On Wednesday (11th) night I headed to Pireus with an address with me to find Manos! First I went to the harbour to buy ticket for the ferry next morning to Poros. Then I walked around 20 minutes trying to find the restaurant where he works at. Suddenly it was in front of me but I couldn't see him. He had just left a minute ago but they called him back without telling him why.. When he finally parked his bike and saw me, he was absolutely shocked!!! He just hugged me and couldn't really say anything else than let's get inside since we were standing on the street.. Inside he really couldn't speak much so I explained to him what im doing in Greece etc. and how I had found out where we works at. We talked about an hour or so and then he gave me a lift to the metro station and I promised to call him on easter when we both would be in Poros (or he in Galatas but close anyway).
Finally on Thurday 12th of April the boat strike was over and I left to Poros at 8 am. When I was walking inside the boat I suddenly heard "Geia sou Ira".. I turned around and Manos was standing there. Last night he had told me that he will go to Galatas on Friday night after his work and drive there with his car. He explained to me that he figured to take a day of, since he would have company on the boat. The ferry ride went quickly and I tried to study some Greek.
The hotel owner and his wife where at the harbour to meet me. It's stupid to say hotel owner 'cause they are much more closer to me than that. They are like my "greek parents/granparents" so to say. :) We went to the hotel and I got a room number 2 which used to be me and my family's room every year! It's the biggest one in the hotel with three beds (+one extra bed) and a big balcony with a nice view. I went to the supermarket where one of the owner brothers laughed at me that I really can't stay away from the island.. Then I took a nap and after that it was lunch time upstair in my "greek parents/granparents" home. Since it was easter 30-40 days before they don't eat meat so we ate octopus-pasta, which was really good to my surprise!! We talked a lot about the financial situation, politicians and immigrants which has developed to be a huge problem in Greece.
In the evening I walked to the town (around 2-2.5km) and went to restaurant Oasis just to sit and wander the world go by. There were quite a lot of people since it was easter. I had a really warm welcome in the restaurant and the owner sat on my table when he wasn't busy to chat with me and keep me company. :) I walked back home around 11 pm. :)
On Friday (Good /Holy/Great Friday) morning at 10 am I headed upstairs for breakfast and it was only me and Angeliki who really doesn't speak English. I think she can barely count to 10 in English and that's all. So it was pretty interesting I would say.. I had troubles understanding her and vice versa. Anyway I stayed there for two hours and I wrote every new word I learnt up so I could remember it better. In that two hours I learnt a lot of vocabulary and how to express myself with cestures and just try to speak Greek! Maybe after an hour or so I ran downstairs to get my dictionary to make our conversation a bit easier.. Some point we basically looked word after word from the dictionary said it aloud and the other one used the dictionary and said what she wanted to say. :D It was fun! :)
Then I went to walk near taverna Romantza to find out if the owner would be there. I saw him from far away and when I went closer I spotted his father sitting outside their house and I asked in greek if he was there. And he also was really shocked and confused to see me. He invited me in and I immediatelly went to kiss her mother 'cause I was so happy she was doing fine. Maybe 4-5 years ago I had visited her bedside since she was doing really bad and they were sure that it was just a matter of days when she would pass away.. All three of them have seen me since a little baby so they were really happy for me. The mother just kept repeating den einai mikro (she's not small anymore). Finally I ended up giving physical therapy advise to her mother how she has to keep moving every day and not stay in bed. They also told me that I look exactly like my mother and I have all the same expressions and gestures as she does. They also thanked me for coming to visit them. It was great to see them all again! :)
At two o'clock we ate lunch and as it was the day of when Jesus died we were only allowed to eat soup since meat, olive oil, milk etc. were forbidden. We ate tahini soup with small pasta things and it was okey. Again we only spoke greek at the lunch. Only once in a while Thanassis agreed on translating some words to me. I felt so so stupid!! I repeated that I don't understand or yes, yes or what.. I hate feeling stupid.
After eating around two hours I got a lift to the town when I spoted my neighbour from Athens and some other Erasmus students!! They were there for a day trip and were walking to Askeli beach. I told them that I might join them at some point. After maybe half an hour I met one of my greek friends who offered me a ride to Askeli. I hopped of where the other students were walking, thanked for the ride and joined Erasmus people. :) We hang on the beach for many hours talking and playing cards.
In the evening we (me, Thanassis and Angeliki) left to town at 8.30 pm, we walked to the biggest church near the clock tower and outside there were lots of people with long, yellow candles. Inside to the church I could hear some preaching. They handed me one of the candles and it was so crowded that I was afraid of setting some one on fire with the candle.. I kept repeating to myself "you're not clumsy, you're not clumsy". Even the little kids were given this big candles in the crowd. Each one of the kids whom I saw were so concentrated with their candles. It was like an honour for them to be trusted with fire and they wanted to show their parents that they could do it. Then, when they brought out the big flowery-chair or what ever is the right name to the thing (picture below), everybody started making their way down along the slippery steep rock steps. On the main square we stand a while (I really don't know what happened since I didn't see anything) and then we started making our way back to the church again. When in front of the church they hold the flowery-thing up so people would go inside the church under it and it would bring good luck.
When all the traditions were over I got invited to have late dinner with Thannassis nieces' and their friends. We went to eat to this Poseidon restaurant which was so packed with people! Not a single table free. We ate a lot of sea food and traditional greek stuff! At the end of the dinner they wouldn't allow me to pay anything! It got a ride home from the girls. It was so much fun eating with them! :)
On a Satuday morning I woke up at 10 am and headed straight to breakfast. At 11.30 am I got a ride to town and there they showed me my bike! The day before I went to ask for the prices for bikes (not motorbike) but they asked 5€/day so I decided that I can walk around and not pay.. But this was Thannassis niece's old bike and it was so cool!
I went to sit down and have a coffee on the sunshine. I called to Manos and we agreed on meeting on Sunday. When I started biking back to Askeli I saw a woman sitting on the deck with a henna tattoo sign.. Of course I stopped! I talked with her for a good while and she was from Poland but didn't wanne live there so she lives in Athens, or islands or where ever she wants to.. I took a henna tattoo to my arm/wrist and I took three small stars. Biking home I felt so so good! I had a t-shirt on which says Young and free and I really felt like that! Sun, +22C, warm wind, my bike and the place which I love! <3
We had a lunch again at two and after I went to beach for 30 minutes. In like 5 minutes the weather changed! Clouds, the sea got rough and it became cold and it eventually started raining..! So much for sunbathing. I went to my room to watch tv but basically there were onlysome God programs and news going on.
In the evening it was time for some more traditions. This time we left at 11 pm to the Navy base where we lit our white candles 11.45 pm. The place was also so crowded and it was amazing to follow that only couple of persons went inside to the navy base church to lit their candles. After that people shared the fire to the person standing next to them saying Chronia polla (=many happy years/returns etc. Also said when someone has a birthday). Then we walked to the big yard where there was this stand where the priest started his speech. At 12 there was this big fireworks show! And people kissed each other and told Chronia polla, christos anesti = the god has arisen or something like that) it reminded me of the new year's. After we started making our way back to home with the candles. Inside to home door you're supposed to do a cross with the candle and it brings you good luck and protects your home.
At 1 am we went to one of their friends and neighbours to eat this huge dinner since now they were allowed to eat anything. There I finally got introduced to one tradition which I had been wondering what it is. I've seen a lots of boiled eggs painted red. Two people each take an egg and while one hold hers, the other one clicks her against the other one. The one which egg doesn't brake means good luck for its holder. At 2.30 am me and the family's daughter left to town and I saw my friend Martin at Maskes club from were we went with his friends to Sirocco club. During the night I met this guy whom I recognised and he also knew me, we just couldn't figure out from where. Maybe after couple of hours he gave to me telling that he got it. He had been a waitor in a restaurant, where we had used to go, when he was 14 or so, and now he was 23..! I got a ride to home at 5 am. :)
On Sunday morning I went for breakfast at 10.30 am and we left to Galatas side to eat lunch at 11.30 am. The lunch was tradition again, grilled lamb aka souvlaki. The grilled the ENTIRE lamb theirselves.. It was like finnish cottage and the fire. There were 10 men and me and they were drinking beer and watching to lamb to get ready. It was fun!! :D We werealtogether 10 people (different people) at the lunch and I tested "kokoretsi" which is lamb's heart, liver, lungs and intestines...! I did not like it at all! We ate around FOUR hours!! And from time to time I was soooo bored for not understanding the conversations that much!! After I was supposed to see Mano but his mother had some problems and she was at the hospital. I didn't do anything else that day!
On Monday morning I woke up after sleeping 14 hours!?! After breakfast I biked to the town to the new internet cafe and then I went to book the ferry tickets for the next day to Aegina to visit my greek friend Panagiotis. I also went to the beach since it was nice weather. After lunch we drove to the old windmill and walked on the mountain admiring the view to different directions! :) I also got a car tour around Neorio. In the evening I went to Oasis to eat.
Tuesday: read the separate writing about my day in Aegina. :)
Wednesday I woke up at 9 am feeling vey tired since it had rained and stormed outside and I couldn't sleep. I really didn't do anything that special: wrote some letters to home, went to the town to internet, watched tv, went to the gym to visit the boss Vivi and ask for a job for the summer. She basically told me that she can't offer me anything but few hours in the afternoon and maybe some massage clients. I wasn't that excited, so we'll see..
Thurday (19th) was my last day of my easter holiday in Poros. At 12.30 am we left to Galatas side to visit the lemonforest! I found out that they have an other place to stay IN the lemonforest! I absolutely loved to small house! We also climbed to one of the mountainside where I found out that they own over 100 olivetrees in different places. The day was so nice! Relaxing and I really enjoyed myself. In the evening I went to eat to Oasis for the last time and say goodbye. I biked back home and admired the stars. :)
In the evening we (me, Thanassis and Angeliki) left to town at 8.30 pm, we walked to the biggest church near the clock tower and outside there were lots of people with long, yellow candles. Inside to the church I could hear some preaching. They handed me one of the candles and it was so crowded that I was afraid of setting some one on fire with the candle.. I kept repeating to myself "you're not clumsy, you're not clumsy". Even the little kids were given this big candles in the crowd. Each one of the kids whom I saw were so concentrated with their candles. It was like an honour for them to be trusted with fire and they wanted to show their parents that they could do it. Then, when they brought out the big flowery-chair or what ever is the right name to the thing (picture below), everybody started making their way down along the slippery steep rock steps. On the main square we stand a while (I really don't know what happened since I didn't see anything) and then we started making our way back to the church again. When in front of the church they hold the flowery-thing up so people would go inside the church under it and it would bring good luck.
When all the traditions were over I got invited to have late dinner with Thannassis nieces' and their friends. We went to eat to this Poseidon restaurant which was so packed with people! Not a single table free. We ate a lot of sea food and traditional greek stuff! At the end of the dinner they wouldn't allow me to pay anything! It got a ride home from the girls. It was so much fun eating with them! :)
I went to sit down and have a coffee on the sunshine. I called to Manos and we agreed on meeting on Sunday. When I started biking back to Askeli I saw a woman sitting on the deck with a henna tattoo sign.. Of course I stopped! I talked with her for a good while and she was from Poland but didn't wanne live there so she lives in Athens, or islands or where ever she wants to.. I took a henna tattoo to my arm/wrist and I took three small stars. Biking home I felt so so good! I had a t-shirt on which says Young and free and I really felt like that! Sun, +22C, warm wind, my bike and the place which I love! <3
We had a lunch again at two and after I went to beach for 30 minutes. In like 5 minutes the weather changed! Clouds, the sea got rough and it became cold and it eventually started raining..! So much for sunbathing. I went to my room to watch tv but basically there were onlysome God programs and news going on.
In the evening it was time for some more traditions. This time we left at 11 pm to the Navy base where we lit our white candles 11.45 pm. The place was also so crowded and it was amazing to follow that only couple of persons went inside to the navy base church to lit their candles. After that people shared the fire to the person standing next to them saying Chronia polla (=many happy years/returns etc. Also said when someone has a birthday). Then we walked to the big yard where there was this stand where the priest started his speech. At 12 there was this big fireworks show! And people kissed each other and told Chronia polla, christos anesti = the god has arisen or something like that) it reminded me of the new year's. After we started making our way back to home with the candles. Inside to home door you're supposed to do a cross with the candle and it brings you good luck and protects your home.
At 1 am we went to one of their friends and neighbours to eat this huge dinner since now they were allowed to eat anything. There I finally got introduced to one tradition which I had been wondering what it is. I've seen a lots of boiled eggs painted red. Two people each take an egg and while one hold hers, the other one clicks her against the other one. The one which egg doesn't brake means good luck for its holder. At 2.30 am me and the family's daughter left to town and I saw my friend Martin at Maskes club from were we went with his friends to Sirocco club. During the night I met this guy whom I recognised and he also knew me, we just couldn't figure out from where. Maybe after couple of hours he gave to me telling that he got it. He had been a waitor in a restaurant, where we had used to go, when he was 14 or so, and now he was 23..! I got a ride to home at 5 am. :)
On Sunday morning I went for breakfast at 10.30 am and we left to Galatas side to eat lunch at 11.30 am. The lunch was tradition again, grilled lamb aka souvlaki. The grilled the ENTIRE lamb theirselves.. It was like finnish cottage and the fire. There were 10 men and me and they were drinking beer and watching to lamb to get ready. It was fun!! :D We werealtogether 10 people (different people) at the lunch and I tested "kokoretsi" which is lamb's heart, liver, lungs and intestines...! I did not like it at all! We ate around FOUR hours!! And from time to time I was soooo bored for not understanding the conversations that much!! After I was supposed to see Mano but his mother had some problems and she was at the hospital. I didn't do anything else that day!
On Monday morning I woke up after sleeping 14 hours!?! After breakfast I biked to the town to the new internet cafe and then I went to book the ferry tickets for the next day to Aegina to visit my greek friend Panagiotis. I also went to the beach since it was nice weather. After lunch we drove to the old windmill and walked on the mountain admiring the view to different directions! :) I also got a car tour around Neorio. In the evening I went to Oasis to eat.
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| Monastery on the highest point of Poros town or at least on the very top |
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| Poros town <3 |
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| Galatas and Trizina <3 |
Tuesday: read the separate writing about my day in Aegina. :)
Wednesday I woke up at 9 am feeling vey tired since it had rained and stormed outside and I couldn't sleep. I really didn't do anything that special: wrote some letters to home, went to the town to internet, watched tv, went to the gym to visit the boss Vivi and ask for a job for the summer. She basically told me that she can't offer me anything but few hours in the afternoon and maybe some massage clients. I wasn't that excited, so we'll see..
Thurday (19th) was my last day of my easter holiday in Poros. At 12.30 am we left to Galatas side to visit the lemonforest! I found out that they have an other place to stay IN the lemonforest! I absolutely loved to small house! We also climbed to one of the mountainside where I found out that they own over 100 olivetrees in different places. The day was so nice! Relaxing and I really enjoyed myself. In the evening I went to eat to Oasis for the last time and say goodbye. I biked back home and admired the stars. :)
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| Poros town with the windmill and the monastery taken from the ferry crossing to Galatas |
Next morning I left back to Athens at 6 o'clock boat.. :(
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| Taken from the ferry while going to Athens |
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