LIttle Bitta Italy Part 3

We spent 10 wonderful days at "Domus Cilento", just above the charming village of "Santa Maria Di Castellabate" It was only a short walk out of the front door of our apartment, down the rest of the mountain, and on to the village. The walk back was an entirely different story, it was twice as far and took twice as long! (okay, it just felt that way...it was SOOO uphill!)

Here is the wonderful Fish Market, located at the bottom of the road to "Domus Cilento". The hand painted mural is a great rendition of the main beach at Santa Maria Di Castellebate. One day, Dan stopped by and picked up some fish for us ....

Lena cooked it up" in the pan..."

And we all ate it "like a Man!"

This is a view of "Santa Maria Di Castelabate", the village below our apartment.

The beautiful and inviting boardwalk along the main beach at Santa Maira

The main beach at Santa Maria...Full of Umbellas, families, children, fun and frivolity! I am ashamed to say that I never did even dip a toe in the sea this trip.:-(

The Patron Saint of Santa Maria...she sits atop the harbor wall at the main beach, watching over all.

Next Post; Delores's Cooking Class at Domus Cilento!

ITALY! Part 2

"Domus Cilento"

The Apartment

Our Apartment....steps from the pool (and WI-FI Connection!) and with a view below to the Village of Santa Maria Di Castellebate, snuggled into the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Heaven!

Stairs!

Here is the pool area, and one of the many flights of stairs...going up, Up! Up!! and down, Down, Down; as "Domus Cilento" is built on the side of the mountain, with Bougainvillias spilling over rock walls, and Jasmine climbing up and over the fences, and Trees and lush green everywhere that you look.

The beautiful pool.

Nice to come to and cool off after a hot day of sight seeing. I hadn't realized till this trip, that it had been ages since I had actually swam in fresh water, and the Aegean where I live, is even more salty then the Oceans...I was astonished by how heavy my limbs felt! It was as if I had forgotten how to swim!

The Grove

Here is a quiet, peaceful area, beyond the pool, in a kind of mini Olive Grove, where there are tables and chairs, some lounge chairs, Ping Pong for the kids, and a kind of Garden House, where Delores (owner) and Christina (helper) hold court for their fun and informative Cooking Classes, open to all guests.

A Little Bitta Italy

ITALY!

CILENTO COAST

Naples Airport...great experience, and the best iced coffee ever! Caffee Freddo...we loved it! Then a wonderful, comfortable bus trip to Salerno. We passed Mt. Vesuvius on the way; Impressive!

Here is Vasili, enjoying the wonderful Caffee Freddo at the Naples Airport Outdoor Cafe.

Mt. Vesuvius...close enough for me!

We arrived at our final destination; Cava di Terrini, checked in then went out to look at our surroundings. It was a Beautiful! town, not far from Salerno. We were meeting up here with our American friends, Dan and Lena Strumas. They were off attending a huge wedding and celebration that evening, and we didn't see them till the next morning. A happy, happy reunion for all four of us!

Here are some sights from "Cava Di Terrini"

The Rest of the Easter In Crete

Today I will post photos from Easter's Eve, when it is proclaimed that Christ has arisen. I have partaken in this ritual many times in my 22 years here in Greece, but this time was a surprise for me. I should have had a clue when, on my way back from Kalyves on Sat, with Katina, we passed thru the small village of Neo Horio, and in the middle of the 3 road cross roads, there was a huge stack of wood which looked very much like the makings of a bonfire. I didn't ask Katina about it, as we were in the middle ofa conversation about our respective children and their lives. Later that night, Ihad a huge surprise when I learned what the wood pile was for.

This beautiful young woman is the Granddaughter of our friends, Katina and Panyotis, who own and run "The Eagles Nest" along with their family. She is holding her little niece.

In the photo to the right, is Katina, smiling her wonderful smile. It is not an exaggeration to tell you that that smile, and her cooking are literally world famous.

Now we come to the surprise...the Pappas walked thru the church courtyard and down the steps...I couldn't see what was there. Suddenly there was a "whoosh!" and flames leaped into the air. I was astounded! Vasili explained that in small villages the people would burn Judas in effigy. So! That is what that huge pile of wood was doing in the middle of the village in Neo Horio! It was quite a sight. Most of us ran into the church, as hot ashes were raining down on us. What an experience!

Next came the ringing of the church bell.

Experience Cretan Easter with Me

Friday afternoon, and time to decorate the "Epitaphio", the symbolic casket of Christ. Here are photos and they will speak for themselves. It was such a lovely atmosphere in the church, all of the women and children working together is this quaint little church. I felt so privileged to be included in their preparations.

Join Me on my Easter Trip to Crete!

We departed from our house Thursday afternoon, Vasili going to wait in line to be first on the ship; (it's a Greek thing!), and me going off to look for a good book to read on the trip down.

The ship, "Elyros", Anek Lines, leaves from the Port of Piraeus at 9P.M. and arrived at Chania, Crete at Souda Bay at 5A.M. the next morning.

Here is a shot of me on the small boat taking us from Port of Salamina to Port of Perema, where we will take a taxi to Piraeus.

Shots at the Port of Piraeus...everyone who is able to, will be leaving from the city to go to their home village or island for the Easter Holiday. It is MASS confusion at the Port!

Crowds waiting for their ship.

Ferry Boat to Crete; "KPHTI" (Kriti)

Here is our ship, the Elyros;

After an uncomfortable and exhausting overnight trip, we arrived in Chania, at the port of Souda at 5 A.M. on Friday, (Megali Paraskevi), and sat and had some coffee to kill time and try to wake up before we made our way via Taxi to the top of the mountain and the small traditional village of Samonas.

Here are the first view of the "Lefka Ori", or, "White Mountains".

Megali Paraskevi is the night of the procession of the Epitaphio, which is the symbolic casket of Christ. In small villages, such as Samonas, the local women and children all join together with armfuls of flowers and rosemary and jasmine to decorate the Epitaphio, then, in the evening, after being blessed by the priest, it is carried throughout the village, stopping at each crossroad to recite the liturgy.

I was lucky enough to be included in not only the procession, but in the decorating of the Epitaphio. Come back tomorrow and I will show you those photos. Bye for now!

"Electra!" in Copper

"Electra!"

In Greek mythology, Electra (Greek: Ἠλέκτρα, Ēlektra) was an Argive princess and daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra. She and her brother Orestes plotted revenge against their mother Clytemnestra and stepfather Aegisthus for the murder of their father, Agamemnon. Electra is the main character in the Greek tragedies Electra by Sophocles and Electra by Euripides and has inspired various other works.

This is Electra, Daughter of Agamemnon and a Princess of Argive.

This is the grave mask of Agamemnon, the King of Argive. You can view it in the Archaeological Museum of Athens.

The "Electra" Necklace


I created this necklace, utilizing an ancient Greek motif, in graduated links, and paired the cool, hard, silver with the warm, softness of a Dove Grey Greek Suede cord. I imagined that the Princess Electra herself may have worn such a necklace. You can find it in my Etsy Shop.