13th Finswimming World Junior Championsip 2014 - Chania Crete Greece (25/6 to 2/7).

1. From the editor
The specific newsletter is a personal initiative. My name is
Lia and I live in Chania. Having been a volunteer for many
years, I support the sport of finswimming, as it happens
with the current great event. Meanwhile, I’d like to mention
that the official documents for the 13th
CMAS Finswimming
Junior World Championship, are distributed by the internet
site of the Greek Swimming Federation, www.koe.org.gr.
I’ve decided to proceed in the syntax of this specific
newsletter, mainly for accompanying persons like parents
and friends that have some free time to visit our city,
Chania.
Chania is on the northwest coast of Crete and it is the
island’s second biggest city. There is a modern part to
Chania city, but the Venetian old town really shows off its
history – especially around the harbour with its old
lighthouse and fort.
How can someone arrive at Chania?
There are 2 ways:
1. By airplane landing at Ioannis Daskalogiannis
international airport. You can either travel with the
national air flight company Aegean via Athens or
Thessaloniki, or directly to Chania using the low cost
Irish company, Ryanair, or some charter flight
travelling directly to Chania from abroad. If you would
like to use Aegean, check its multilingual internet site
www.aegeanair.com. Aegean is a Member of Star
Alliance, so it cooperates with many air flight
companies worldwide. If you book with Ryanair
(www.ryanair.com) you can find a direct flight to
Chania from Barcelona, Milano, Bologna, London,
Leeds, Brussels, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Wroclaw,
Thessaloniki (GR), Athens (GR), etc. Finally, if you
decide to choose a cheap charter flight directly to
Chania airport, you can ask a local travel agency in
your country.
2. By ferry boat arriving at the Souda port. You can
travel with ANEK Lines ferry boats from Piraeus to
Chania. The advantage of this choice is that you can
have your own car or carry as many luggage as you
like. The ferry boat departs every night at 21:00 from
Piraeus (Athens) and arrives early in the morning,
around 05.45, in Souda. For the exact hours, please
make sure to check with a travel agent or use ANEK’s
site to check/book your tickets (www.anek.gr). Keep
in mind that booking two-way tickets, you get a
discount. You have the option to travel on deck or
reserve an airtype seat or a bed in a cabin or a whole
cabin (4, 3 or 2-bed ones). During your travel you can
enjoy Greek cuisine at the restaurant of the boat.
Moreover, you can travel from Italy, Ancona or
Venice, to Greece (Patras port).
Map of Crete Island
Venetian or Old harbour at Chania. The lighthouse and the
mosque Yiali Tzami
Editor
Dr Lia Krassadaki-Mitsotaki
General Secretary
Nautical Club of Chania
Nautical Club of Chania is one of the co-organisers of the
Finswimming World Junior Championship. The Club has a
tradition of 80 years in aquatics. The finiswimming section
has a history of 30 years and many athletes in the Greek
National Teams. The Nautical Club of Chania operates at
Kolimvitirio (Swimming Pool of Chania).
Tel. 0030-28210-96078, Fax 0030-28210-96077
E-mail: info@nox.gr, web page: www.nox.gr (in Greek)
Lia’s E-mail: lia.chania2014@gmail.com, mobile 0030-6944-
681241
Newsletter – 13th
CMAS Finswimming Junior World Championships,
Chania - Crete, GreeceApril 10, 2014 Vol. 1 Issue 1

2. Means of transport
From the Airport to Chania (14 km): you can either
take a bus (2.3€ per ticket, 30 minutes) or a taxi (about
22-23€, 20 minutes). The daily timetable for the bus
departure from the Airport to Chania, is as follows:
06:30, 08:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00,
14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 17:30, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30,
20:30, 21:00, 21:30, 22:00, 23:00. The daily timetable
for the bus departure from the bus central station
(KTEL) to the Airport, is as follows: 05:00 (on Saturday
at 05:30), 07:00, 08:30, 09:30, 10:00, 11:00, 11:30,
12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 16:30, 17:30, 18:00,
18:30, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 22:00, 23:00.
From Souda port to Chania (8 km): you can either
take a local bus or a taxi (9-10€). You can also use the
local bus lines, departing from in front of the boat, and
arriving in the Chania centre in about 20 minutes.
From your hotel to Kolimvitirio (swimming pool of
the championship): if you choose a hotel for
accommodation close to Kolimvitirio, you don’t need
any means of transport. Otherwise, you have to check
the distance between the place of your
accommodation and the Kolimvitirio. In this case you
can choose between a bus and a taxi. Alternatively,
you can rent a car, but make sure to have your driver’s
license with you, in accordance with the European
regulations.
What about the accommodation
If you would like, you can book a room close to
Kolimvitirio (swimming pool), as there are plenty of
choices, most of which are close or very close to the
sandy beach of Nea Chora. Some of them are rooms
for rent, or apartments or 3* or 4* Hotels. Some of
them offer lunch / dinner (incl. breakfast), but most of
them do not. If your hotel doesn’t offer lunch / dinner,
you can enjoy the many taverns spread across the
Nea Chora beach.
Of course, there are plenty hotels all around the area
of Chania, since the city is a favorite tourist
destination. In this case, you will need either a bus, a
taxi or a rented car for your transportations.
For the athletes the Organising Committee, the Greek
Swimming Federation has booked 4* Hotels (Syrios
Village, Panorama Hotel & Porto Allegre), just a few
kilometers away from the centre.
At a glance – on foot
• Enjoy the aromas and traditional products at the
Agora market, centre of the city; enjoy your café at
the municipal Garden’s historical cafe – KIPOS
(400m away).
• Eat and drink at the Venetian harbour.
• Enjoy your walk at the old city (Venetian harbour).
• Visit the Firkas fortress and Nautical Museum
(3€ per ticket) at the Venetian harbour.
• Visit art exhibitions (free entrance), at the mosque
Yiali Tzami (photo in the 1st
page, Venetian
harbour).
• Visit the Chania Cathedral at Halidon str., built at
1862. (Halidon is the main street from the centre
towards Venetian Harbour).
• Visit the Archaeological Museum at Halidon
str., located in the former Venetian Monastery of
Saint Francis.
• Shop at plenty of souvenir shops.
• Swim at the sandy beach of Nea Chora, close to
Kolimvitirio (Swimming pool of the Championship)
and enjoy your lunch there.
Newsletter – 13th
CMAS Finswimming Junior World Championships,
Chania - Crete, Greece
April 10, 2014
“CHANIA - A JOURNEY TO YOUR SENSES”
http://www.chaniatourism.com/
Vol. 1 Issue 1
For a taxi: “Radio Taxi HERMES”, tel. 00306947618300,
00306986731880 or 00302821098700, www.chaniataxi.gr

3. Short or less short excursions
You can choose some excursions from the following
indicative list, by either joining an organised group or
by using a bus, a taxi or your own (rented) car.
Gramvousa – Balos crouise. Departure at 08:00,
return at around 18:00. Balos is an extremely nice
beach, one of the nicest in Mediteranean. As the
internet site www.cretanbeaches.com says “The famous
lagoon of Balos is located approximately 56km
northwest of Chania and 17km northwest
of Kissamos, formed between the Cape Gramvousa
and the small Cape Tigani. Balos is definitely the most
photographed beach in Crete, a most favorite subject
of all the tourist guides for Greece. It is no coincidence
that Prince Charles and Princess Diana visited Balos
with their private yacht many years ago. Balos is
famous for its turquoise waters, the wild natural beauty
and the beautiful exotic scenery. During the summer,
Balos is visited by thousands of people, who arrive
mostly by the ferries departing from Kissamos port”.
You can drive from Chania to the port of Kissamos (40
minutes using the highway), leave your car at the port,
and book a ticket for the ferry boat (25€, special offers
for groups).
Venizelos Graves. A short tour at a park (15 minutes
from Agora by car). At the magical and historical
location of Profitis Elias (towards the airport, 6 km.
from the centre), at the east of Chania, lays the tomb of
Eleftherios Venizelos, one of the most long-standing
prime ministers of Greece, whose political life was
focused on doubling the size of Greek territory and on
the creation of a contemporary State. Eleftherios
Venizelos himself had designated this position to be
his resting place before his death. For the visitor, the
location affords a panoramic view of Chania, the
imposing White Mountains, the Cretan Sea and the
Chalepa district, the location of the Venizelos’ house in
which the great politician spent most of his life. You
can enjoy your walk inside the park and your coffee or
beer at the cafes around the park.
Some interesting places to visit
Sandy beach of Hagia Marina. 9 km. from the centre
(20 minutes by car or by bus), at the northwest coast
of Chania, a well-organised beach. A very good choice
to swim and enjoy refreshments and cocktails at the
beach bars.
Sandy beach of Hagii Apostoli (Holy Apostles). 3
km. from the centre, or 10-15 minutes by car or by
bus, at the northwest part of the city, a very well-
organised beach. There are 2 different beaches, an
area for walking and beach bars.
Elafonissi. 80 km. west of Chania (90 minutes by car
or a little more by bus). An interesting daily excursion.
During this trip you can visit the cave of Hagia Sofia in
the village of Topolia, the monastery of
Chrissoskalitissa and enjoy swimming at Elafonissi
sandy beach. This beach, is considered to be one of
the most beautiful in Mediterranean. The crystal clear
water combined with the pink-colored sand is an
image that you are not going to forget.
Therisso gorge & village. A journey through the
gorge can be combined with a visit in Cretan taverns.
The route through the gorge rewards the visitor for his
choice. After covering a distance of about 20 minutes
by car from the centre (northwest of Chania), you
arrive at the historical village of Therisso.
CHANIA – CRETE
http://www.chania.eu/index.php/en/
NoT IN USE.”
Newsletter – 13th
CMAS Finswimming Junior World Championships,
Chania - Crete, Greece
sert Headline Here
April 10, 2014 Vol. 1 Issue 1
Gramvousa Balos (a daily cruise from Kissamos)
Rent a car: approximately 25-30 € per day.
Rent a taxi (2-3 persons): i.e. call Radio Taxi HERMES.
Use (blue or green) buses: a cheap transport service.

4. Cretan diet – famous products
The Cretan diet is famous worldwide. The most famous products of Chania and Crete, which are included in the Cretan
diet are: olive oil, aromatic herbs, wine, raki or as it is called in Chania ‘tsikoudia’, a special kind of cheese called
Graviera, local yoghurt, local soft white cheese called mizithra, fruits like oranges grapes melons and
watermelons, bread and rusks, raisins, honey, nuts, vegetables, fishes and seafood. Moreover, the meat is of
excellent quality. You can taste in local restaurants or taverns meat like pork, lamb or beef.
Most famous Cretan and Greek dishes – excellent food at best value for
money
 Kalitsounia (Cretan cheese pies)
 Dakos (Cretan rusk with olive oil, tomato and white soft cheese)
 Greek salads and green salads
 Seafood dishes (like octopus, cuttlefish, etc.)
 Pilafi (cretan rice recipe)
 Staka (a creamy dish prepared by the fat of the milk)
 Moussakas (an eggplant-based dish, using minced meat and béchamel crème)
 Gemista (tomatoes or/and peppers filled in with rice)
 Mpoureki (local dish of Chania. A pie stuffed with pumpkin and white soft cheese – mizithra)
 Apaki (baked pork meat)
 Greek souvlaki … and many others.
Newsletter – 13th
CMAS Finswimming Junior World Championships,
Chania - Crete, Greece
ine Here
April 10, 2014 Vol. 1 Issue 1
Lia : lia.chania2014@gmail.com
Mobile 0030-6944-681241
The postal address of Nautical Club of
Chania is:
Akti Kanari, Nea Chora, 73100, Chania, Crete, Greece
For more news, see the next issue of the newsletter.
For any help, don’t hesitate to contact me.
See you soon in Chania,
Lia
Don’t forget to taste tsikoudia (a
local Cretan distilled alcoholic drink)
At the old city in Venetian Harbor you can find Italian and Chinese restaurants