This little mountain village lies approximately 5 km out of Paleohora and is a place
where visitors feel at home from the first minute they arrive. As legend has it,
it was founded by the family of Vardoulakis, who was fleeing from the Sfakia
because of a blood revenge. And still it seems, that the name Vardoulakis is the only here. At the end of the 19th century there were 17 families with about
100 members living in the village; nowadays the number is less than the half. But the total number of
villagers is increasing again, as in the last few years
foreigners are coming to live here, and it looks as though in the future they may
become the majority.
No wonder, as the place offers a quiet atmosphere, typical of Cretan
mountain villages. Everybody knows each other, and you meet the everyone for a chat at the
only taverna "to skolio" - the former school of Anidri - which is itself an
"insider's tip" of the area. At the same time you can enjoy life off the beaten track. Chickens are scratching around and dogs are barking at passing cars or
chasing cats. During the hot summer days the cicadas provide a furious
concert. In the evenings, when the wind is blowing from the right side,
through the gorge you can hear the sound of the ferry boat coming from Agia Roumeli and Sougia
or the returning post boat from Gavdos (Those who like to walk, can go down this
gorge to Janiskari beach - it takes about 1 hour to get there). The nights are full of the
sound of owls and the chirp of grasshoppers, who certainly seem to have a lot to say .
Nobody needs to miss the amenitiesy of the "civilized" world, as the center of the area,
the town of Paleohora, is nearby. And in any case you have to go "down" - as there are no facilities
in Anidri for shopping. As there is no public bus connection, people living or
holidayings here either have to walk or drive down the scenic road to the sea and the town.
This little mountain village lies approximately 5 km out of Paleohora and is a place
where visitors feel at home from the first minute they arrive. As legend has it,
it was founded by the family of Vardoulakis, who was fleeing from the Sfakia
because of a blood revenge. And still it seems, that the name Vardoulakis is the only here. At the end of the 19th century there were 17 families with about
100 members living in the village; nowadays the number is less than the half. But the total number of
villagers is increasing again, as in the last few years
foreigners are coming to live here, and it looks as though in the future they may
become the majority.
No wonder, as the place offers a quiet atmosphere, typical of Cretan
mountain villages. Everybody knows each other, and you meet the everyone for a chat at the
only taverna "to skolio" - the former school of Anidri - which is itself an
"insider's tip" of the area. At the same time you can enjoy life off the beaten track. Chickens are scratching around and dogs are barking at passing cars or
chasing cats. During the hot summer days the cicadas provide a furious
concert. In the evenings, when the wind is blowing from the right side,
through the gorge you can hear the sound of the ferry boat coming from Agia Roumeli and Sougia
or the returning post boat from Gavdos (Those who like to walk, can go down this
gorge to Janiskari beach - it takes about 1 hour to get there). The nights are full of the
sound of owls and the chirp of grasshoppers, who certainly seem to have a lot to say .
Nobody needs to miss the amenitiesy of the "civilized" world, as the center of the area,
the town of Paleohora, is nearby. And in any case you have to go "down" - as there are no facilities
in Anidri for shopping. As there is no public bus connection, people living or
holidayings here either have to walk or drive down the scenic road to the sea and the town.