Sarris House is an absolute gem: a peaceful, spacious, perfect, authentic haven above the olive hills. When we arrived, the first thing my children noticed was the bird nest hiding at the top of the arch inside the groundlevel porch wall. My youngest daughter discovered and then taught me how to be very, very still, so that the colorful shy birds would sweep into the nest -to sit on their eggs, I guess.
Daily my family would drive to unbelievable blue beaches like Elafonisi and Falaserna. Then we would come back to Sarris House to enjoy the pink sunset over the green fields. Evenings we would sit on the upper porch and snack on the delicious walnuts, wine, olives, honey, and fruit which Maro and Tassos had stocked in the house for us from their gardens (plus the red Easter eggs!). The sunsets and view from that upper porch were beautiful. Our phone cameras were able to capture the unbelievable blues of Crete's seas, but the gorgeous pink hues of the sunset from that upper porch... -Our poor phone cameras just couldn't get the color at all!

Maro and Tassos spent several hours one day with us... teaching me to make Greek coffee, cooking Boureki in the wood oven, letting my children spend time with their adorable dog, and giving us a tour of the fields and old churches. Maro told me they protect that nest which is attached to the porch wall so that the birds come back every year. Such lovely people, such a lovely home.

Practical matters: My family of 7 never ran out of hot water. The oven, stove, and washing machine worked well. The pool is not heated. The layout of the rooms is awesome -spread out for maximum privacy. A car is necessary. There is a nice big grocery store and English Taverna near the street accessing Xirokambi. The house, originally built by Tassos' grandfather, is quite beautiful and unique. It is the type of place at which one could definitely spend a longer vacation.

Maro and Tassos, we are so grateful for your unbelievable hospitality and our stay in your amazing home!