After many hours spent on the crystal beaches of Thassos and many kilos of gyros devoured (thank you Edmund!), we departed for the small (100 people strong) community of Mesohori.Our travels did not involve airlines so we had no one to blame for our luggage breaking but ourselves. No joke, one rolly cart down, busted outside of Xanthi railroad station.
I'll tell ya, I'm glad I learned a bit ofGreek 'cause these towns are smaaall and although people do speak English, it is really helpful to know some words in Greek. So bye bye Cantonas, hello road. Bus from Eri's to Skala Prinos to catch a ferry to Kavala, to take a bus to Xanthi, to catch a train to Paranesti (seats are assigned), to get picked up by the extraordinarily kind Panagioti. That's his name y'all. Then a short drive to the small community of Mesohori. I'm not talking Portland small, I'm talking big Thanksgiving dinner small.
Mesohori is set on the edge of the Rhodopi mountain range. Sort of a mix of Appalachians and Rockies with a tropical heat thrown in for measure. It's simply beautiful. And I have never met kinder, more generous people. No joke. We were here for a few hours and had already been fed dinner, invited to a birthday party where they gave us presents, and given a peach on the street for saying hello. That was just the first day.
Work here is tough but doable, ranging from yard work to concrete, cooking, laundry, gardening, etc. We are about 16 total workers, and very international too, here to build a straw bale house to store seeds for the nonprofit organization of Peliti (http://www.peliti.gr/). Peliti puts out a yearly newsletter and a facilitator for a whole barter system for organic seeds and goods in Greece to promote seed saving and organic, money free living.
We are staying in a nice small house on the very edge of the 1 kilometer long town. Our diet is all vegetarian - fresh from the garden to pot - and so delicious. They make their own cheese and yoghurt and Cad has learned how. She claims both are so simple to make, it is ridiculous to buy them from the store. We take all our meals together in a large field covered with tents where one day soon the straw bale house will be erected.
The boys are loving it here because they have about six other kids to play with. They enjoy watching all the people work and having water fights with the other children (and sometimes adults) as it is hot.
We will have a big celebration in town this weekend because August 15th is the third biggest holiday in Greece celebrating the death of the Virgin. Music, food, dancing and prayer. Probably some ouzo too.
On Sunday, we will take a guided canoe trip down the Nestos river. A big, fast, cold river, not too many rapids... class I mostly. The launch is about two kilometers from town and the owners are friends of Panagiotis so we received a group discount.
Everyone in the group here is great. Mostly couples: Greeks, Swiss, Kiwis and not a bad egg among them. I know you Portland punks will think hippies, but they are jokers and partiers out here to learn straw bale construction and to have a different travel experience. Many of them have invited us to stay at their homes and we just may take them up on their offers later in our travels.
We miss our Spanish friends daily and hope to see them again soon. Our Greek is better each day as we get a lot of practice. Each new place brings a whole new adventure, friends and language. We are soaking it up and wishing we had done it ten years ago.
A big hug to all back home as we miss you dearly too... and a happy early birthday to Kel. Yamas!
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