Kythera-Componada Beach and Au revoir

The last stop on our Kytherian sojourn is Componada Beach. Off the beaten path it was always known for it's large white stones that layered the expansive sea shore. The past year or so the beach goers were surprised to find that the elements of nature had replaced the large stones with small pebbles that make it much easier to walk along the shore and swim.

Here's a piece of heaven for you dear reader:

Happy Bather

Spending a day there is one of the pleasures in life. I thought I was in heaven.

 

I hope our trip to Kythera fulfilled your expectations.

 

Enjoy!

 

Maria

 

 

Kythera- Avlemonas Village

Avlemonas is a picturesque village on the eastern coast of Kythera with a unique swimming grotto in the middle of "town". 

Seafood restaurants, small tavernas and trendy cafes dot the main drag and the ruins of a venetian castle stand by the shore.

 

 A lovely path winds through the rocky outcrop above the sea and offers the visitor a closer view of the iconic grotto.

Venetian Castle Ruins

Fisherman at work on his nets

A boat is painted on the window top

The bougainvillea abloom 

Diving off the rocks

 

A visitor to Kythera shouldn't miss a visit to Avlemonas and it's unique character.

Enjoy!

 

Maria

Kythera- Karvounades Traditional Fournos-Bakery

The Greeks take their bread very seriously. Bread is bought fresh every day to accompany lunch, the main meal of the day.  Every neighborhood has it's bakery and Greeks compare one "fourno" to the other mercilessly! Don't mess with their bread.

As a result, what Americans consider gourmet artisanal bread is everyday bread for the Greeks. Round loaves, sourdoughs, whole wheats, semolinas, all are displayed prominently at the fourno. Also, one can buy hand made dried pasta called "hilopites" as well as different kinds of rusks.

People line up to shop

 

One of these bakeries caught my attention on a windy village road in Kythera with it's variety of breads and savory pies. "Ta Kythera" is on the main road of Karvounades and it is known for its  woodburning ovens.

The display of different kinds of cookies

Marathopita. Fennel pies! They were amazing!

Little savories filled with spinach or goat cheese. Yummy!

Panagia, the Virgin Mary looks over the family business

Opening fillo

Pies filled with a milk custard

 

Panagia Myrtidiotissa- The Virgin of Myrtidia- the icon f the island protectress hangs in the bakery

The Kasimatis'-The owner and her son

 When you come to Greece, make sure you hit a neighborhood "fourno". Even better, try to visit "Ta Kythera" and taste it's particular delicacies.

Enjoy!

Maria

Kythera- The Traditional Winery of Mr. Manolis

Winemaking is an ancient Greek craft and the Kytherians, among the other Greeks, pursue it to this day. Down the road from my sister-in-law's village of Fatsadika is the winery of Mr. Manolis in the village of Tsikalaria.

Entrance to the Winery

 

 Over one hundred and fifty years old, the circa 1857 winery has been restored in recent years by the original owner's grandson, Yiannis Defterevos. The diminutive winery is now a museum that harks to the days when men worked all day and all night to stomp the grapes in a tub that was a built-in grape stomper. The juices ran through a drain into a cistern.

The stomping tub with an original wooden grape press

Barrels of old wine

The stomping tub

The vessels were small so the workers could only drink a little water

 

 Yiannis told us that the workers were allowed to drink only small amounts of fluids during that time because they could not step away from their work even for a few minutes.

Eating utensils from which the workers all ate.

The hearth and copper pot where the grape juice was boiled

Mr. Yiannis Defterevos in his gradfather's winery

 

Giant barrels still hold wine from grandfather Manolis' days. Yianni assures us that the wine is still excellent.

Mr. Manolis, the original founder of the winery

The cistern where the grape juice flowed

Grape Press

Three types of wine produced today

White, Red and Rose

Today, Yianni produces three types of wine using the old varieties. The Arikaras, a red  and Petroulianos. a white, as well as a rose. The red pairs well with light meat dishes and chicken and the white is a wonderful aperitif wine, good to drink alone or with fish dishes.

The varieties, which still flourish on the island today, were brought by the Greek refugees from Pontos after the Asia Minor catastrophe. The locals and the Pontians were impressed by how much more productive the grapes became when they were planted on Kythera. They attribute this to the long sun exposure, the ideal humidity and the salty breeze from the sea that they enjoy on the island. All these factors create a unique vintage that has been enjoyed for generations.

When you find yourself on Kythera one day, pass by the welcoming winery of Mr.Manolis and visit with his grandson Mr. Defterevos for a while. Try his wines and taste centuries of tradition.

Enjoy,

Maria

Kythera-Paleopolis Beach and Skandia Restaurant

On the second day of our Kytherian sojourn, after a breakfast of fresh figs and prickly pears, we drove to one of the most spectacular beaches, Paleopolis, also called Laggada. It is close to the picturesque village of Avlemonas with it's grotto beach and good fish tavernas, yet expansive and uncrowded.


 On the road to Paleopolis



Soup stock boiling on the stove at Skandia

I love to float in the sea at Paleopolis Beach and feel the openness around me.

 Mrs. Evanthia

What's also great about this beach is it's proximity to Skandia restaurant. The food there is so good that we go back year after year and let our palate travel through the menu, tasting as many dishes as we can muster.I could eat there every day at the tables shaded by the giant trees.

Fresh Fish

 

This time we had gone into Mrs. Evanthia's kitchen earlier in the day and saw the fresh-caught fish being prepared into a fish soup.

Skandia's dining area

 

We sat under the trees and watched the resident cat sun herself close by while we enjoyed plate after plate of sublime dishes.

The amazingly delicious fish soup served with the fish and vegetables that flavor it

Roasted Eggplant

Bread drizzled with olive oil and oregano

Beets and beet greens dressed in olive oil

Fish soup with the fish and veggies

Grilled Fish

 

White Kitty kept us company

Goodbye Paleopolis- in the distance the white buildings of Avlemonas

Wild Thyme

 

White Lilies growing on the beach

Kytherian home

Renovated Kytherian home

Tomorrow we'll visit the wine museum and sample some of the local delicacies. Don't forget to come along and bring your appetite.

Enjoy!

Maria