We knew our Papou, grandfather on our father’s side, had been raised in the tiny village of Kertezi and to get close we had to take a bus to Patras. From there we took a cab to Diakopto where we found the Hotel Lemoni. We plan to stay here one night and at 5:30 AM the next morning, catch the small train that winds through the gorge and up the mountainside to the Greek ski town of Kalavryta, which translates to “beautiful springs”. The views up the mountain are spectacular. The train hugs the vertical walls and we see cascading falls and rapids crashing through the river below and breathe in crisp mountain air. We’ve brought daypacks for an overnight here before we continue on to Kertezi. The Hotel Maria had lovely rooms and served a wonderful breakfast of bacon omelettes. That is a first for us and not a typical Greek breakfast. It was delicious and filling, so off we went to explore the town and its surroundings! The open markets were full of beautiful, ripe vegetables. Big red, juicy tomatoes, bright green striped zuchinni, deep green bell peppers and shining, purple onions. As Georgia and I looked at the produce, Dan and Floyd wandered around on their own and ended up in this priceless photo of themselves standing in front of stacks of beer cases, their favorite! I think this was almost “hog heaven”! Right after lunch we took a cab to Kertezi, a fast and furious twenty minute drive, careening around curves, passing fields of cows and ribbons of bright red poppies! We had finally arrived. To continue the story turn to page 218 of our book, A Greek Journey With Fork and Pen. You can order it right here by clicking on the book cover!
See you next time. Yassou!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi!
Okay, is that Dan on the left and Floyd on the right in the “Got Beer” picture?
Maddie
Hi Maddie, Floyd is on the left and Dan on the right! I should have mentioned their names in the order they are standing! Thanks for stopping by! Yassou!
In our grandfathers’s village of Kertezi we learn that their glorious wine and their beans are famous! Every year they have a Bean Soup Festival and that special recipe for Bean Soup, Fasolatha, is found on page 220 in “A Greek Journey With Fork and Pen”. We invite you to try it!
Hi Georgia, We love that fasolatha! Great on a chilly, frosty night! Makes you feel all cozy and warm! I think I better make it here soon, since the temps are going back down to 50!! That’s after today at 72!! Winter is NOT over yet! Yassou!!