Weekend Highlights
By Helen Grubner. Filed in Uncategorized |
My first visit to Ano Syros was amazing, however, I wanted to see inside the Catholic Church of St. George, as well as the views from up on the hill at dusk and nightfall. I set off once again on Friday evening to make the climb up oh so many steps… I wish I could move like the donkeys carrying supplies to the building sites!
I thought previously I was over churches but the Catholic Church of St. George is definitely worth visiting… beautiful without being overly decorative. The Markos Vamvakaris Museum was also open so I had a look through there… only 1 Euro if you’re over 65, otherwise 2 Euro. Ended up at a table overlooking Ermoupoli and the sea with a gorgeous cat keeping me company who wouldn’t co-operate for a selfie. I had a delicious green salad with sun dried tomatoes, corn and rusks… nothing in that to interest my feline friend.
My trip to the island of Tinos on Saturday was somewhat disappointing. Time was always going to be tight but with the ferry being half an hour late leaving Syros, I was left with just 2 and a half hours on Tinos. Of particular interest was the Church of Evagelistria… primary destination for Greek Orthodox pilgrim’s, not that I am one of them. There is a narrow strip of carpet on the right hand side of the road leading up from the port to the church and many followers crawl on their hands and knees to get there. They wash their hands in the Holy Water and kiss the famous miracle working Holy Icon, asking help from the Virgin Mary and forgiveness of their sins.
My problem on Saturday, together with many others, were the crowds. A very long wait in a queue, in the hot sun, just to enter the church. By the time I had done so, I could only walk back down the hill, passed all the shops selling religious paraphernalia… and there was my ferry entering the port.
In the evening I went to the first night of the 8th Choral Festival of Ermoupoli at the Apollon theater. Scored a seat in a 2nd floor box which was pretty awesome and it was free admission. There were ensembles from all over Greece, some classical, some traditional and 2 children’s choirs. In complete contrast to my theater experience a week earlier at the Herodion with Jethro Tull but nonetheless very enjoyable.
Left my room Sunday early evening to go eat at Laoutari… an amazing little restaurant on a back street near the port. Ordered Penne with a beetroot sauce and mizithra, a soft cheese from Crete. In a word… delicious!
I had planned to go to the second night of the Choral Festival at the Apollon theater, however, on the way, passing through Miaouli Square, the stage was being set for an outdoor concert so I decided to stay there. Two hours of entertainment with the Hellenic Navy Band, singers and a choir of some 100 children, standing on the steps of the Town Hall. When it was all over, we were told in 10 minutes there would be a fireworks display in the harbour. I watched that, returned to the Square for an icecream then home to the welcome of the air conditioner.
I would never have believed how hot Greece could be in June and I am left wondering what July and August will be like?
