Absolutely beautiful house and the most generous and attentive host we have ever had. An unforgettable experience. Very authentic area with cultivation in the back yards of wine, raki, fresh eggs from the neighbor, fresh bread every day delivered from the baker, and delicious fresh fruit.
The farmhouse was bright, airy, and with all conveniences while also very traditional so that you felt transported to a different time and place. Truly a bridge between two worlds and cultures. There was food, wine, olives, other tasty items left for us to freely use, as well as fresh eggs and daily fresh bread delivered. The refrigerator and the cabinets were stocked with delicious food - it was like we had walked into a Greek kitchen. So incredibly generous, and the opposite of the stark emptiness of the counters and cabinets of other AirBnb’s we’ve stayed at. In addition, in a perfect example of Cretan hospitality, a bottle of purely local raki was presented to us when we were leaving! It was delicious!
Every day (not too early) we would hear the local sellers drive through town announcing their fresh and interesting items for sale over a loudspeaker. And you can hear the roosters and the dogs and see the sheep and signs of a small village all around while watching a sunrise or sunset in the mountains and seeing the distant sea from the balcony, which was so spacious and so comfortable! Our 9-year old daughter LOVED the hammock on the balcony, for example!
Magarikari is an enchanting village with a deep history including in the partisan resistance during WWII. While there we were reading the non-fiction book Cretan Runner, and Magarikari appeared multiple times, which was amazing to read about while we were literally physically living in the village itself. We met the owner’s brother as we were first driving in to the home, he spotted us on the village road and stopped to talk to us! It was actually a pretty surreal moment because of the timing. We were just driving along with the windows down and had slowed down because of a car in front of us. Alongside the driver’s window we hear, from a stranger in his own vehicle, in the middle of this tiny Greek village, “Excuse me, are you from Boston?” The owner also invited us to go watch his band play at the small seaside village of Agios Pavlos which we did and HIGHLY recommend. It was an unforgettable night.
The roads do twist and turn to travel in and out of Magarikari and the distances to the beaches, the Minoan palace of Festos, and the many other sites do take 20 to 30 minutes. But the sites along the road are interesting and we were even invited into a family's home in the next village up the mountains of Vorizia for some raki and mezza. We wish we had taken more time to drive toward the higher slopes near the tallest mountain of Crete, Mount Psiloritis, which is nearby, and do some hiking. Next time for sure!
So, in summary, we highly recommend the "Farmer's House" if you want to experience Cretan Mountain village living as you drive to the many local sites in the area. And, to conclude, a massive thank you to our host, who was the warmest and most generous host imaginable.