Tag: Gortynia

“The spruce we burned in the fireplace gave out sparks. That's why we carpeted our wintry room with “saismata” (thick cloths made of goat fur) -they don't catch fire if a spark falls on them. The grandparents slept on a high mattress in the corner of the room and on low mattresses on the floor next to them were the beds of the grandchildren. The married couple would sleep in the bedroom with the baby. When it grew up it moved to the winter room, so that the next baby would take its place next to its parents”.

"I have been carving wood ever since I was a boy. What designs do I make? Whatever crosses my mind. At first I used to make ladles and canes, but then I was often asked to make more ashtrays and troughs. At night I think about what I am going to make in the morning. My wife wants me to stop, but I work because I want to be able to offer my grandchildren potato chips every day. I work on Sundays, even if I earn nothing. It helps the time pass; I don't even understand when the morning or the evening comes".

"I returned to Magouliana after many years of emigration in America. I am a nice, good-looking, smart businessman. I opened this department store consisting of a cafe, hotel, tavern and a barber's shop, at the same time". Jimmy Gontikas’ store is under a huge plane tree, which entirely covers the tiny square of the village. It is under the same plane tree where Theodoros Kolokotronis and his lieutenant Photis Chrysanthakopoulos, aka Photakos, who was born in Magouliana, used to make their plans for the Revolution of 1821, 200 years ago.