Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 19
Jeffrey Gettleman Begins 1-Week Crete Family Vacation Focused on Beaches and Food
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 19

Jeffrey Gettleman Begins 1-Week Crete Family Vacation Focused on Beaches and Food

1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 19

Summary

  • Jeffrey Gettleman and his family opened a weeklong trip to Crete with a simple plan: skip most ruins and history, and prioritize beaches, food and downtime after a long school year.
  • Fourni, on Crete’s eastern side, set the tone on the first night, with a taverna meal that underscored the island’s distinct cuisine—meatier and more mountainous than standard Greek fare.
  • Mid-June timing helped the family avoid Europe’s worst summer heat waves, which later strained energy supplies and helped spark wildfires, including some on Crete.
  • The trip was not entirely seamless: 15 minutes before their airport taxi arrived in London, Gettleman’s wife spotted an email from their hotel and reacted urgently, hinting at an early travel snag.

Insights

Why does the secret to Crete's famous longevity diet actually involve hearty mountain feasts instead of typical light seafood?
What was in the alarming hotel email that nearly derailed this family's idyllic Mediterranean escape before it even began?
Could skipping historic ruins and embracing screen time be the ultimate secret to surviving a family vacation with teenagers?