It’s not difficult to find the oldest filo pastry shop in Rethmyno Old Town, Crete – just follow your nose.

The sweet aroma of freshly-baked kadaifi and baklava has been wafting through the narrow, cobbled streets of Manouil Bernardou Street in the Old Town since 1942. For 73 years, Georgos Xatziparaskos has been making Kadaifi in the traditional way by hand, pulling and stretching the elastic dough until it is big enough to cover a gigantic trestle table – and translucent enough to read a book underneath.

Ever the showman, he loves to perform his magic – and, believe me, it’s an amazing sight – before the constant stream of holidaymakers, who wander into the bakery to enjoy melt-in-the-mouth baklava and kadaifi, dripping in honey and pistachios, that his wife, Katerina, serves hot from the oven.

It’s a passion and tradition that has delighted holidaymakers for well over half a century. Make sure you pop in the next time you are in Crete.