Parts of Poros life

Looking out over the Lykeio and one of our two Primary Schools

30 January is a school holiday.  It is the fiesta day of The Three Hierarchs, Saints Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, patrons of education and learning. 

The tortoise shell which has been hanging in the olive tree for six weeks now.  The meaty part has dried up and fallen away.

Time for small boys to clean and find a place to display their trophy.

Bulls balls, testicles.   Known also as Prairie oysters to the unsuspecting and in greek as ameletita.

We don't get hold of these very often (lol).  A friend brought us a kilo or so of already cleaned testicles, delicious when fried and finely sliced.  They have a tough membrane on the outside and are difficult to clean

Finger lickin' good

A back alley way in the old town

We were woken this morning by the jingle of sheep bells.  The shephard whistles and the flock of sheep trot away in great haste bleating up the road behind him.  They come every few days to the empty paddock next door and feed on the tall weeds and green clover.   Unlike goats they do not scrabble up and damage the olive trees and are welcomed as lawn mowers.   Today there was a small lamb leaping and skipping along behind it's mother.  The poor thing has two months and then its easter.  

One of our heavy old fashioned TV sets.

  The television of the maiden aunts across on Galatas has broken down and we offered to bring this old set over.  We already have three of these bulky dinosaurs.

What I did not realise is that their television has been broken for over a year now.  Their brother died over 18 months ago and they do not watch TV or listen to the radio in their house as they are in mourning.  The two year memorial is coming up in May and then we can gift them our old set.

I was bewildered as I know they watch some of the greek tv serials.  Apparently they can watch the TV in their nephews house next door but not in their own.

The very traditional maiden aunts. 

 Wonderful women who will go out of their way to make any guest feel welcome, and will not permit anyone to leave their house without partaking of food and drink.  They have hens and a couple of goats, make their own bread, including their amazing fried cheese flat bread. 

Eleni on the left is over 80.  She and Tasia make  traditional sweets and dishes for all the large extended family.  They keep the family together and the traditions and rituals alive.