My Cretan Family and Me
By Helen Grubner. Filed in Uncategorized |
The Two Helen’s in Bar Spetsa
Monday morning at 1000 hours signaled my departure yet again from Spetses and Costas … the end of eight and a half wonderful weeks together on the island. Making the most of those last days, saw me everyday at Agios Mamas beach. Just when I thought it could not get any hotter, it did the last week … thank goodness for the meltemi (the strong, dry, north winds of the Aegean Sea which blow in the summer months). That last week on Spetses, I also made the best of the evenings, going many times to Bar Spetsa. With my dear friend Helen on the island from Athens with her twin boys Constantinos and Stefanos, Anna and Motty from Norway (annual visitors to the island for 19 years), as well as many of the usual suspects including Ray and Heather, Suzie and Steve … there was always someone for company.
It is never easy saying our farewells, however, as Costas once said to me in the early days … it is not like I won’t be back, only this time I am not sure when that will be. I was tired from a relatively late night and had not slept all that well. The Flying Cat 3 arrived in Piraeus just before 1200 hours, having stopped at Hydra only so a quick trip at a cost of E38.50 (approx. NZ$64), the ticket now reflecting the new increases in taxes. Found a shady spot to sit and eat my Bougatsa (custard filled pastry) which Costas had bought for me at the bakery, on his way home from the bar in the early hours. Just missed one bus to the airport, waited half an hour for the next, then a long wait albeit in air-conditioned comfort for my Check In to open. The 50 minute flight to Chania painless, caught the bus into town, then walked to my friends Antonia and Vassiles’ house … concluding a journey of 9 hours duration.
When I left Chania yesterday morning, Antonia was working in the bakery downstairs so once again, I walked to the bus station in time to catch the 1100 hours bus to Kastelli Kissamos and my other home in Greece. Since living here in the early 1980’s with Costas No.1, I have returned whenever possible to spend time with my Cretan family who see me as one of them … how blessed and privileged am I to have this association and acceptance. Anna the family matriarch is now 95 and is quite possibly the finest woman I have ever met … I have so much admiration for her. Anna, Katina and Vassiles were at the house to greet me. It was not long before we were sitting down for lunch … Tzatziki (yoghurt and cucumber dip), Kokoras me Patates sto founo (rooster with potatoes, baked in the oven with lots of lemon), fresh, crusty bread and as always, a glass or two of wine. Then, I could not resist a walk down to the beach … in the evening came Vana and Roma, Katerina and Yani with his son Yani, just 10 months’ old, Anna’s youngest great-grandson. In typical Greek style, we sat around the table in the garden until late, eating mezes and drinking Tsikoudia (a very potent alcoholic drink, made from the pieces of grapes that were pressed for the winemaking process) and Krassi (wine). With the heat and a beach party in full swing nearby until some ungodly hour this morning, sleep did not come easily to me.
However, today I went early to the beach … Vasilles told me of another road down there where I had no one within earshot of me. The only sound, the lapping of the sea at the water’s edge … as I floated around in the warm, clear water with small fish in my company, I looked back towards the town and the mountains, reminded of how much I love Crete. Of course, Spetses has a special place in my heart too, mainly because that is where I share my life with Costas, but for me, nowhere I know in the world compares with the north west corner of Kriti. I love the people, the lifestyle, the climate, the landscape, the food and the wine. Katina made Yemista (stuffed tomatoes, courgettes, capsicum, vine leaves and courgette flowers baked in the oven, served with a dollop of Greek yoghurt) for our lunch today. So yummy, to die for … with many of the ingredients coming from the family’s own organic garden, there really is nothing to compare.
One week from today I will have commenced my long journey back to New Zealand … look for one more Blog in a few days’ time. Now I am off for a short siesta … one can expect visitors again tonight.