Cyprus-Forum.com

[Raymanoff]

Nikitas, yea Steides...

[Nikitas]

Raymanoff,

I spent a great part of my summers at Steiti's kafeneion! Have very fund memories of the place and of Lemithou in general. I remember him coming out every few minutes to pump up the lux, the paraffin lamp that swung from the vines. I guess now they have electicity.

[denizaksulu]

Raymanoff,

I spent a great part of my summers at Steiti's kafeneion! Have very fund memories of the place and of Lemithou in general. I remember him coming out every few minutes to pump up the lux, the paraffin lamp that swung from the vines. I guess now they have electicity.

You sound as of a similar age as me Nikitas.
It was always my duty to fit the tiny little pocket 'element' - mantle (were they made of asbestos?) and keep the pressure up. One small touch of the used element and up it goes in a dust cloud. Good moth/mosquito traps though.

[Nikitas]

Deniz,

I do not know the exact composition of the elements but we called them amiantos which means asbestos.

I was born in 1950, so I guess we are close in age. We both went through the times of non electrified rural Cyprus (courtesy of the British Empire!) and having to carry water from the community taps in villages. It was also a time when a battery torch was a boy's status symbol. I still collect them, and my son cannot understand the fascination.

I remember another holiday in a mountain village, in Potamiou, where I developed a quick talent for leading the donkeys and was designated water carrier for the duration of the holiday. We had to descend down to the communal spring and load up two jerry cans of water per animal. It was fun, but then I only had to do it for a couple of weeks.

[denizaksulu]

Deniz,

I do not know the exact composition of the elements but we called them amiantos which means asbestos.

I was born in 1950, so I guess we are close in age. We both went through the times of non electrified rural Cyprus (courtesy of the British Empire!) and having to carry water from the community taps in villages. It was also a time when a battery torch was a boy's status symbol. I still collect them, and my son cannot understand the fascination.

I remember another holiday in a mountain village, in Potamiou, where I developed a quick talent for leading the donkeys and was designated water carrier for the duration of the holiday. We had to descend down to the communal spring and load up two jerry cans of water per animal. It was fun, but then I only had to do it for a couple of weeks.

Yes, I am aware of Amiantos as indicated previously. I am 1946'er. Good vintage I'll say. Had a bit of the old and new lifestyles.

Please do not remind me of the number of 'water bottles I managed to smash on our white donkey. The short fat ones (red earth) we used for the carrying in a quad basket. Our ass was a lazy one. It always sulked as it moved away from the stables and swayed like a leaf in a thunderstorm. At one particular corner - the narrowest in the village - if it swayed to the left, that was one broken vessel. I was always sent for the water with a stern warning to watch out for PapaYorgi's corner. On the way back it was usually a smoother run. But I still remember returning home soaking wet. The sight of we plus the good soak was not a good sign. I think in the summer months my grandmother would buy the vessels by the dozen. Great fun, but not if grandpa was at home.

For the purposes of drinking we would transfer the water to a white clay, narrow vessel. It would turn ice cold.

The fountain still stands and dry to boot. I think all the houses are piped now.

[tessintrnc]

One of my favourite places is the Maronite village called Kormakitis (Korucam in Turkish). The village is fairly typical with the style of houses, but it is the Church that is so beautiful. There is also a lovely restaurant there which is also a Butchers shop famous for the woman Butcher! They make wonderful mezze and their own farm supplies the lamb chops!! Maria, who runs the restaurant makes THE BEST yoghurt I have ever tasted. It is located in the North-West. Maria speaks fluent English Turkish and Greek and every Sunday the place is packed with Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots and just a few foreign tourists. It is well worth a visit!!
Tess

[denizaksulu]

One of my favourite places is the Maronite village called Kormakitis (Korucam in Turkish). The village is fairly typical with the style of houses, but it is the Church that is so beautiful. There is also a lovely restaurant there which is also a Butchers shop famous for the woman Butcher! They make wonderful mezze and their own farm supplies the lamb chops!! Maria, who runs the restaurant makes THE BEST yoghurt I have ever tasted. It is located in the North-West. Maria speaks fluent English Turkish and Greek and every Sunday the place is packed with Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots and just a few foreign tourists. It is well worth a visit!!
Tess

Thanks Tess. Last summer passed by their but failed to stop. No failing next time around. Oh God, there goes my diet. Again.

[Nikitas]

Best diet Deniz is to walk (give up the car), stop eating bread and drinking coke, and eat and drink everything else. It works, guaranteed. I do it every spring and lose 10 kilos.

Now to the village theme. There was a village featured on RIK the other day, I caught it half way through the broadcast and as usual no one referred to the village by name, an irritating habit on RIK documentaries. They call the village by name once at the start and from then on it is "the village". No one thinks of the people who might switch on after the start. Ok Rant Over.

The thing about this place is that each house had a sizeable cistern to collect rainwater. In order to avoid contamination they had an ordinance that prohibited keeping pigeons. All houses were stone built with balconies and eaves. It was different in style, even the masonry was cut and worked, not just stones piled one on top of the other. Any one know the village? Probably in the Limassol district.

[denizaksulu]

Best diet Deniz is to walk (give up the car), stop eating bread and drinking coke, and eat and drink everything else. It works, guaranteed. I do it every spring and lose 10 kilos.

Now to the village theme. There was a village featured on RIK the other day, I caught it half way through the broadcast and as usual no one referred to the village by name, an irritating habit on RIK documentaries. They call the village by name once at the start and from then on it is "the village". No one thinks of the people who might switch on after the start. Ok Rant Over.

The thing about this place is that each house had a sizeable cistern to collect rainwater. In order to avoid contamination they had an ordinance that prohibited keeping pigeons. All houses were stone built with balconies and eaves. It was different in style, even the masonry was cut and worked, not just stones piled one on top of the other. Any one know the village? Probably in the Limassol district.

Eating bread with every meal was drummed in to us by our elders who 'know best'. I need my slow carbohydrate though. I do walk a lot but not as much since Jamie passed on (Cocker Spaniel). Getting another one August 29th. That will sort me out.

As to Limassol, I know nothing except the smell of wine and fermenting grapes/vinegar at grape picking times.

[Nikitas]

The smell of wine and fermenting grapes. I know that smell well and funnily enough it reminds me of Famagusta which has no wine growing to speak of. The KEO depot was near our house, and walking past it I could smell wine from the huge casks they had there.

Smells evoke places much more vividly than sights. I always ask my friends who have been to the USA to describe what it smells like. They cannot. They look at me strangely, even Americans. One Greek doctor who traveled all over the USA was the only one to give a definite response: "air conditioning". I will take fermenting grapes over that, any time.