Week 39 in Greece

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On Saturday 15th August it was Agias Panagias and a public holiday in Greece. George says he will take us for a trip to Prespa Lake in Northern Greece. The fresh water lake is bordered by Greece, Albania and Former Republic of Yugoslavia, Macedonia. We leave around 7.50am to drive to Prespa. When we were driving to Prespa, we went to a little nearby village called Agios Germanos and took photos of 2 different families having whole lambs on the souvlas going. One said they come each year to their run down family home from Germany and do it on the Saint Day of Mary ( Agios Panagias) . They offered us some tsipouro, a very strong white liquor and cut off some of the cooked lamb to have as mezee. Such hospitality to us- strangers to them. There are a lot of beans grown around the area of Lake Prespa and they are left on the vines till dried. Then sold as dried beans, or fassolya. Greeks believe the best fassolya comes from this area (Prespa).
We have lunch at a restaurant at Lake Prespa after driving a little way around the lake. Then we go to Florina Cemetery and light a candle for Theo Ellias and then go to Agios Markos Monastery and buy some things at the Monastery shop. Then drive to Amindeo Lake and have a coffee there and then on to home in Perea. On the way back there was a down pour in Salonika and some of the streets were closed from the deluge. We did not have any rain in Perea, 25 km away.
Michael has raided a nearby fig tree. Some are half dry and really sweet. Others have their base opened, as they must have got some rain suddenly and the extra moisture has caused it to burst. Surprised that there are no wasps buzzing around the figs on the tree. They seem to enjoy more the savoury tastes of fish and meat.
We walk down the street in the morning and see about six old men having a coffee at an outside table at Goodys Restaurant. In Greece, this is the equivalent of McDonalds. This seems strange, as usually they go to the older restaurant opposite- perhaps they have been excommunicated. Anyway about ten metres away a priest in his black garb is sitting at an outside table alone with a small bottle of water. I say to Michael he looks a bit lonely- ask him if he wants a coffee. So Michael goes over and says a coffee would go nicely with the water, wouldn’t it? and the priest says yes. So Michael buys him one after a bit of a protest. It even came with a little biscuit. Michael says the church is wealthy, but the priests are not.
I fry up some slices of the white eggplant that Spiros, Michael’s friend gave us from his garden last week. It is sweeter than the regular eggplant and is white colour inside and out. This week after a bit of a sleep in the afternoon, we head off to Salonika- Michael wants to take a panoramic view of Aristoteleous Square. We wait for the elusive No 76 bus for 25 mins and then give up and walk to the Number 72 bus stop. On route I see a little baby praying mantis on the road and think, you are going to get run over, so pick it up and put it on some plants, so I thought. However in the bus, I feel it on the back of my neck, so hold it in my closed hands- no seats on the bus, as a summer bus that goes express from Mihaniona, the fishing port about 6 km further on than Perea to the Railway Station- only stops to let people on till it gets closer to Salonika. So I had to hold it for about half an hour, till closer to Salonika and some women got off. Good I thought and threw the praying mantis out the door. However it landed on one of the disembarking woman’s arm and she picked it up carefully and I thought she would let it go, but then she dropped it to the pavement and stepped on it. Not sure if there is a lesson in there, all my efforts for nothing in the end.

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Photos

Agios Germanos
This is the family who invited us to have a drink and some lamb when we asked if we could take a photo of them.

Lamb on Spit
This was the first lamb on the spit we saw at the village of Agios Germanos

Lamb on Spit
This is the first family with the lamb on the spit at Agios Germanos

Lamb on the spit
Notice the size of the wooden spit going through the lamb.

Michael at Agios Germanos
Luckily not much through traffic in this little village with the stone buildings.

Stone Buildings Agios Germanos
This little village was on the way to Lake Prespa

Taverna Lake Prespa
1909 was written on the stone wall, so very old.

Central area Lake Prespa Township
This communal gathering place in the Prespa village or town is surrounded by tavernas

Lake Prespa
George, Aleka and Mama are in the forefront.

Michael Agios Ahilios
This little pedestrian bridge is on pontoons and connects the mainland to the island where about 7 families live.

Fassolya Growing Prespa
Growing of the beans around Lake Prespa

Fassolya Growing
In Lake Prespa area, growing of the beans.

Michael and Tilia Tree
These Tilia or flamori trees near Florina. You can brew the flowers for tea- Mama has a cup each morning.

Mama at Agios Markos
This is a monastery near Florina in Northern Greece.

Searching for Water Leak
Opposite Mama's house was the water leak- provided much interest for the hours it took to repair it.

Water Leak
Many observers of the work being done.

Completed Work
I thought this was very Greek- the red tape being held in place with some cane which growing close by.

Spiros and Maria
One of Michael's good friend from his adolescence and his wife Maria.

Michael and Perea Sunset
Michael taking the photo of the lovely sunset.

Sunset Bliss
Just wonderful and peaceful