The drive to Agio Vasili took about 2.5 hrs with a stop for
coffee along the way. I went in Thanasi’s car and along the way we stopped at a
monastery called Panageia Elena. They were in the process of doing some rennos
on it but it was still amazing to see, dug into the side of a mountain.
We got to Agio Vasili at around lunch time. We checked out
Papou Thanasi’s house and what Theo Nicko had done with it. One thing I really
liked was that they had hung up or displayed all of the old things in the
house, like Papou Thanasi’s stick, the sewing machine, ironing board and many
other things. We went out for lunch at a little restaurant and had lamb chops
and chips, among other things, Thanasi had been going on about how Agio Vasili
has the best lamb chop in the world. They were tasty, but I mean they weren’t
as good as one of our barbecues…
After lunch I took some more time to explore the house and
see what I could find. After a little while we all left to head to Palio Hori,
Papou’s village, it’s only 7 kms away. When we got there we asked some of the
locals where Thodoro Nickolokakis’ house is so we could go and surprise him and
Nick. The look on Nick’s face was pretty good when we all rocked up at his
door. There house is also coming along really nicely, Pep is going to live like
a king when he goes over.
Nick showed us where Papou’s house is and one of Papou’s
first cousins came to unlock it for us. The house wasn’t in too bad shape,
still very much intact but Nick aid it wa starting to get one or two holes in
the roof. I had a look all around the house and found some pretty special
souvenirs to take home, like a letter to Dimitri from Papou in 1990, Papou’s
mum’s glasses and a little icon of Saint George.
We then all headed to the main square of the village, sat
down, had a drink and a chat and then left for Agio Vasili and sleep.
