Posted: 07/05/2011 | July 5th, 2011
“Eat, it’s like deer,” Francesco stated to me.
I was surrounded by bit Greek women in black shawls with wooden canes, people doing traditional dances, youngsters running around, great deals of wine, as well as cooked wild goat being shoved in my face.
Francesco, the owner of my hostel, had invited me to this celebration of all things Greek. Francesco’s hostel is an organization on Ios. everybody understands it. He as well as his spouse kept in mind me from last year, as well as over the weeks, I’d ended up being more as well as more integrated into the hostel family. It was like I worked there however didn’t have to do anything.
One night as I was turning up at the bar, Francesco asked me if I had any type of plans.
“You have any type of meetings now? Vad gör du?” (It was 10 at night.)
“None, I’m just going to talk to people on the patio.”
“OK, I’m going to take you to the celebration of St. John at the monastery in the mountains.”
“Uhh, sure.”
If there’s one thing people discover quickly on Ios, it’s that you never state no to Francesco. He has an imposing character as well as is rather a huge figure in the community. It may noise like he is asking, however he isn’t. Francesco has the fantastic capability to phrase a command as a question.
Not that I would ever state no anyways. exactly how might I avoid an chance to have a truly Greek evening just to hang out with more tourists? I can do that any type of day. however the possibility to be shown something like this? Wouldn’t dream of skipping it. This is the type of stuff I travel for.
We headed up the mountain, me keeping my eyes shut as we diverted along the tiny, winding mountain track in the dark. Francesco assured me we were fine, however I winced at every bump in the road. I don’t like heights, as well as I’m always afraid I’m going to tumble off the edge.
“You a city boy, huh? Don’t worry. I’ve been on these roads all my life!” he assured me.
Arriving at the celebration at last, Francesco ushered me past the dancers as well as into the back garden of the small monastery. in front of me were Greek women cleaning big food bowls, in addition to big cooking pots heating soup as well as goat meat. Francesco grabbed me a bowl, poured some soup into it, as well as threw in some pieces of goat. I was simply a passive onlooker in this whole scene, complying with orders as well as doing what I was told.
I sat down at a table full of Greek guy who looked at me inquisitively. Francesco stated a few things in Greek, as well as the guy smiled, making an eating gesture. They stared as I ate every bit of food, looking at me like I was an alien. right here I was, a complete stranger in their world, as well as these old, cigarette-smoking Greek guy were enjoying it as much as I was.
I’d never had wild goat before. In fact, I don’t believe I’d ever had any type of type of goat before. Det var utsökt. Tender, falling off the bone, it tasted a great deal like lamb. I don’t understand what the soup was made of, however that as well was good. It had a thick, rice-porridge consistency. The bread was thick as well as obviously homemade, soaking up the hot soup well.
After the soup came wine as well as bread, as well as then different cheeses — “from Ios.” The soft goat cheese I was provided by an old Greek guy was a few of the milkiest as well as smoothest goat cheese I’ve ever had. I cleaned the whole plate as a little Greek grandma with a wooden cane as well as black serape stopped as well as watched.
I’d come to watch their festival, however in some ways, their celebration was watching me. They didn’t speak much English as well as I speak no Greek, however I believe they got the concept that I liked it.
After the meal as well as one more glass of wine, I left the old patriarchs to go watch the dancing. Sadly, it was mainly over by the time I got there, however I did handle to watch a few traditional dances, in addition to a few drunk Greeks making up some moves on the dance floor. I just sat there watching it as well as enjoying the music. I noticed a few Greeks looking at me, not able to choose if I was a regional (when tan, I look extremely Greek) or a foreigner.
As the band played on as well as the night got later, the crowd began to thin out. In the old days, they would have taken donkeys as much as the monastery to stay the night. now people stay up until around midnight before driving back into town.
Francesco came as well as got me a bit while later. It was time to go. “Det är bra. Du gillar det?”
“Yeah, it was the most cultural Greek thing I’ve performed in my three trips to Greece.”
“Bra. compose about it. It will make a much better story than about you getting drunk with other backpackers. This is genuine Greece. Not that other bullshit.”
And you understand what? Han hade rätt.
So I did.
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