Yarning on Poros

Poros
14^th July 2014



Poros is one of those memorable Greek Islands.  Small in size, with a picturesque white village climbing a steep hill behind, it is a busy port town catering to a wide range of international and local tourists – without being too fussed about it.  It’s also well protected and for many, a pleasant escape from the summer’s strong Meltemi (winds). 

Walking the town one morning, we found this fine example of guerrilla knitting, also known as yarn bombing.  Hardly in keeping with everything Greece, but a wonderful surprise.  There was a little information, mostly in Greek, but I was unable to track down if it was part of an exhibition or just an element of surprise in what is invariably a traditional village. 

(We have our own guerrilla knitters on Dangar, hence my interest.  Perhaps we could sister-village knitting groups with them?)

 

Mesmerizing Xysta

Chios
4^th July 2014

Negotiating Mestra's cobbled streets

On the Greek Island of Chios we managed to tour two of the famed mastic villages.  Mastic, or a gum resin is still refined from odd, scrubby trees that grow in the south.  It’s most famous use was in the manufacture of chewy sweets, and considered by the ladies of Istanbul’s harems something of an aphrodisiac. 

We bussed firstly to Mesta and took an hour to walk through this labyrinthine medieval and well-fortified village.  Cobbled streets, under vaulted tunnels of two storey houses, lead to a leafy town square set out with many eateries and a large Baroque style 18^th c church.  Whist walking, we spotted a small craft shop, replete with loom.  We were treated to a display of very fine weaving and allowed to wander through the cave-like premises, presumably once a home.
 

Xysta in Pyrgi

From Mesta, we bussed to Pyrgi.  Here, village houses are covered in xysta, or a mesmerising mix of geometric patterns cut into white plaster.  Inside the maze of these fascinatingly decorated houses, we stumbled on the remnants of ancient village walls and just off from the village square, a complete surprise, the tiny, fresco covered 12^th c Ayii Apostoli.  It was the xysta however that caught my quilter’s eye, so I spent our remaining time taking (lots of) photos of these amazing designs. 
 



(We're in Albania at the moment and having trouble loading photos on a slow internet connection.  Coming soon....)