New and Old, Odds and Sods

This entry to to compile some interesting items that either stand alone or juxtapose past and present. I hope you enjoy some of these pictures and contrasts.



Take for example this shop window in the Bourgo. It features a couple of shelves of papas [Greek Orthodox Priests] engaged in various activities. Some you would expect: baptizing, holding an icon. praying etc. But others are curious. We have the fishing priest or the priest mending nets in the centre front of the top shelf.








What is the market for two priest playing ping pong- or pocket billiards?

Shop windows in the Bourgo are premium space. how does it get given over to these? Just how high is the demand for these images of the priests?










Here a priest doing laundry and a boxer priest. Very different indeed.

In reality the priests seem to be rather aloof. As i walk the streets I often make eye contact with the locals and they are quire friendly while the priests on the other hand seem to look through me or just avoid any eye contact. Strange I think.

This was once a sidewalk or roadside shrine site for commemoration or veneration. Whatever it may have been, the shrine item has been removed and replaced with a public phone in the mountain village of Apeiranthos.

The mountain villages originated when piracy became became a plague several centuries ago. After the fall of the Byzantine [Eastern Roman Empire] beginning around 1000 CE, the pirates [Saracens] made life difficult. Naxos was relatively safe as the population abandoned the coast for the mountain villages in the interior.  The villages were sited first so they could not be seen from the sea and secondly around defensive and agricultural values such as water.






Now this was a really interesting and intriguing scene. On this wind swept ridge high on a mountain pass is an old windmill, the kind that is distinctive of these islands and seen in many places.

Yet right behind is the contemporary wind power generators we see across the world. The old technology and new technology juxtaposed in an eye catching scene.

If you were following my winter blogs you may remember the story of Zeus and Europa . If not you can scroll down and find that entry  from last January on this blog. Here, at the museum  in  Naxos, is a tile floor mosaic of Zeus disguised as a white bull swimming Europa to Crete  after  tricking her.  This mosaic  is especially well preserved and still conveys the brilliant colours

Chalki is another quaint little village and here a family has been making Kitron for five generations. Kitron [ a kind of lemon tasting liquor] is only made on Naxos and thus another feature of the island culture. This distilling kiln was  built by the great great great grandfather of the young woman who gave us the tour. This family business makes only 35,000 bottles a year but it is enough for the family to make a living from their own work, on their own farms and from their distillery. Kitron is a citrus fruit resembling gigantic lemons however it is the leaves of the tree that are used for the distilling of kitron. The peel is used in spoon sweets often used to welcome company to one's home. It is very good. And yes of course we have a bottle. 

Walking along the waterfront I came across this cat in the flowering shrubs- very intent on catching supper. Not sure what creature was there. A bird probably. Cats run wild here and are important for rodent control. Some live a hard life for them. Some islands have an animal rescue league of volunteers composed of ex-pats like the British, and some of the local people. These non-profit groups to try and help these animals with such things as flee collars so they don't suffer as much.

The sheep can be hobbled by some owners so they can't get out the fields and wander around. It is sad to see them restrained in this way and trying to eat the stubble. But again, who wants them grazing in gardens? This is the dry season. Once the rain returns the field spring into green life.

I did not expect to find a tortoise in  the Bourgo 

but here one is. They are rather common
 apparently  but hard to see as they find little 

hideaways during the heat of 

the day and then find their food at night.

Looking through the base of Portara there is an interesting view of the town. This structure has 'watched' the town change and evolve for 26 centuries! Hard to imagine what all has been seen through this space over time- like looking through a portal.

In the Bourgo little unexpected things brighten up an otherwise dull wall such as this decorative feature

A shop in the village of Apeiranthos still features the "old"ways. The mountain villages are known as being a bit a of throw back in time. This is a small grocery store that offeres many home made items. Many of these bottles are various homemade wines, kitron, ouzo and preserves. Fascinating place to shop and the spices are incredible. 

As I mentioned previously, it is very refreshing to shop in 'real' stores where I do not know what I will find, instead of the box stores we are so familiar with and are so predictable. The shop owners and staff add to the enjoyable experience with their helpfulness and wonderful smiles especially when I try to say a few words in Greek- which must sound awful to them. It is also nice to be able to sample each owners wine, olives and spirits - all at very reasonable prices.