Traditionally, Ano Doliana was the summer village for most of its' inhabitants. At an altitude of approximately 1100m, they were able to graze their livestock and plant crops here during the long, hot, dry summers. Horses and mules were packed up and made the 5-6 hour trek (now a 1/2 hour drive) through the mountains in early spring. Many would remain here until late fall, after the harvests were complete. Then they would make the long trek back to the winter village, where the olives awaited harvesting. Now more people visit in the winter when it's cold and has some snow on the ground, and many residents have chosen to stay in the winter village year round which is close to the beach. Now, in summer it has a population of maybe 200 or so people, except the week leading up to August 15th when many of its' children return home for the Feast of the Virgin Mary, to attend church, catch up with fellow villagers, and of course go to the panigyri, which this year was held on the soccer field with a live band (my cousin's), roast pig and lots of beer! Definitely one of my favourite birthdays...with my family, dancing under the stars in Ano Doliana! From our balcony we have a view of the entire village and the plains below, all the way to the city of Tripoli and because it faces west we get a fabulous sunset every night. No matter how many times I try to capture it on film, I can never do it justice. In the picture on the right, Tomee is standing on the balcony of St. John's church which sits across from the village, where Nikitaras ( a hero from the war of Independence 1821) rested with his men before taking on the Ottoman Turks in the battle that took place in the village. Though outnumbered, they defeated the Turks in that battle and helped hold them off long enough for Drobolitsa (Tripoli) to fall. (At least,that's the story I've been told.) I love this place...it is the village of my childhood visits and some of my fondest memories. Favourite things: long walks, drinking wine with my uncle, the view from the balcony, sleeping with two blankets at night (it's a nice break from the 40C elsewhere), playing tavli with my kids, karidopita at the kafenio, and, and, and... Not so favourite things: spiders (too many of them), mice running across the floor, belehia (don't know what they are in English...some kind of nocturnal squirrel-like creature that live beneath our floors and squeak and scurry all night)
Traditionally, Ano Doliana was the summer village for most of its' inhabitants. At an altitude of approximately 1100m, they were able to graze their livestock and plant crops here during the long, hot, dry summers. Horses and mules were packed up and made the 5-6 hour trek (now a 1/2 hour drive) through the mountains in early spring. Many would remain here until late fall, after the harvests were complete. Then they would make the long trek back to the winter village, where the olives awaited harvesting. Now more people visit in the winter when it's cold and has some snow on the ground, and many residents have chosen to stay in the winter village year round which is close to the beach. Now, in summer it has a population of maybe 200 or so people, except the week leading up to August 15th when many of its' children return home for the Feast of the Virgin Mary, to attend church, catch up with fellow villagers, and of course go to the panigyri, which this year was held on the soccer field with a live band (my cousin's), roast pig and lots of beer! Definitely one of my favourite birthdays...with my family, dancing under the stars in Ano Doliana! From our balcony we have a view of the entire village and the plains below, all the way to the city of Tripoli and because it faces west we get a fabulous sunset every night. No matter how many times I try to capture it on film, I can never do it justice. In the picture on the right, Tomee is standing on the balcony of St. John's church which sits across from the village, where Nikitaras ( a hero from the war of Independence 1821) rested with his men before taking on the Ottoman Turks in the battle that took place in the village. Though outnumbered, they defeated the Turks in that battle and helped hold them off long enough for Drobolitsa (Tripoli) to fall. (At least,that's the story I've been told.) I love this place...it is the village of my childhood visits and some of my fondest memories. Favourite things: long walks, drinking wine with my uncle, the view from the balcony, sleeping with two blankets at night (it's a nice break from the 40C elsewhere), playing tavli with my kids, karidopita at the kafenio, and, and, and... Not so favourite things: spiders (too many of them), mice running across the floor, belehia (don't know what they are in English...some kind of nocturnal squirrel-like creature that live beneath our floors and squeak and scurry all night)
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