Anything related to a religion or religious practice.
Most people step into a church and see the sanctuary as a piece of architecture: a curved end wall, an altar, some paintings, a screen. Very few ever ask why it is shaped the way it is, why those particular images are there, or why the space feels so different from the rest of the building. Yet nothing in a Byzantine sanctuary is accidental. Every line, surface, and figure belongs to a...
Beneath the gilded halos and serene saints of Cretan frescoes lies a darker story — one of fear, obedience, and control. Byzantine churches across the island are filled with vivid scenes of sin and punishment: writhing bodies, demons with gaping jaws, and souls weighed in divine scales. These were not merely paintings for prayer, but lessons in power — reminders that salvation was conditional, and that the Church’s eye never looked away.
I arrived in Crete many years ago, for a 2-week holiday. It turned out to be the longest two weeks of my life.
The magic of Crete caught me immediately in its spell, and I just decided to stay. Because I speak 4 languages fluently and can get by in a few more, I didn’t have too many problems finding a job in the tourism sector. During this time I realised that there was a lot wrong with the tourism industry, but didn’t really think about it too much, I was too busy working.
When Covid 19 turned the whole world on its head, my job was seriously affected by this. This gave me the chance to really look at my misgivings about the industry, and the time to develop my own ideas about what tourism is and how it should be approached.
This is when the idea of Magical Crete started taking shape…
I met this crazy Irish guy on one of the rather boring trips on the ferry to Gramvousa and Balos when I was working as a tour guide.
When I finally got used to his accent and understood what he was actually saying, things got a lot easier and we got on very well.
The man’s knowledge is just incredible, and what was even more incredible was that he was willing to share it with me.
When I understood what he was thinking about and wanted to do, I knew this was something I wouldn’t mind getting involved with.
And then, he asked if I would be interested in developing his ideas and being part of Magical Crete…
During our time developing our ideas Enda got a little too enthusiastic now and again and did some damage to himself, sometimes quite serious damage.
While trying to stop him from doing further damage and making him see a the sense in caution and care, he gave me the status of his “Guardian Angel” …
