Have you ever been to a camel parade in Crete? No? Well you are missing some fun.
Most years we go to the camel festival in the village of Kaina but this year we visited Gerani, near Rethymnon which has a similar - though different - tradition. This year it was the 100 year anniversary of the Camel parade at Gerani.You can see my blog from a visit to Kaina camel festival here
Clean Monday - the beginning of lent for the Orthodox Greeks is celebrated with traditional food and customs. Most families go Kite flying and often take a picnic
Clean Monday means Lagana - Unleavened bread, topped with lots of sesame seeds yum!
Antonis in the traditional, wood fired, Georgioupolis bakery
We arrived as the Camels were gathering for the start of the parade
The villagers were enjoying their morning coffee as the festivities began to start
There were loudspeakers all through the village and you could see dancing in hallways!
The parade comes down through the village
Hitching a lift under a camel!
Children taking turns to use the controls to swivel this camel's head
Hmmm that's not a camel!
A holiday atmosphere
Laguna, olives, salad, halva and the traditional Clean Monday dish of octopus cooked with macaroni was given to all
Lots of dancing!
A camel park?
The guys from the syllogos cooking huge cauldrons of macaroni with octopus
Later in the afternoon we called at Parasia near Vamos for our Clean Monday meal. We drove past Lake Kournas on the way and it was packed with families enjoying their day out!
Lettuce salad, Octopus cooked in wine and cuttlefish
Cuttlefish. Never tried it? You must!
A few video clips to share the atmosphere!
Who says you can't do Cretan dancing to a rock and roll lead guitar rif!
