Crete

I am an island hugged by the warm, sparkly blue sea. The sun tickles my sandy beaches and my rocky mountains. I am covered in twisty olive trees and I smell like salty air and sweet flowers. Birds sing in my trees and little boats float on my water. Can you guess who I am. I am the beautiful island of Crete.

A very, very long time ago, around the year 2000 BCE, special people called the Minoans lived here. They were amazing builders and artists. They built a giant, colorful palace for their king. It was called Knossos. It was like a huge maze with many rooms to explore. It had bright red pillars that looked like big, strong crayons holding up the roof. On the walls, the Minoans painted beautiful pictures of things they loved. They painted pictures of happy, leaping dolphins in the sea and big, gentle bulls with curvy horns because they loved animals and the beautiful water all around me.

Because the palace was so big and had so many rooms, people told exciting stories about it. They imagined a king named Minos living there. They also told stories about a twisty-turny maze called a labyrinth. These wonderful stories have been shared with children for thousands and thousands of years, all starting right here on my shores.

Today, I am still here, waiting for you. People come from all over the world to see the stones of my grand palace. Children run where the Minoans once walked, imagining what life was like long ago. They splash in my warm waves and eat my yummy cheese and olives. I love sharing my sunshine and my stories with everyone. I hope one day you’ll come and feel my warm sun and listen to my happy waves, too.