To Kavala
Texted Glen a couple of times and arranged to go off to see him and Eleni in Kavala. Kavala is on the mainland, and we taxied from Skala Potamia to the sheltered west coast of Thassos and another port called Skala Prinos. Our taxi driver a cheery man called Christos who spoke good English. We had a light lunch in Skala Prinos, waiting for the ferry. Lots of tourists from Romania and Bulgaria on Thassos, and one Bulgarian behaving abominably in the harbour taverna, in an a harassing and sexist manner to the waitress.
The ferry to Kavala, which took an hour and a quarter, one of those archetypical Greek experiences, looking back at the broad wake left by the ferry leading back to the diminishing island. These kind of trips always fill me with a tranquil happiness.
Kavala is a gorgeous hillside city. Glen and Eleni met us from the boat and drove us home to their apartment with a beautiful view south down the town, and harbour and across the water to the mountainous Thassos, where we were served another delicious meal of of sausages and stuffed peppers. Then we got ready for a night out, to see Glen and Eleni performing. Eleni warming up her voice in the apartment and running through the song with Glen playing piano. She has a stunning voice. I ironed a shirt in the same room, and felt almost disrespectful.
Then we drove to the old town, complete with a castle and narrow streets. We had an explore of this with them, and went into the old castle. At one point we went down to a dungeon with a corner piled with old cannon balls and Eleni sang again, her voice resonating amazingly. Quite a magical moment.
Then we sat outside as the sun set, and waited for the performance of a play called Moonlight, which was a dramatisation of this poem by Yiannis Ritsos, Eleni sang a song to top and tail the performance, and Glen played the first movement of the Moonlight sonata repeatedly throughout. Five sternly beautiful actresses of a certain age spoke the lines to an unspeaking and unreliable looking younger man. An older male actor topped and tailed it by speaking in the poet's voice. All a bit mysterious at the time as it was all in Greek, but a memorable experience nevertheless. We sat next to Eleni's father Sakis, and two of his grandchildren during the performance.
From here, Glen, Eleni, family friend Giannis, Lorraine and I repaired to a hillside Taverna with a spectacular view over the harbour, town and mountains and drank some beer and had a few snacks. Soon however there was thunder and lightning in the mountains behind the town, which made a memorable evening even more spectacular. I really liked Giannis, who was about my age and was was an important local figure in the wine industry. Also so nice to see Glen again, and meet Eleni. Glen seems incredibly cheerful.
Then home to Glen and Eleni's place a sip of triple distilled ouzo and Lorraine and I boofed into bed.
Below the door of a mosque in the old town, Castle views with Glen and Eleni.
The ferry to Kavala, which took an hour and a quarter, one of those archetypical Greek experiences, looking back at the broad wake left by the ferry leading back to the diminishing island. These kind of trips always fill me with a tranquil happiness.
Kavala is a gorgeous hillside city. Glen and Eleni met us from the boat and drove us home to their apartment with a beautiful view south down the town, and harbour and across the water to the mountainous Thassos, where we were served another delicious meal of of sausages and stuffed peppers. Then we got ready for a night out, to see Glen and Eleni performing. Eleni warming up her voice in the apartment and running through the song with Glen playing piano. She has a stunning voice. I ironed a shirt in the same room, and felt almost disrespectful.
Then we drove to the old town, complete with a castle and narrow streets. We had an explore of this with them, and went into the old castle. At one point we went down to a dungeon with a corner piled with old cannon balls and Eleni sang again, her voice resonating amazingly. Quite a magical moment.
Then we sat outside as the sun set, and waited for the performance of a play called Moonlight, which was a dramatisation of this poem by Yiannis Ritsos, Eleni sang a song to top and tail the performance, and Glen played the first movement of the Moonlight sonata repeatedly throughout. Five sternly beautiful actresses of a certain age spoke the lines to an unspeaking and unreliable looking younger man. An older male actor topped and tailed it by speaking in the poet's voice. All a bit mysterious at the time as it was all in Greek, but a memorable experience nevertheless. We sat next to Eleni's father Sakis, and two of his grandchildren during the performance.
From here, Glen, Eleni, family friend Giannis, Lorraine and I repaired to a hillside Taverna with a spectacular view over the harbour, town and mountains and drank some beer and had a few snacks. Soon however there was thunder and lightning in the mountains behind the town, which made a memorable evening even more spectacular. I really liked Giannis, who was about my age and was was an important local figure in the wine industry. Also so nice to see Glen again, and meet Eleni. Glen seems incredibly cheerful.
Then home to Glen and Eleni's place a sip of triple distilled ouzo and Lorraine and I boofed into bed.
Below the door of a mosque in the old town, Castle views with Glen and Eleni.
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