Goodbye For Now!

Hello!!

I have now been home for just about two weeks, and I am finally back on the “American” schedule. I miss Skiathos for sure and I will definitely be planning a visit back, hopefully within a couple of summers!

I wanted to take the time and thank everyone who helped me during this amazing experience. First, thank you to Dimitris Ioannidis, who arranged the Sister City internship; Demetra Paparounas, who helped us while we were in Skiathos; the Armamentos family who took me in as their own and brought me to the beaches, dinner and helped me out with anything I needed; all the friends and the people at the local cafes that we met and had a chance to get to know; Yiayia Nina who provided the house for us and the Mayor/Town of Skiathos for taking care of Tori and me and helping to make this internship possible.

I will definitely miss Skiathos and will always remember my summer there. Thank you also to everyone who read this blog and made the views over 2,600!! It means a lot!

Roula and I at Koukounaries beach.

Roula, Panos and I at lunch on my last day.

Dimitri and Phillip.

Until next time!!

Stephanie

The Sea—Despina Vandi

Check out Despina Vandi's (a famous Greek singer) music video, which features Skiathos' beaches! Tori and I had actually been to all of the beaches that are shown in the video...

Stephanie

Yiayia Nina

Before ending this blog, I have to tell you about the one and only, Yiayia Nina, a very sweet 74 year old. She lived right below us and owned the house we lived in during our stay in Skiathos. Talk about a caring person and an AMAZING cook. Tori and I would come back from touring certain sites of the island and a full cooked meal was waiting for us in our kitchen. Each and every meal she brought us was mouthwatering good and every single time our plates were licked clean. Before leaving Skiathos, I had coffee with her many times. We took the opportunity to learn about her history and where she was from. Yiayia Nina was born and raised in Skiathos, Greece. She grew up with her five siblings, two were boys and the other three were girls. Over twenty years ago, she moved to the house she currently lives in on Agios Fanourios. All of her siblings are married and also live in Skiathos, except one who lives in Volos. As she grew up, she went to school but she never finished so she does not have her diploma. When she was older, she got married and had two daughters, Maria and Zina. Maria works at the mayor’s office. Both sisters work at their villas called Syraina’s Studios, which is a short walk from bus stop 18. When my parents came to visit me, we stopped by to see the villas. These studios are in a quiet area on their own and not too far from the local beach, Troulos. The daughters are all about pleasing their visitors. Visit their website http://www.syrainastudios.gr/ to see for yourself!

One of our last nights together.

Yiayia Nina and I enjoying coffee and looking at the amazing view from her balcony.

Yiayia Nina cooking Tori and I dinner.

One of the meals she cooked us.

I will always remember Yiayia Nina as my grandmother away from home, my Skiathos yiayia!

Stephanie

Tris Ierarches Church

On my way home from the Corner Café, I decided to make a quick detour to what we've been referring to as the “big church next to Rock n’ Roll bar” hoping that maybe it would finally be open. Unfortunately, it was closed today but I found some interesting information.

The church, which is right above the port next to the maxilaria is called Tris Ierarches or The Church of the Three Hierarchs. It is the main church of Skiathos and is dedicated to St. Vasilios (Cappadokia bishop), St. Grigorious (Constantinople bishop/theologian), and St Ioannis Chrisostomos. Tris Ierarches was constructed in 1846 and has been the main church of Skiathos for 150 years. The church is the home of many religious artifacts and icons, the most famous of which is Panagia Iconistria (the miraculous icon found swinging at Kounistria around 1650).

Father Adamantios (Papadiamantis’s father) was the priest of the church at one point and both Papadiamantis and Moraitidis were active members of the church.

The three patriarchs above church entrance.

Tris Ierarches still follows the ancient tradition of the Kollyvades – the group of monks from Mt. Athos led by Fr. Niphon (founder of Evangelistria).

We are not leaving just yet so stay posted!

-Victoria