In addition to running her taverna, Monica van den Bosch also operates the shop directly across the main square from the taverna. It is called Το Χελιδόνι (The Swallow) and it’s easy to spot because of the ceramic flying birds on the outside and the rich array of handcrafted items and locally sourced agricultural products that spill onto the sidewalk—handmade lace, tablecloths, soaps, jewelry, clothing, pottery, original artwork, cards, and much more.
The shop used to be the Women’s Craft Cooperative, which was started in the late 1990s by Sophia Lionakis, a forward-thinking woman from Gavalochori who rode a motorbike at a time when this was something women didn’t do. She designed the cooperative to be a place where the women of Gavalochori could sell their products—olive oil, homemade sweets, honey, needlework, and lacework. Sophia has since died, but Monica is pleased that she carries her granddaughter’s handmade jewelry in the shop.
Monica continues the tradition of the Women’s Craft Cooperative by carrying local products from Gavalochori, but she also has expanded and carries a wider variety of locally made products and art. She tries to have a connection to Crete with all of her products. The shop has been surprisingly popular, she says, with both residents and tourists, undoubtedly because it’s the perfect place to pick up a special gift for someone or to purchase a high-quality souvenir to bring home.
Monica’s taverna is open from late March until the end of November. In the summer season, it is open from 10:00 a.m. until the last customers leave. Open hours in the winter vary from year to year, so it is best to call first to see if the taverna is open. The taverna is closed on Mondays.
In addition to running her taverna, Monica van den Bosch also operates the shop directly across the main square from the taverna. It is called Το Χελιδόνι (The Swallow) and it’s easy to spot because of the ceramic flying birds on the outside and the rich array of handcrafted items and locally sourced agricultural products that spill onto the sidewalk—handmade lace, tablecloths, soaps, jewelry, clothing, pottery, original artwork, cards, and much more.
The shop used to be the Women’s Craft Cooperative, which was started in the late 1990s by Sophia Lionakis, a forward-thinking woman from Gavalochori who rode a motorbike at a time when this was something women didn’t do. She designed the cooperative to be a place where the women of Gavalochori could sell their products—olive oil, homemade sweets, honey, needlework, and lacework. Sophia has since died, but Monica is pleased that she carries her granddaughter’s handmade jewelry in the shop.
Monica continues the tradition of the Women’s Craft Cooperative by carrying local products from Gavalochori, but she also has expanded and carries a wider variety of locally made products and art. She tries to have a connection to Crete with all of her products. The shop has been surprisingly popular, she says, with both residents and tourists, undoubtedly because it’s the perfect place to pick up a special gift for someone or to purchase a high-quality souvenir to bring home.
Monica’s taverna is open from late March until the end of November. In the summer season, it is open from 10:00 a.m. until the last customers leave. Open hours in the winter vary from year to year, so it is best to call first to see if the taverna is open. The taverna is closed on Mondays.
