Matala off piste….

There are always quirky moments at festivals which may have nothing to do with the main event. Just wandering around Matala there is so much to see…

Before you begin you must fortify yourself for the road ahead. How about a refreshing and healthy Pomegranate Juice?

Or the more traditional Frappe

Of course a slice of home made walnut cake never goes amiss

At the entrance to the village

Sunday morning and the beach is full of the "Beautiful People"

Some in the shade of the caves

The biker cafe

Yes, those are lightbulbs in the eye sockets!

Sign of the old times, vintage "Dormobiles"

Musical themes everywhere

The moment that Carl Axon and the Rockin' Rebels were joined on stage by Mickey Mouse!

I loved the tables full of sea shells

Old doors make an interesting background to street tables

All the roads were painted with murals ( or whatever they may be called when they are on the ground!)

Flower Power!

I want one!

So many lovely things!

The sun begins to set

The moon begins to rise

Dreaming at the end of a long day.

Matala Music

The main event..

…in Matala is the music. Three days of music for all tastes, 2 stages, many bands, something for all tastes.

The main stage or "Cave stage" has a backdrop of the famous caves inhabited by the hippies in the '60's

Music started at 5pm when it was still very hot, 

It did not deter the audience

As the sun set more music lovers and party animals began to arrive on the beach. Music began at 5pm and continued till the early hours. Bands included "Soul fire" "Kosa Mostra" Fillipos Pliatsikas, Tonis Sfinos and the "Dub Pistols" along with many others.

The other stage is the "Square" stage

The first band to perform on the square stage this year was our local band "Carl Axon and the Rockin Rebels"

They soon had everyone up and dancing

Meanwhile on the beach, undeterred by the dust…..

The cliffs were lit up and the party was going strong

The "Matala" moon was full

The following day we caught a band called "Treis Laloun" who had an amazing young blues singer

And we must not forget the buskers on the roads with their own music competing with the bigger names.

Matala Nights

No blog for a few days, what happened? The answer is that I have been to the "Hippy" Festival in Matala for the weekend! A fabulous weekend, great atmosphere, great music, friends, food, beach, and people watching! Here is just a taster, more soon…..

 The huge tree at the entrance of the village was carved by Spyros Stefanakis, a Cretan artist.

Crowds begin to gather on the beach

Dancing on the beach.

Matala moon at exactly midnight on 17th June

A few souvlakis were cooked and consumed!

The Matala caves where the hippies lived in the '60s

Cooling off

End of a long day...