GRAPE THERAPY 2013 AZOGIRES STYLE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA4Apt9GWmY&feature=youtu.be

The Grape Therapy was taking place in Azogires, magic vilage in the mountains above Paleochora. We were staying in Alfa hotel, had late breakfasts in Alfa café and took it really easy, day by day doing a bit we learned how to pick grapes, how to make traditional wine press and than we pressed them with our feet. Fresh air in the mountains, breathtaking views from vineyards, fresh tasty food and great company, what more you need to know to sing up for next year?? I will see you there :-)

The pictures and  article are by Karolina Smejkalova ,profesional photographer

To take part in next years grape therapy with doctor Gerard you can call 0030 28230 41620 or email at alfacafenion@aol.com

THERE ARE STILL FRIENDS OUT THERE

My birthday this year was rather special ,like every year my friends remembered me even though I never remember them . A day of someones birthday can be very emotional  when friends appear   out of nowhere  . to remind you that you are not alone , you are not alone  on this strange world .
And when a man stands alone on his birthday  he feels rather strange and then his friends appear to remind him he exists and that they care  ,  that is exactly what happened to me this year again .from Ioannas surprise to paint the cafe  garden wall with  a  beautiful desing  ,to John with his Violin playing the most emotional songs just for me  , to Ruth with her so special portrait of myself to Stavroula gorgeous sea compus and all those lovely milky ways brought just for me all the way from England , and allthough my parents put only 50 euros in my birthday card , due to the crisis :) I assume   which now holds our country captive . I was so happy that I felt like a kid again , and all I can say is thank you ,the cherry on the cake was in the evening when Auntie Georgia from Asfentiles came bringning me the most lovely Basil plant I have ever had . All I can say to all of you is thank you from the bottom of my heart I will try to remember their  birthdays also  ,but you know I am Greek and we take things very slowly , so slowly that we tend to forget  things ,our logo, is isos avrio isos methavrio - may be tomorrow may be the day after .

   

11 TH INTERNATIONAL AZOGIRES BACKGAMMON TOURNAMENT

With great success ,the eleventh backgammon championship took place.In memory of Andrew Gordon Millar ,A man who loved to play this ancient game,that has its roots more then five thousand years back, from the ancient Greeks-Somarians -Egyptians and Romans. A game that was  played  always by  all classes of the Greeks ,but only by the upper class and the royals  of Europe,and the rest of the world .All the way until the 1960 s , when it was introduced to the general public , and it flew like a rocket .In all homes ,parties ,festivals etc .Backgammon became the number one game  of the 20th century,now going to the 21st backgammon  fans and athletes are taking the game to new levels. And giving the success it actually deserves .
For us in Azogires its not only a hobby its nearly a religion and a way of life, all winter long the boards are clacking every single night in the taverna ,and the players play every game as if its their last for they are one with the dice.
This years championship went more then well ,and every one enjoyed my mother popcorn My father Antonis sponsored our cash prizes ,and for that  I thank him very much .Also a very big thank you for all those players,visitors  and judges, for coming together and helping me make this possible to honor the memory of the late Andrew Millar .

I think its worth mentioning that for the first time in 11 years  we had a large number of Greek players joining our  Tournament ,which brings great joy to our hearts    , for it shows us that they also approve  of our actions .Until next year I hope we will have more contestants  and all of you out there who wish to compete you better start practicing .

BACKGAMMON CHAMPIONSHIP

POETS CORNER

Azogires is renowned for  its many charms of beauty ,both of nature and human creations .But one charm that Azogires has  is the gift of Inspiration many people in search of it  have come here  to create  both amazing artwork amazing poetry , among  many other things.If    you are looking for something different ,special,spiritual,artistic .Or just apiece of mind then Azogires is the place for you. Todays topic is Poetry  for countless years Cretans especially Azogirians have been riming poems little poems known as mantinades ,in Ancient Crete people would make special  chants with the help of local witches ,usually old ladies with the proper experience .But with the arrival of Christianity these black magic rhymes were forbidden and people were  cruelly punished if captured using some of these ways to get what they wanted,whether it was a women ,the farm they always dreamed of ,their freedom etc etc.But one thing was for certain Cretan are not the type of people who let go of something  even if they are threatened by death,and when the door is shut they always find a little window go thru.   So  the magic chants became miniature songs called mantinades Poems that they would rhyme depending on the situation .For example if there was a wedding it was proper for the friends of the family to make little poems of how pretty the bride is,or how charming and brave the groom is , and how  good the familys are, After the weddings and during the 3 day party known as glenti ,where everyone became pissed drunk ,there were people know as kontradori ,these people came with the guests each table of guests made sure they had one good looking dancer ,one singer one man with loads of bullets .And one kontradoro the kontradoro would be a man who could rhyme really fast and everyone on his would repeat the rhymes he just spontaneously made .These very talented miniature song makers could go on for hours about the same topic and other kontradori from the other tables would compete with them as if it was a fight to the death,as it sometimes was .
When one rhyme would insult the other and he would return one back to him and so on at one point the knifes and guns came ,and they functioned under the power of tons of raki.and wine, leading to countless deaths .But mantinades did not die they are still here today people all over Crete are making little rhymes posting them in papers singing them at weddings baptisms or just good gatherings ,cauise a Cretan dosent really need a reason to party he will make a party even if  his sheep give birth ,anything that gives him joy is a reason to dance sing and make a party .Many of these amature but very talented poets originate from this village for inspiration is everywhere .Azogires did not stop there it gave its poetic spirit also to the visitors of this village just a few hours in this village is enough to get you going .One of our most talented local tourist poets was andy Millar from scotland he called Alfa Cafe the poets corner many othrs followed my good friend Sam Reed was always here just to get inspiration for his next poem ,many of the poems are not proper for the public cause they aqre rather rude but many other are ok here is one I ran in to this morning forgotten behind an old table drawer ,written by someone called Paul ,and bears the date 19-08-2010 the rhyme said
.                     Azogires
Holes appear in time
But the fabric stretches
Like a hammock
Under  the weight
Of sun and history
As Luckys Fetches
The drinks and the mystery
Of how to find a rhyme
With hammock softly
unfolds beneath the vine
Its late now but
Late may be fine
If we can fix the hole in time.

ROCK NIGHT AZOGIRES STYLE

Some people dreamed it, and some others lived it .   On 5th of July the Azogires Cultural association organized a rock night with no entry ticket, and all volunteers who came together to make the village (ROCK),

With head leader of the night , and very well organized DJ ,Horst Schaab, the night was a full success .He brought his amazing Rock music collection . A collection so vast and so well  organized ,that even the worlds most fanatic collector would be jealous of .

, ,

He and his wife Anna Maria have been active members of our   community for a long long time .But this time he surpassed him self .    He made azogires come to life ,  you named the song he had it people went wild dancing on the streets all the way until 1 am  ,and the last song he played was we gotta get out of this place and everyone obeyed .                                                                                                                            Our special guest of the evening was the one and only  ARCHIE LEE HOOKER ,with his gorgeous lady , he was amazed to hear  songs from his uncle John Lee Hooker ,it was a little surprise Horst was saving for him .

And at last we want to thank all the people who came  to rock with us and make us all feel like we were in a time machine going back to those glorious days. Ps I promise to upload some videos of that evening in the next days .

BILL CLINTON 1998 2013

My dearest beloved friend it is 4 days since I lost you and the world has colapsed on my head.I have no more tears and my heart is ready to explode ,for some you were just a dog .But for me you were my friend when ever I was depressed you were there to help me when I was happy you were there to share the joy with me ,for 15 years you were my shadow and now I dont know what to without you .

No one ever trained you  but you still opened the house doors , you wiped your feet on the rug and you closed the door behind you ,when you were shot 01-01 2000 ,you lost some of those talents cause those cowards shot you in the head ,but you still were intelligent  ,I remember you sitting next to the fire with me keeping me company as I watched  evening films,the tim,all those countless times when you followed running next to the car ,all the way to Paleochora ,but still you refused to jump on the car ,the time that there was trouble at the hotel and you were biting your chain to go help my father,all the women you pissed on their legs and clothing , There are so many things I remember .Especially wh en you were born on Christmas day along with your other 6 brothers and sisters ,no one will ever forget your kindness and your true friendship .But cancer has taken you away from me living me alone once more .