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Shops and village facilities
There are many excellent small shops where you can browse at your leisure. Supermarkets here are worth exploring as they have hidden recesses where you may find the odd treasure. The nearest is about 50m downhill. Fresh local vegetables are best bought at the fruit & veg shop opposite the baker's across the road from Villea Village. If you are looking for local wine then the fruit & veg shop is surprisingly good value. Local produce includes herbs, honey, saffron, and raki.
The larger supermarkets in Ierapetra and Koutsouras are slightly cheaper and all have good quality produce. You can also go to Lidl in Ierapetra - easy parking, air conditioning and the wine is much cheaper.
Souvenirs
There are a number of shops in the village selling good quality products. Christine's favourite sells some lovely art and glass, but she usually seems to come out every time with a new pair of earrings!
Wines and Spirits
Post Good quality local wines such as Sitia or Kritikos Topikos Oinas can be purchased at any supermarket, cafe or taverns. Other reliable Greek wines are logardo, Minos Cava, Olympias or Lac de Roche. Imported spirits are fairly expensive so most people change to Greek brandy, Metaxa (available in several octanes, 2, 3 and 7 star); Anise-flavoured Ouzo makes a good aperitif and a good complement to evening meze. Greeks drink it straight or, on a very hot day, with an ice cube. No one will frown if you add water, turning it a milky colour. Finally Raki, the local firewater, normally drunk with a meze.
Stamps (grammatosima) can be obtained from supermarkets and other shops selling postcards. There are post boxes in the village with the nearest post office in Koutsouras, 2km from Makrigialos.
Telephones
There is a box just outside Grapevines. It takes a card which can be bought at the supermarket.
Banks
There are 3 ATMs and 2 banks in the village. Both are located in the centre of the village. Opening hours are 9:30 to 13:00 Monday to Friday. No Saturday opening. There is also an ATM machine outside of the reception of the Sunwing Hotel across the road from the villas.
Pharmacy
At the bottom of the hill leading up to the Grapevines complex. Opening hours are 8:30 to 13:30 and 17:30 to 21:00. There is also a pharmacy in nearby Koutsouras.
Doctor The local (NHS equivalent) doctor’s surgery is located at the far end of the village near the harbour. Open most mornings and some evenings; they will accept the European Health Card. There is also a private medical surgery next to the pharmacy at the bottom of the hill leading up to Grapevines, and here you will have to pay.
Dentist
Surgery is at the far end of the village 100 metres before the Shell petrol station.