The dawn meets me in the forest, between Lampou Mylous village and Kallonis
Gulf. Longing for the waking of the birds at the salt-pits…but the
landscape's beauty tempts me oppressively…The small hills of the sea-salt on
the land reflect the Aegean saltiness and the song of the reeds competes the
birds' one…Numerous birds, of various species, lure the sun in a crazy dance
over earth and sea…
A secondary road guides me to Ayia Paraskevi…Riders wearing Kerchiefs
on their head invite me to their land, to offer wine from their beloved
vine-yards and their song… The day before the mowing comes
and the farmers
celebrate their patron-saint Ayios Charalambos : they choose a bull, put
flowers on its head and then
they bring the blessed animal to the village's square with the accompaniment of
the saint's holly icon and musical instruments…And after the bull's sacrifice,
they will eat, drink and dance all together like brothers, celebrating for days
and nights before the harvest…starts.
The sun has already risen in the sky guiding me : to the granaries, to the olive
groves, pilgrim at the ancient temple of Messon and at the unpretentious
churches, traveler at Napi village, at the stone-built bridge
of Kremastis, at the post-Christian basilica of Chalinados and at
Paleokastro site…Northwards Arisvi village with the gigantic
pine-trees- the Tzoumaeli area - and next Kalloni's small town with the
well-built mansions and shops, Areana, Papeana and Kerami with the
narrow cobbled streets…
Finally the coastal area of Skala Kallonis : the breakwater, the
fishers'
port, the taverns and the celebration of the fishermen under August's
moon…Fertile land, heavily green and overgrown with numerous plants and
herbs…Upper the Monastery of Panayia
Myrsiniotissa with the few nuns, married to Jesus and the Holy Loneliness…