16°C
Future is something from the past.
Andreas Aerakis
In a small village at the foot of Mount Psiloritis, in Sissarha of Anogeia Milopotamou, within an old stone café built stone by stone in 1962 by Andreas Aerakis, also known as Ninandreas, and Eleni Kouvidi, became the origin of the Aerakis family for today’s Rural Record Store.
Andreas Aerakis, grandson of the café’s founder, embarked on revitalizing this café of his grandfather in July 2019, christening it the “Rural Record Store”. His aim was to blend all his childhood and adolescent experiences, the sensations of the café, with the musical productions of the Aerakis family since 1975. This included hosting presentations of records and books, immersing the visitor in the music and hospitality of our region through its living tradition, in the flavors of seasonal local dishes, and finally in discovering the true essence of Cretan life.
At the Rural Record Store, the use of audiovisual media is not customary. This allows visitors to become acquainted with the raw truth of art within breathing distance of the artists. During established music nights, young local artists have the opportunity to showcase the history of music inherited from their predecessors, interpreting it through their own perspective, whether beside historic vinyl records or in the courtyard under the shade of the age-old mulberry tree, directly opposite the statue of the Anogeian fighter Evangelia Klados.
The Aerakis family takes care of the café-record store visitors with unwavering kindness, offering local appetizers made with seasonal products. Apart from music nights, they also organize events featuring traditional cooking, aiming to revive old gastronomy customs such as Cretan pasta and “mangiri.”
After its establishment in 1962 by Andreas Aerakis and Eleni Kouvidis, in 1974, the first record store opened in Heraklion. Meanwhile, exclusively representing Columbia in Crete, in 1976, their eldest son founded the record company “Aerakis – Cretan Music Company,” which evolved into the “Cretan Music Workshop,” marking the entire discographic evolution of Cretan music with quality and innovation of the era. Stelios Aerakis, along with his brother and father, the owner of the record store, Michalis Aerakis, undeniably carved out a distinguished name in the field of Cretan music publishing and production.
Continuing with his experience and knowledge, Michalis Aerakis created the significant “Seistron Music Editions” in 2001, blending the old with the fresh, words with notes, music with books, thus placing another important cornerstone in the glorious castle of Cretan tradition.
The Rural Greece is an online portal that connects travellers with unique destinations and local businesses in the countryside, offering authentic experiences through activities that highlight nature, traditions and culture.
For the Rural Greece accessibility is fundamental to enhancing an inclusive tourism experience. Following the principles of inclusion and equality, the epaithros Rural Tourism Network and its member businesses are constantly working to enhance the tourism services provided, ensuring that all visitors have the opportunity to experience the authentic beauty of the Greek countryside.
Sustainability in tourism refers to a way of developing tourism that respects and protects the environment while strengthening the local economy and preserving cultural traditions. The aim of sustainable tourism is to provide unique and authentic experiences for visitors without harming the natural and social environment, while ensuring that local communities benefit from tourism activity.
This type of tourism is based on three pillars:
With sustainable tourism, visitors can have authentic experiences, knowing that the impact of tourism on the region is positive and lasting for future generations.
For Rural Greece, localism is one of the most important factors for the development of sustainable tourism, as it promotes a strong link between the tourism product and the local society, economy and culture. Through localism, visitors get the opportunity to explore authentic elements of the destination, such as local products, traditions and culture. This not only boosts the local economy, but also helps to sustain and strengthen local businesses, creating new jobs and supporting the development of local communities.
Furthermore, localism contributes to the sustainability of the tourism sector, as it reduces the use of resources from other regions and encourages the use of local goods and services, reducing the ecological footprint of tourism activities. Thus, integrating localism into tourism practices enhances sustainability awareness, both among visitors and local businesses, creating a more responsible and sustainable tourism destination.
