The Residence
THE RESIDENCE
On behalf of our family, I welcome you and wish you a pleasant stay in our home. I hope you will enjoy your holidays in Kassiopeia Residence and when you leave Crete you will take along a selection of memories to treasure.
Marina
History
Back In the decade of the 60’s a local old-timer M. Manousakis bought the area on top of the hill known as Montevardia. He divided it into plots aiming at bequeathing them to his numerous children and his three closest friends, creating the most exclusive area of Chania.
The world-famous architect D. Antonakakis was employed to design and build the houses of the four friends.
Over the years our family grew larger and family friends multiplied. A renovation of the upper floors added two more bedrooms to our home and made it possible to operate each floor independently.
Name
We call our home Montevardia. Where “we” stands for all the residents of the hill and “home” for all the houses around. Montevardia was the Latin name used by the Venetians meaning the “Watchtower on the Mountain”. A name for “our home” was mandatory, in order to distinguish it from the neighbours’.
An endless list of names, including family names, plants and animals of the area, Cretan words, wind names and words beginning with A (to top Google search), caused animated family discussions for almost a year.
And suddenly, we saw the answer right in front of our eyes. Or rather on top. While endeavoring in our favorite stargazing, we saw her right over our heads, as she always is every summer: “KASSIOPEIA”.
Why with a “K” and not with a “C”? Because she is Greek, and we spell it with a “K”.
The Residence
Here is some information about the house:
The Kitchen: It is fully equipped. For your convenience there are written instructions of use for all appliances.
Air conditioning – Heating: There is air-conditioning system in the bedrooms and the house has central heating. Windows all around allow fresh sea breeze into the house and secure a natural conditioning of temperature. Keep the windows closed when using air-conditioning or heating.
Windows: are double-glazed with shutters, curtains, blinders and mosquito nets. Why? Double-glazed to keep the song of cicadas and crickets out if you need absolute silence. Shutters with slits, permitting fresh air and light to pass, enabling you to lock the house while keeping the windows open, or keep out the strong summer sun without being in the dark. Curtains for privacy if you feel you need it. Blinders, if you prefer total darkness during your sleep and mosquito nets to keep the area fauna out of the house.
Entertainment: While at home you may like to sit comfortably and watch the sea and the mountains, the full-moon rise, the shooting stars and the sunrise. At the same time, you might like programming your next excursion around the island, or your visit to one of the numerous beaches, or your dinner at one of the exquisite restaurants around. The Smart TV with Netflix connection and the Home Cinema can entertain you for hours. There is WiFi Internet throughout the house and verandas, so you stay connected. Feel free to borrow any of the books on the selves (take one – leave one if you wish). You will find books in various languages and games, among them cards and backgammon.
A Tribute to my Father: He was an enthusiast photographer, all the photos decorating the walls are his work. The “katsouna” (walking stick) hanging at the fireplace was a gift for his 80th birthday. Written on it is the phrase “if you can hold it, then you do not need it”, followed by the signatures of all his friends who came to celebrate his birthday.
Base Floor: It will remain locked during your stay, as these are our private quarters.
The Garden
Flora: Try using a twig of fresh Rosemarie, Thyme, or Oregano from the garden to flavour your cooking. Lavender flowers will make you sleep better.
Glycine flowers in spring and Jasmine flowers all summer long, spread their perfume in the air. Hibiscus flowers mark the beginning and end of the day by opening and closing their petals. Angelika bushes separate the different levels of the garden. Bougainvillea and Bamboos together with Jasmines cover the garden walls.
Cypresses and Carob trees offer you their shadow at different points of the garden. Pomegranates ripe in autumn for the lucky ones, who have a late vacation, to eat. You will compete with the birds for the Figs that ripe in middle August. Lemon and Tangerine trees grow also in the garden. You will find plenty of Olive trees, cultivated or wild. A rare in Greece Gingko Biloba tree stands in the middle of the garden, my mother’s pride, who brought it all the way from America.
Why not enjoy yourselves by trying to locate all the different flowers, bushes and trees of the garden?
If you decide to venture below the railings, you will find a pure Mediterranean world. You can explore the wild flora, comprising of flowers, bushes and trees.
Fauna: Although our home is very near to Chania city and Souda harbour, it is in the countryside and you may encounter diverse fauna. Stray cats visit the garden often and tend to take liberties. Do not encourage them, please. If lucky, you may spot shepherd dogs, goats, sheep, cows, hens and roosters in the vicinity. Young ferrets enjoy playing in the bushes. Do not let them startle you.
Mosquito nets will keep mosquitoes, flies and bees away. Let the bees undisturbed to collect the flower nectar with which they make the famous Cretan honey. If by accident you are stung by an insect, use the medicine for itching in the First Aid Box.
House gecko, a very small pink lizard, is considered to bring good luck. You may find them climbing on the walls, let them roam around, they feed on mosquitoes.
If you like bird watching, you will spot a variety of birds flying around the garden and high in the sky, including sparrows, doves, crows, seagulls, wild geese and falcons.
Enjoy your stay and do not hesitate to get in touch with us for any requests or queries.
