I feel confident. An alien soul, albeit a metal one - darkness, plus responsibility, so the premonition of roads was especially exciting.
We outlined a route, the main goal of which was Kournas Lake - sometimes pronounced and written as Kournas Lake - therefore, all other beaches and cities on the way to the lake clung to it.
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We passed the city of Rethymno without stopping, only the sign flashed - Rethymno. Now I really regret it. Cities are also interesting, although the definitions city - town - village brought complete confusion, a pathetic attempt to understand what was guided by calling a city a city and a village a village. Sometimes a city was so tiny that it would be more appropriate to call it a village, and vice versa, a village could well lay claim to the title of a city. I was so confused that I didn’t care about it later. I took it as is. The stops were short, because we didn’t leave early - we spent a long time fiddling around at home. I wanted to allow myself a long blissful morning with a swim near the home shore in calm, clear water in the company of the still unobtrusive sun, with a cup of hot coffee on the terrace, with a feeling of unnecessary haste: look, breathe, live, enjoy. But, as they say, the music did not play for long. The time was approaching 13:00, it was a long way to get to our destination.
Most often I was a passenger in the back seat, so I looked around more, and at first the road did not evoke much charm. I was more interested in its surface, the speed of the car, how much gasoline costs, turns and road signs, and, of course, I was really annoyed by the “crunchies” - mopeds and scooters with four wheels. And not so much the vehicles themselves, but their riders, completely unprotected by any ammunition in case of a sudden fall or, God forbid, an accident. Some did not even have a helmet on their head, not to mention glasses to protect their eyes from small debris or a stray pebble. A pebble hitting your forehead can be your last feeling in this life. Few people follow the speed limit. If they comply, then a chain of cars forms on some sections of the road. For any driver, a constantly looming bumper in front of the car in front is like a red rag in front of the eyes of a bull. It is rare who can withstand such a test - an uncomfortable ride. And, if the driver of the car in front, for some reason, does not want to give way, then the orderly chain begins to break, the drivers deliberately commit violations: overtaking, driving into oncoming traffic, speeding. You have to be honest - I violated it myself. Everyone expects the authorities to be loyal to foreigners, and they are, indeed, loyal. CAREFULNESS, relaxation, sometimes fatigue, sometimes courage, sometimes irritation - all this is typical of Cretan roads. And, it would seem, people are resting, not gravitating home after a shift. Why fight? The roads are not wide, usually two lanes, except for the national road. Often its short straight sections are replaced by long turns or a whole series of turns. The roads along the inner side of the highway are pressed tightly against the foot of the mountains, which makes it seem terribly crowded. thirty
To be continued...