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An evening with our elderly neighbour Vaso and her family.
They come from Athens to visit their family home, help Vaso with the grapes, bathe in the waters of the Saronic Gulf
The table was set out in the courtyard overlooking Vagiona Bay
Surrounded by jasmine and 'ancient' greek pottery
Vaso sits at the head of the table smoking and drinking and talking
Under the light of the full moon
Yes, that tiny dot is the moon, the night after the eclipse. In actual fact it was huge and very bright
On the table, spetso-fai, sausages and peppers stewed with tomatoes
The inevitable greek salad, no longer with her tomatoes
She has given up her summer garden. Her daily work at the moment is in the small vineyard. Winter it is the olives . She does most of the pruning, weeding, watering by hand
Stewed okra/ladies fingers, called bamyes in Greek. Sounds like a word with turkish roots.
Okra stewed in tomatoes is a popular summer dish, especially now as there is a strict fast from 1 - 15 August, the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Greece's biggest holiday
Cold watermelon to finish the meal and clean the palate
We sat around talking and drinking till almost 2am even though they all had an early start the next morning. The water pump for the grapes has broken down.
It was a cool evening with no mosquitoes to drive us indoors.
Is that her courtyard, or your courtyard? Wow, what a wonderful view.
ReplyDeleteNot all the photos enlarge when clicked on, so I can't really see Vaso, sitting there, smoking, drinking and talking!
Was going to ask how so many people eat outside...? Here we have flies, which drive me crazy around food. And along with the flies, are the flying, stinging "critters."
You were lucky to have a bit of cool, so that took care of the mosquitoes. Wonderful!!!! But no flies?
Her courtyard. Wish we had that view!
DeleteFlies aren't much of a problem this year thank goodness. Wasps are a darn nuisance but once the sun goes down then they disappear.
Mosquitoes come and go. None that night for some unknown reason.
We call the okra "bamya" here, I've never cooked it.
ReplyDeleteYou call it bamya too. Interesting. I must look it up online.
DeleteI don't like them at all but have to eat it now and again as it's on the menu. They are kind of slimy
Oh, how I adore evenings like that; although 2 am is probably a bit late for me, as I rise at 5.50 am. Lovely looking grub!
ReplyDelete2am is usually far past my bedtime but the conversation was interesting and time flew. Vaso's kids are well educated and well travelled.
DeleteA lot of work goes into cooking those dishes but it does seem it's worthwhile the company.
ReplyDeleteGreetings Maria x
This time everyone helped. We brought the sausages and peppers, vaso's daughter made the okra and daughter in law did the rest.
DeleteMuch easier this way but someone still has to wash all the dishes when everyone has gone home to bed
Wish I had the ancient pottery for my herbaceous perennials.
ReplyDeleteThe gypsies and garden shops sell all shapes and sizes here. Not cheap though.
DeleteWhat a view - and what a lovely way to spend an evening, not sure I could make it to 2am, but I am willing to give it a go.
ReplyDeleteHer view is magnificent! Vaso never sits out there though to admire it. She tucks herself away around the corner. Her children have moved their outdoor dining to this spot.
DeleteLove the big pots!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fantastic way to spend a summer night
Kali oroxie
It was every relaxing. And not at my house!!!
DeleteWhat a view and lovely evening under the moon. Good food too. Seems to be a perfect evening.
ReplyDeleteGood company, relaxing evening
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