Everyday Life in Monopolata

Our wonderful hosts, Gerasimos and Marika. 

When we got our rental car at the airport in Kefelnoia, the lady asked where we were staying. I searched on the map, found the village and pointed to a small dot: Monopolata. "how did you find that?!" she asked surprised and incredulous.

It's a tiny village (although isn't everything on an island?). You could probably walk the length of it in 5 minutes (more if you stop to chat of course). There is a small square towards the middle where the church is and the one business that I could find. Our hosts told us in the summer, there is more going on. This town is a main thoroughfare to a really pretty and popular beach near by. 

You can just see the other side of the island from our flat. Monopolata is about mid-way up the hill so it does offer some vantage point to other parts of the island. Across the patio, over the garden, just past the lemon tree, through the neighbors drive-way, there. There is the other side.

The birds are humming, the bees are buzzing. I can see at least three different kinds of butterflies, heard several different bird calls, the flies, the bees... The garden here is spectacular. Gerasimos bemoans how much his wife likes flowers, too many flowers. He is usually out puttering around the garden a few times a day, watering, tending, and such. There is the largest marigold plant I have ever seen, at least 20 different rose plants, grapes, tomatoes, herbs, zucchini, lemon trees, fruit trees, cacti... 

We spend most of our time sitting on the patio, reading our books, Peter working some, me not working some... It's a wonderfully relaxing way to spend the way. Gerasimos will pop by maybe once or twice a day to say hello, ask how we are doing, "Did you go for a swim?" he asks. "No, not today, maybe tomorrow," I respond. 

Gerasimos and Marika are the picture of Greek hospitality. When we arrived the fridge was already filled with food. The next day, they brought over more fruits and vegetables from the yard. One day, I asked Gerasimos where to buy some fish. He pondered, hollered in Greek to his friend who was visiting, and then told me to be here tomorrow around 3pm. He would bring fish for me. And lo and behold, the next day fish was brought to me, fresh from the sea. Marika had even cleaned the fish for me! The next day, he brought me over a big plate of sardines with instructions on how to cook them. Another day, he brought over fruit from his neighbors. Let's just say, we did not starve. 

Our first weekend, we sat on the terrace watching village life. And we happened to see a young man, riding a motorcycle through the village. That alone is very normal. What was unusual and very funny, was he was (1) making laps -- or something close to it and (2) he was singing at the top of his lungs. No joke. I wish I could have got it on video. We counted him going back and forth through the neighborhood singing at least a dozen times. Headphones on, passionately singing -- oh and snapping too! Driving a motorcycle, singing, snapping, maybe even dancing a little -- all the way through town. Our own neighborhood troubadour. 

Now leaving Monopolata

Monopolata felt like home. We were able to rest and relax. I knew I would like Greece but I didn't anticipate how much I would like Greece, especially Kefalonia. For arriving without any real knowledge of the island, we have happily found another favorite spot to add to our list. Gerasimos kept telling, almost demanding, "Next year, you come. You come here next year!" Ok, Gerasimos, next year we'll come!