A different way of life
By Helen Grubner. Filed in Uncategorized |
Near Old Harbour, Island of Spetses
Left my room around 1800 hours last evening to take in a walk before dinner. Made my way up to the higher reaches of the town where the view over the rooftops and sea is quite spectacular. Unfortunately, on a vacant plot I came by a number of tiny kittens obviously suffering terribly and in their last hours of life. Very very distressing and nothing I could do about it.
There has been and obviously still is a degree of wealth on this island – to be honest, I find many of the old neo-classical buildings to be rather ugly. I’m told waterfront homes are worth sums in the 8 figure bracket which is just crazy. A small 100m2 home in the town without views can be around 300,000 Euro. Ended up back on the waterfront around 2000 hours to eat at a place called Roussos, then by 2100 hours I was ready to check out Bar Spetsa.
The ‘gentleman’ mentioned in yesterday’s blog turned out to be Costas, the owner and sole operator of the Bar he set up 24 years’ ago. After drinking two 5 star Metaxa brandies on the rocks, accompanied by two 500ml bottles of water and having had much conversation with Costas and many of his patrons (not to mention the music enjoyment, including the playing of Jethro Tull’s ‘Living in the Past’ as soon as I had said they were quite possibly my favourite group of all time) I finally left at around 0100 hours with an invitation from Costas to be taken out for lunch today – arranged to meet at the Bar at 1430 hours.
Ventured out early afternoon to send my weekly postcard to Mum and Dave, picked up a map of the roads around the island and visited the supermarket. Walking back towards Mexis Studios ran into Costas near his home. Invited me in where I met 2 of his 4 cats – the adorable Bob and handsome Oliver. Costas knows everyone and everyone knows Costas – he has great knowledge of not only this island but, in fact, the whole of Greece. Then left to walk to the Old Harbour where we dined on Kalamarakia (squid), Garides (shrimp), Horta (wild greens) and Horiatiki Salata (Greek salad). Words cannot describe how wonderful the lunch was, also the location and Costas – an intelligent, well educated, English speaking Greek man. I will be back at Bar Spetsa tonight.