By Catherine Tsounis
Seize the moment. Spring brings experiences that we wait for all winter. Begin a new chapter by enjoying the cuisine of Greece. The traveler learns the culture, geography, history and traditions not through books or internet. Cuisine is a place to begin.
Despina Siolas, MD/Ph.D. and her husband, Laurentino Ibarra seized their moment. They travelled: Athens in one day and the Peloponnese in seven days during Easter 2015. How was Easter 2015 celebrated with middle class Greeks? Tradition, family, Greek Orthodoxy and patriotism are values alive.. They began a seven day travel from Nafplio, Mycene, Areopoli, Pylos, Dimitsana and Tripoli in the heartland of “Old Greece” where the Greek Revolution began.
“I wanted to celebrate Easter with my Father’s family,” she said. “Persons have a positive outlook. They welcome tourism. Hospitality to strangers is unique in Greece. Everyone knows English, even in the smallest village. Laurentino, who does not know Greek, was able to communicate with all in English. Their visit has cemented Hellenism for the next generation of our family.
They were greeted at Athens airport in April by her father’s s adopted sister, Pitsa Tsakonas, retired senior librarian of the Benaki Museum. Her family was refugees from Smyrna. Her husband is from the Peloponnese. She greeted them with fluent English, taking them to their Athens hotel. After a day at the Acropolis and its museum, they enjoyed an evening dinner of homemade Greek cuisine with the Tsakonas family at their Kessarini home.
Pitsa Tsakonas prepared tiropites, horiatiki salad (traditional Greek salad), patates (fried potatoes), kima with macaronia (chop meat with pasta), souvlaki and other Greek dishes. They met her daughter, a librarian at the Benaki Museum, retired husband and two adorable grandchildren under the age of five. Hospitality, graciousness and a genuine interest in the American tourists’ welfare shaped the evening’s atmosphere. Cheerfulness and laughter predominated. “Cabbage dishes are very popular at this time served as a lahanosalada. The traditional horiatiki salad with feta, souvlaki, tzatziki, mousaka was served. Pitsa made her own tiropites (cheese pies) from scratch. Every family has their own house wine that is homemade. Pitchers of water and beer were served. The Tsakonas have their house wine made by a relative from the Peloponnese. Dessert was chocolate covered ice cream sandwiches with ice cream cones. “Enjoying food with the Tsakonas family brought us closer together,” Dr. Despina said. “Sharing food with Greek families is part of the Greek travel experience. We came together as a family, communicating through Greek cuisine a positive interaction.” The grandchildren showed their love for gummi bear, ninja turtles and Spiderman.
The evening ended by visiting “Porto Kagio” that serves traditional cuisine of Mani, Peloponnese. Christos, the owner greeted everyone warmly with musicians Panteli and others. A wall painting of Mani, traditional Greek folk arts adorned the interior. Visithttps://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1191893-d6839306-Reviews-Porto_Kagio-Agia_Paraskevi_Athens_Attica.html. A view of the life of a middle class Athenian family ended
Their new adventure was sightseeing at Mycenae and Nafplio. Sunset in Mycenae was magical. The greenery, sunflower and trees project a different image of the Mycenaean civilization. They arrived at Nafplio, staying at Dafni Pension from April 4th and 5th. Their unique experience of Easter Holy Week in the Peloponnese was beginning. The comfortable rooms cost 112 euros for two nights (https://pensiondafni.gr/en/). Their sightseeing included Palamidi castle and the 999 steps, Peloponnesian Folklore foundation “V. Papantoniou”, a miniature windmill, St. Spiridon Church, the first pharmacy of Greece, a run along Karathona Beach, walking path and sights about town. Two dogs were tied opposite a Nafplio restaurant barking at its owner, an unforgettable human interest sight. Store Easter Lampades (large candles) were decorated with toys and flowers for all.
Being at the Taverna Beto was the highlight of their Nafplio culinary experience. “The best Psarosoupa (fish soup) I ever tasted,” said Dr. Despina. “We kept coming back to enjoy the cuisine. This had a lot to do with the warm hospitality of the owners. We were constantly being treated to wine, bear tsipouro and cheese, their graciousness showed the best of Greece’s legendary hospitality. Young musicians in a band played music with everyone dancing. The restaurant was open for a year. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g319780-d4867348-Reviews-Taverna_Beto-Nafplio_Argolis_Region_Peloponnese.html).We enjoyed gigantes, dolmathes with meat and rice, fried potatoes, okra with potatoes, carrots, souvlaki, tzatziki, grilled peppers, potatoes with lemon and octopus during our stay. Meliasti, a filo wrapped cheese with honey and sesame (https://www.grreporter.info/en/filowrapped_feta_cheese_honey_and_sesame/11420).
“We learned some interesting facts on grilled shrimp,” explained the tourist. “The head must be kept on to keep the juice. In Greece, they keep the shrimp head on. In the U.S., shrimp is grilled and cooked without a head. Keeping the head on the shrimp keeps it juicy. Many were sucking on the shrimp head to get the juice. Seafood was very popular during Easter week. We had squid stuffed with feta, parsley, olive oil, lemon juice with salad. The Folk lore museum showed an aristocratic table with crystals, hand cut tablecloths. It looked straight out of a bridal registry from Macys and Bed, Bath and Beyond. A box of traditional koulourakia, vanilla, cinnamon, pistachio and chocolate biscotti and nistisima (Lenten) cookies were a souvenir of Nafplio.
“Laurentino, unknowingly, wore a green shirt that appeared he supported Panathinaikos,” she said. “They kept treating him to wine, beer, tsipouro and cheese. Panathinaikos was popular at this taverna.” Panathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos is a professional Greek soccer team founded in 1908. It is a successful team in the Soccer Super League of Greece. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panathinaikos_F.C.). Greek hospitality at it best.
The tourists in their rented car drove to Areopoli, passing Sparta and Mystra, on Holy Monday. April 6th. The National Highway was empty. A gigantic statue of Leonidas greeted them in Sparta. “Both ancient and modern writers have used the Battle of Thermopylae as an example of the power of a patriotic army defending its native soil,” according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae. “The performance of the defenders at the Battle of Thermopylae is also used as an example of the advantages of training, equipment, and good use of terrain as force multipliers and has become a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds.”
At the Xenia Mystra Café, they enjoyed a spring view of the Laconian countryside with blooming olive trees. Keftedes with cloves, cinnamon and olive oil was one of the aromatic dishes. The old world atmosphere of these restaurants with white tablecloths including the panoramic view gives one a feeling of contentment. Mystra came alive with the look of spring with Mount Taygetos looming largely in the background. A lizard was seen in the spring flowers. “Families lived there up to the 1950’s,” said Dr. Despina. “The Despot (ruler) lived at the highest point. The poorer classes lived outside the tower. Palm Sunday, April 6th was a perfect time for sightseeing: not too hot or cold; no lines of tourists. Visiting (302) the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil at 129 Othonas-Amalia (www.piop.gr) showed the production and history of olive. It is part of a group of industrial museums set up by the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation. The Water Mill Museum in Dimitsana is part of the Foundation.
Driving to Mani showed them the rugged Peloponnesian landscape of mountains. They did not stay at a hotel. They picked the traditional Xenonas Elixirion Guesthouses in Karavostasi of Mani ‘We picked it because Karavostasi is on the water, the Messinian Gulf” explained the tourist. “It was an old pirates’ hide-out.” The architecture, traditional Greek rooms, ceramic bathrooms can be seen atwww.mani-elixirion.com . A welcome of sweets greeted them in their room with a water view. The waves crashing on the shore reminded them of traveling on a cruise. They ate at the town nearby, Ifilos, at Mavro Pirates (Black Pirates).
The Elixirion owners in their welcome explained “visitors of the area as well as guests of our guesthouse will have the opportunity to taste and enjoy exquisite plates upon request from Mrs. Maria Sotirakis. Our guests will be able to see for themselves the truth in our sayings by visiting our biological farm and olive tree where we produce our own olive oil. All our recipes are biological coming from our farm. The meat is from local Mani producers.”
The tourists were impressed with Easter decoration with flowers, eggs, chicks, chocolate covered bread homemade jellies. Breakfast had Easter baskets with eggs, chicks, lady bugs and butterflies. A burning fireplace gave a hospitable feeling while they watched the Messinian gulf from the windows. The Caves of Dirou were unique (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g189483-d198894-Reviews-Caves_of_Dirou-Peloponnese.html).
“Mani is famous for its tower houses without stairways,” she explained. “They were built because of the feuds among families for defense. A ladder thrown from the top was needed to get into the tower.” They reminded me of the princess in the fairy tale “Rapunzel”.
On Tuesday, April 7th they drove through the olive groves of Kalamata to reached Pylos, the site of the Battle of Navarino of the Greek War of Independence. They stayed at Tina’s House for 60 euros a night (https://www.pylosrooms.com). “Tina’s House on the water is unexplainable. They had a fireplace with a miniature, running water mill running in the dining room. According to the owners, “It’s stunning location on the highest spot in town offers to every traveler moments of calmness and relaxation, since combining an insuperable view to the sea with the boundless serenity of nature. Our recently refurbished rooms, affording a special decoration, refer to the old mansions of Pylos. Enjoy the unique experience of sunset from your balcony or even while savoring local flavors on Tina’s House yard.” Visiting the Peloponnesian coast appears to be like visiting an island.
“As we were leaving Pylos, a pickup truck with goats and lambs stopped us,” said Dr. Despina. “The driver in Greek asked us for directions to the Asfalion (Insurance building). We said we were not locals but from New York. He left us, searching for the Asfalion.” What do you think was the destination of lamb and goats during Easter week?
On April 8th and 9th, Holy Wednesday and Holy Thursday, they traveled to Dimitsana, (ancient Teuthis), arriving at Xenonas Enastron for 71 euros a night (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g970271-d1440372-Reviews-Enastron-Dimitsana_Arkadia_Region_Peloponnese.html). “Enastron was better than the Sofitel by Athens Airport. The view of the mountain, books, DVD’s, videos, slippers, towels, loukoumia and free matia in our rooms gave us a feeling of real hospitality. When I was in Dimitsana, the bed and breakfast owners, made bougatsa for breakfast and gave me some to take with me during the day. The breakfast had koulourakia, kreopita homemade jellies of apricot, caramel, plum, citrus, peach, pomegranate with Nutella and honey from Mani. Her jellies are popular and she sells them. Fresh oranges were pressed into orange juice every morning. with lahanopita, yogurt and cereal. The owner said he was drinking chamomile for thirty-five years. The owners even gave us kreopites, pites and sandwiches to take with us to the Lousios Gorge (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lousios). Goats were running along mountain roads
The fireplace and heated floors gave us comfort. The dining area had baskets of red flowers with Easter eggs on embroidered tablecloths and eyes. We passed a petting farm and saw a friendly pony near the road. The pony showed real affection for company.[D1] A beautiful sight for the traveler!”
The Open Air Water Power Museum, a major attraction, mentioned an interesting fact about Dimitsana. “Dimitsana isolated among the mountains possessed not only the know-how of collecting saltpeter and manufacturing black powder, but also combustibles, plenty of water power and a knowledge to use it. ‘We had powder,’ wrote Theodoros Kolokotronis, ‘because we had Dimitsana.” (https://www.travelsingreece.com/sightseeing/dimitsana-open-air-water-power-museum). The Museum showed the old fashion way of making Tsipouro.
On the road to Olympia, they stopped at Stemnitsa. It is famous for its jewelry college and as a weekend getaway for persons from Athens. At Stemnitsa, The local restaurant served luncheons of octopus with macaroni, fish, beef and potatoes at a local restaurant. The ruins of Olympia had spring flowers and flowering trees: rebirth. Shells in rocks, a sleeping, unhappy dog, Hermes Praxiteles, Museum, and Olympic Stadium were some of their impressions (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympia,_Greece). Then they drove to Tripoli on GoodFriday and stayed at the Hotel Mainalon facing Plateos Areos, the main square.
Pastry shops had windows filled with tsoureki covered with white chocolate, thumbprint cookies with jelly, baklava and kourabiedes.
Dr. Despina Siolas and her husband, Laurentino Ibarra witnessed the unique Holy Friday Greek Orthodox celebration in Tripoli with their relatives Pitsa Gerou Macarouni, a philologist, her husband Christo Macarouni and three sons and her God brother, Dr. Alexios Vardouniotis, ENT surgeon and his wife Kanela, a psychologist and son Spyridon (Clint). “Holy Friday was special because we spent the evening with middle class families holding on to the old traditions,” explained Dr. Despina. Areos Square was decorated with butterflies and a giant red Easter egg. The Holy Friday Lamentations featured the Procession of the Epitafia of eight different church communities from the area paraded around Agiou Vasiliou Square. Chanter, Orpheus and City of Tripoli choruses, the military and citizens participated in the Epitafio processions that led to the cemetery outside of town. Their Lenten dinner was octopus, shrimp pasta, French fries and bread, no chemicals and organic. Pastry shops had windows filled with tsoureki covered with white chocolate, thumbprint cookies with jelly, baklava and kourabiedes.
Holy Saturday was spent hiking through the Lousios Gorge. . The gorge has been inhabited for centuries by hermits in caves and monks. Two monasteries remain open to visitors, Philosophou and Prodromo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lousios). Philosophou is famous due to its reputation as being a secret school during the Ottoman occupation. . On their return to their hotel room, they received two Easter candles on behalf of Tripoli city by its mayor, Dimitis Pavlis. “from the bottom of my heart, we wish every person a Kalo Pasha,” his message read. “May the Holy Light illuminate the lives of young and old with Love, Hope, Health and Progress. Happy Resurrection.” In addition, they had a platter of koulourakia, tsoureki and two eggs.
“We said Christos Anesti with my aunt, Philologist Pitsa Gerou Macarouni and her husband Christo and three sons, explained Dr. Despina. “ They all hold on to old traditions. Aunt Pitsa told me ‘I have a fourth child, a daughter, you, Despina. You are my blood.’” Blood ties are very important in 2015 Greece. Their home had photos of family members in traditional tsolia, amalia costumes and military uniforms.
“Holy Saturday evening in Tripoli is different from New York,” she explained. “We attended church at Agio Vasilis church with a presentation of the military, chanting of Christos Anesti, firecrackers and fireworks. Everyone was happy. We took the holy light to Thia Pitsa and Thio Christo’s home. Everyone burnt the entrance to the door frame with their candle for good luck.” Would we do this in the U.S.A.? Most people in America would likely be frightened of a fire. T Greeks are brave.
Easter morning dinner at 1 a.m. was cracking red eggs for good luck with magiritsa, tomatoes, feta, kasseri, tiropita, salad Italian bread, magiritsa (liver soup) barbecued lamb cut up in pieces and wine. The house was decorated with colorful embroidered tablecloths, tulips, rabbits, chocolate covered tsoureki, red roosters, chocolate Easter cookies, chocolate eggs and chocolate and a large red Easter egg. “We want you, Despina and Laurentino to communicate with our children as long as you live,” said philologist Pitsa Gerou Macarouni. “We want blood ties to continue among our youth. This is the meaning of family.” Worry beads were given to Laurentino so he can use them and remember Tripoli.
On Easter Sunday, the city of Tripoli has an exciting Easter celebration at Areos Square with lambs barbecuing, tsoureki, Easter eggs, koulourakia, wine with traditional folk dancing. This is free to the public. The City of Tripoli understands their community comes together in preparing food for their Easter celebration. Bonding takes place. They enjoyed being with Dr. Alex and family, Thia Pitsa, Thio Christo and family. They returned to Athens.
The best way to describe Tripoli is Andreas Lykourentzos, 2009 former Deputy Prime Minister of Education, welcome of His All Holiness, Patriarch Bartholomew’s first visit to the Peloponnese from (https://www.helleniccomserve.com/arcadiashapinghistory.html). “His All Holiness, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople visited Tripoli from September 21st-22nd (2009),” according to the article. “Andreas Lykourentzos, Deputy Prime Minister of Education, welcomed the Patriarch by saying “from the heart of Morea and the capital (Tripolis) of Arcadia, the homeland of Modern Martyrs, we show our great love for the Patriarch of Constantinople, leader of the Christian Church. I welcome you first as a Tripolitsiotis and as an Arcas, representing our people of Arcadia. Our citizens are dedicated to the trades, professions and sciences. We are your supporters in Greece and Overseas. The Arcadians remain loyal to the traditions and sacrifices of our Nation on behalf of the Christian Faith and for the freedom of our country. In the 21st century, The Light of the Phanar shines in our hearts and the world.” This description “first as a Tripolitsiotis and as an Arcas,” is handed to each generation remember who and what they are: holding the light of Hellenism and freedom from ancient times.
“In Hospitality, the chief thing is the good will,”- Greek proverb. Hospitality was from God to the Ancient Greeks. The host was expected to make sure the needs of his guests were satisfied. In Greek society, a person’s ability to stand by the laws of hospitality determined nobility and social standing. This concept is woven into Greek culture for thousands of years. Greek Hospitality is alive during the spring of 2015. Sharing food is part of the human experience.
The Athenian and Peloponnesian families, restaurants and hotels brought these tourists closer together.This is what makes Greeks stand out as a people of class and hospitality. Honor, loyalty, integrity is part of hospitality. One must remember. Never forget. Hospitality is alive in 2015 Greece.
Photo 1- Mystra in the spring.
Photo 2- Tsakonas Family with Dr. Despina and husband Laurentino (5th and 6th from left to right) at Easter night services.
Photo 3 – Holy Friday, Tripolis, Greece.
