4/26/10 – Monday - Mahairas

4/26/10 – Mahairas

So, today the battery died in the beast... Quick phone call, got a jump and off we were to get it changed and take care of some bidness. I had the afternoon to myself so I decided to head up to Mahairas.

Some scenery on the way.

Proof that I was there

Well, as everyone knows, you simply HAVE to visit the St. Onoufrios church on the way. I mean how can one NOT visit their namesake's church? Well, it turns out that the old St. O was an ascetic (much like me...) Here is his history and some pictures.

Church from the outside

St. Onoufrios - Note the looooooooong beard and the resemblance.

Brief history of St Onoufrios. Click to enlarge

Blow up of the church's history

\/ Inside the church \/

Guess who this tavern is named after?

Here's Mahairas monastery

The eagle of Mahairas

This is a picture of the statue of Gregoris Afxentiou

Moving on, I wanted something to eat, but there's nothing to eat off season once you enter the forest. Drudge thru to the nearest town where I find a cafe. Ask the proprietor for a sandwich. While he's making it, I'm looking around and find something that looks like a still in the back room. I ask the guy if he's making zivania. He says no, I'm making rose water (Rodostemma). I ask if I can buy some. He says sure, here's a bottle, and hands me a 1.5 liter bottle still warm from the still. I tell him, I don't want to buy that much... I'd never use that much in my life. He starts looking for another container to put it in, but he can't find anything. I grab a Fanta bottle from the fridge, open it and tell him to pour it out, wash it and fill it. He agrees and I'm all set.

Head back to the house via a circuitous route. I tell mom I have a present for her and hand her the rosewater bottle (still warm). Happy mom. Says we'll have to go get some more. I agree. Find of the day was that!

Leaving the village of rosewater...

Decided that the trees needed pruning and got busy with that. Cousin Stella showed up with her son for a visit.

Dinner consisted of leftover kleftiko and fava beans with homegrown artichokes.

Damn them (all) things is tasty...

That's all for now... Stay tuned...