My first Panagia

 Tuesday 6th December

 

The day started beautifully, with yet another different sunrise over Hora. I got up early, as I did not really know what time this celebration started, so I did not want to miss out on the events. Turns out I could have had a lie in, as I know a bit more about what happens at these celebrations now . I drove down to Livadi, got a coffee, Grans were surprised, why I was there so early, until I explained. I walked to the little church known as St Nikolas. There was an icon, a framed one on an easel, a speaker outside, allowed us to hear the goings on inside, it really is a very small church. There were not many people outside, yet.

On the opposite side of the street, was a little annex where I could see them preparing food and other items for the celebrations. As each person went in, they made the sign of the cross and kissed the icon. A lot of people just went in for a short while, they were dressed in their regular clothes. I already recognised a lot of people, the priest from Hora was doing the service. During the service, I could hear people joining in the singing. Every so often the priest came out with an incense and bells item and then went back inside again. He repeated it with a book later on. The main bell on the church, was rung at eight am, then at eight twenty three. 

At this point, there were a lot of people. A horde of children from the school appeared, a couple of them were noisy, and were told off by the teachers. Bread was handed out, it was the aniseed tasting one, I had before. There was a dish for contributions too. A guy appeared on a motorbike with a candle at least two metres long. That went inside the church. My landlord appeared and waved to me. There were a few people wearing masks I noticed. Eventually the service ended, probably two hours later and the priest led the procession out of the church. There was a wooden item that was carried out, with another icon on it. Children held  stakes with golden items atop. We were heading for the sea. I followed on.

We walked towards one of the concrete piers in the marina area and we gathered around the priest and the wooden frame. There were more words and singing. 

Eventually they walked back to the church, I left them wanting to see if the hairdressers was back. I bumped into my landlord, I was eating the bread, he said hello and pointed to my bread and said the Greek word for breakfast that I understood. I checked the hairdresser, she is back tomorrow.

I walked to Grans and ordered a Zambontyropita, with a coffee. I asked Chris about something I heard the Greeks do, on January 6th where a priest throws a cross in the sea, and the person who jumps in and retrieves it, gets lots of luck. He said no one jumps into the sea here! I also found the name of the other lady who serves here, I asked the younger girl if they charge for Greek lessons, as they have been helpful with me and patient and they both agreed, no charge! I told them I go onto the concrete apron, to practice my Greek. I then drove up to the Medical Centre, I have two suspected warts, I want to try and get ointment for. On the way this was outside the infants school

I got to the centre, did not wait long and I was seen by two people, I got a prescription, and I will pick that up tomorrow. I thanked them so much, one replied in Greek, it was nothing, I knew the word and I told her so. If I had my wits about me, I would have done my  “ I speak a little Greek..” but I didn’t. I then drove up to Hora, met my Greek friend who has now left today and helped them pack their car and myself and the cat sitter saw them off. We drove off, towards the so called Cyclops Throne, I have seen it before. We stopped on the track, by the second Monastery on the island, here is a magnificent view of Mega Livadi.

We went along the track, we wanted to go to a church on the track. We saw a goatherd and his goats, with some kids.

We carried in with amazing views, there seemed some fields of the bulbs we see on the mountains, these seemed planted in rows. Unfortunately we saw ahead, the track was blocked off with a gate and two brick pillars. We had to turn around, without seeing the church. When we passed Cyclops Throne, we went up it, it’s impressive but you can’t really get a decent photo of it. You need a drone unfortunately!

 

Just for tonight and tomorrow I am feeding two sets of cats. One of my friends is back tomorrow night. This is a view of the moon and the pink  sky tonight. Myself and the cat sitter are walking to Livadi by the reservoir walk tomorrow and having lunch. That is the last day with them.