Safe Return Doubtful

The house I’ve taken in Psárion for a few days belongs to a guy who restores old Greek paintings and mosaics. He lived here until realising that he could subsidise his income by renting it out and renovating and living in another property he had in the village. The pandemic meant there was far less interest in his work, which usually comes from museums and galleries. For three years the only work he had was from private collectors, but now, slowly, the work is starting to return. He doesn’t usually rent the place in the winter, but I had met his cousin in a bar a couple of weeks ago, and he was more than happy for me to use the place.

It really is ideal for a 6 day break which allows me to give the van a thorough clean, with such luxuries as unlimited hot water and power, and use laundry. The house has a spectacular setting at 759 metres above sea level, with a superb view out to the west. With temperatures ranging from a low of minus 3 to a high of only 8 degrees, the open fire has been very welcome also. It’s a small village with a population at this time of year of just a handful, and with no shop of taverna, for that, it’s a fifteen minute drive.

I’m two days into a six day stay at the moment, and have discovered, with the help of the artist, an old settlement a few kilometres up a rough track on the hill behind the village. It was inhabited from the mid-fifteenth century until til around 1880. These days even the track to it has overgrown. One gets the feeling that there is so much ancient history around that something a mere 600 years old is of minor importance.

In the week to come I will go back twelve kilometres or so, to Gortynia and the Mainalon trail, and hike a few bits of it at the southern end that I haven’t done yet.