Monday, April 30, 2012

...and then we go to buy spanakópoita in Stípsi...

The village of Stípsi is built on a mountain ridge. Charming and almost impossible to drive through, because of narrow streets. Centre for a lot of the olive oil production in the area. Yannis was born here. 

Now he is hungry. He has only had some honey and water in the morning. We go to a local bakery to buy warm, fresh spinach pies, for breakfast in Paradise. Waving to friends in nearby cafeníon. A peaceful morning...



HE WANTS TO BUY ME A DONUT AS WELL.

CLEANING UP FROM YESTERDAY.

MORNING COFFEE AND THOUGHTS.

FRIENDLY GESTURE.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Spring is all over me....

Colors just pouring like water everywhere. Birds, wind, sea, flowers. 
Like under my skin. Spirits outside and inside. Breathtaking island of Lesvos. 

AGHIOS IGNATIOS AND TWO CANDLES.

WANTED TO DIVE INTO IT.
MEETING WITH THE SEA.

TALK ABOUT GREEN.



POWER OF GROWTH.

OOOH, SUCH FRAGILITY.


WILL REMEMBER THIS IN AUGUST.

Friday, April 27, 2012

The CONTINUATION. Meet Gannis Pitsoúlis, farmer, chef, father and friend......









It is at daybreak. Morning routine for Giannis and his father Konstantinos.
Milking 150 sheep twice a day. Feeding the pigs and chicken and the
important cleaning of all stables. I really feel like the "tourist" I am.
Nevertheless, I am grateful for our long talks, Yannis. That you have the patience
with me.


I had to stay aside. The sheep get worried by strangers. Here lining up for milking hands. Mothers and daughters.






Daddy Konstantínos has done this before. Nothing special to any of the two, but they are worried and a bit angry over prices they get for the milk, hardly covering costs. It is a bit crowded inside. They are patient and they spread an obvious sense of calm to the anxious sheep.  

A back light morning. Creeping sunlight across the hills in all variations of green. I can only hear the sound of bells.

"You want to see the pigs? It stinks there. But they love to be in all this shit and mud."
It is not the first time I visit a pigsty and it does stink and the pigs are happily grunting
and wagging their "tails".
I think I will have chicken tonight for dinner.  

Clean like a polished floor afterwards. Sheep are back in their pastoral environment.
We are ready to go and have breakfast. 

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

More on Woman Power...


This is my friend Maria Vatís. I wanted to pay her a visit to see how she was doing with her prep work for the coming season that is just around the corner. We live and work in the same village, but it still seems to be difficult to find the time for even a coffee. She is a close friend to Taxía. I can understand that. Maria is also a strong and warm hearted woman. Above all, you are my friend, Maria.
I realized a lot about the forthcoming season, the struggle to make ends meet and how to maintain the service quality of your hotel, the Akti. Thanks for the hours together....

I THINK I WILL HAVE A CHAT WITH YOU NEXT TIME ABOUT THE GLASSES. VERY OFFICIAL LOOK.


FIGHTING HARD FOR COLORS.
VIEWS THAT STAY.

FIXING COFFEE.

MY FRIEND MARIA.

MARIA, YOU HAVE MANY FACES.


Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Sunday stays with me...

Situations, a picture of how we stick to the group we feel we belong to, future's stars and the not so young generation, with a more laid back relation to the world around. More from Olympos stadium in Molivos, Lesvos....

TAKE YOUR POSITIONS!



A WOUNDED TEAM MEMBER. SOME ARE LESS CONCERNED.


NO GOAL THIS TIME EITHER.

WE STICK TO EACH OTHER.
THE STARS OF TOMORROW.


BETTER HERE BY THE COFFEE STAND.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Closer than at San Siro....

Sunday football is sometimes more of a social gathering than the football itself. Closer contact than in Milan. Unless it is not the neighboring village that the team plays against. Then it is a matter of "life and death" or a bit of pride and prejudice! And explosive in it's real sense! I am enjoying the day, peaceful and intimate in a way. Probably because our team played a 6-0 game.Then you can afford to be a bit gentle. Now there was time for friendly relations and flirts. Exciting sitting a bit outside looking in....and more to come...

THE "ODOS" OUTSIDE ON WAY TO DRAMA FIELD.

PERHAPS A BIT MORE THAN A SOCIAL GATHERING.

NO DOUBT. PREFERRED SOCIAL CONTACT.

REFEREES. LAW AND ORDER.

WINNING STRIKES.

RATHER CHATTING AND EATING PISTACHIO.
AFTERMATH.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

05.45 - 06.20. Hesitant light...

I am up with babbling pigeons. Early, cool and the beginning of something new.

05.45 AM.

GOOD MORNING LESVOS.



06.10 AM.

06.15 AM.

06.20 AM. LOOKS LIKE A GREAT DAY. BACK TO SLEEP, TORSTEN. 

Saturday, April 21, 2012

I came back before my neighbors did...

I have many neighbors. A few live really close to here. Now I do not have to set the clock anymore during siesta time. They always wake me up through starting to gossip. They are sweet people, I think. They were happy when they met their long time friends again. In this, as well as in many other Greek villages, there are social gatherings around each corner. I like to be a part of that. 



SHARING WINTER EPISODES.

MY CLOSEST NEIGHBOR HAS A LOT TO DO IN HIS GARDEN.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Woman power...


She is the best. My friend Taxía. She is everything from being totally crazy 
to a very warm hearted person. She is a true Lesvian. And she wakes up the very best in me.
She is simply priceless.  


A FRIENDLY FIST.


ALWAYS A WITTY SMILE READY.

Thursday, April 19, 2012


IN MEMORIAM
I will miss him badly. No more songs from an amazing voice.
I am thinking about all the moments of contemplation I have had
in his "company". He appeals to good things within me.
Dimitris Mitropanos. A great Greek.





Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Raining cats and dogs....


 I feel it early in the morning. Rain, thunder and lightning coming closer. Shifting colors all through the day. Noisy, shaky. I am inside sipping coffee. Giving myself a reason not to do anything at all but to look out and enjoy the peace of mind. Rainy weather does not bother me here. Simply one of many faces of incredible Lesvos island!



FRONTS APPROACHING

SHIFTING COLORS

DIFFICULT TO SEE FAMILIAR ISLAND


POURING DOWN