Easter Day, a day for families
and friends, a day for celebrating, what would I do?
I decided to go for a walk along the sea-shore and then,
hopefully, refreshed by the sea breeze, I would pay a visit to
‘Sunset’ bar to pass the time.
The sea was grey and
there was a mist blowing in. The sand looked dull and uninviting as I
walked along the shore line dodging the small waves that scurried up
the beach. It matched my mood. I picked up a few shells that had been
carried onto the beach by the recent storm and put them absent
mindedly in my pocket. I skimmed a few stones across the water and
then made my way back to the village. I was surprised to see that a
couple of hours had passed during my reverie.
“
Welcome!
Welcome! Come and join us. I was led through to the warm, inner
depths of the cafeteria to find Pavlos and Michalis with their wives
and mother preparing to enjoy their Easter lunch. As they could
not be at home to enjoy their feast, the feast was brought to them. I
was sat down and treated as an honoured
guest. I began to relax and enjoy myself. The day was turning out
rather better than I had been expecting. “How kind of them,” I
thought, “to share such an important family day with one who was a
virtual stranger.
“Relax and enjoy” ordered Pavlos. “You are with us today.” I smiled. “This as a special day of the year.”
The table was spread with
different dishes containing roast and boiled meats, boiled rice
cooked in the meat juices, vegetables gathered from the fields and
many dips and side dishes, including of course the ubiquitous Easter
biscuits. The wine was dark red, almost black in colour and I was
told that it was ten years old. It was smooth to the palate, unlike a
lot of the local wine.
Graviera Cheese & tsigoudia ( raki)
Lamb
The time was passing very
pleasantly when suddenly, at about three o’clock a young man from Kalamitsi walked into
the room.
“Come with me.” he
ordered.
“What about..?” I
didn’t have chance to finish my question.
“It’s ok” he said
in a gentler tone. “Come to my village with me please. I would like you to spend Easter with us.”
Pavlos gave me a big grin
and a wink “Get off with you. Have a good time."
We left and drove in the
direction of the village.
“Curiouser and
curiouser” I thought to myself, “ He’s planning to take me
to his village? With all the family?
I found myself once
again at the cafenion of Petros and Soula. A large table had been
placed in the courtyard and many of their cousins and other
members of the family had gathered, even though the sky overhead was
gloomy.
Lamb Fricasee
A number of the
company I had met before and I couldn’t help wondering what they
were thinking. Nobody
showed the slightest sign that there was anything amiss. I was made
welcome by all there.
We ate and
drank again and as usual the wine flowed. Roast lamb, hot off the
spit, fresh cheese pies sweet and savoury,
roast and fried potatoes, roast pork sprinkled with cinnamon were all
on offer.
I had already eaten but
the temptation to taste everything proved to great to resist. This
was not a day for worrying about the waistline. We cracked our
red-painted eggs as if they were conkers, another tradition.
The
women got up to dance and I joined in, though I didn’t know the
steps very well. Suddenly it began to rain.
“Oh my poor hair.”
wailed Soula as she scuttled inside to shelter, but luckily it was
only a light shower and soon stopped and the merriment continued.
By the time I returned to my room I was tired and my head was spinning from all
the wine.
“Well,” I reflected
“that was certainly a more pleasant day than I anticipated when I
woke this morning.” Here in Crete you never know what was going to happen next.
A Typical village celebration
