by ALADIN’S BRIDGE
The choice of the three villages we visited at noon on May 1, 2023 had to do with the waters of Andros. At a time of great drought and hot summers, we decided to organize May Day near three village associations that have water. We therefore chose Aladinou, Strapouries and Livadia. We leave from our last stop at the Aladdin Bridge where the village association celebrated the rite of spring in the small square next to the bridge in an environment of unleashed vegetation, in the presence of dozens of locals and visitors.
Aladdin’s Bridge is perhaps one of the best preserved stone bridges in Andros. It is impressive with its imposing plane trees and the water flowing alive in the river towards the Prairies which follow on the way to the sea. Next door, the association organized the May Day celebration for the village, the inhabitants and the visitors, offering hospitality to all,
Many people on the small square which was shaped by the inhabitants thanks to the donations and the association of the village.
The smaller stalls where the center of the party is also full.
The heroic Dimitris Khazapis, a baker, prepared kilos of whole sausages. Andros and Karystos sausages! Andros with excellent spices and Karystos with orange! Offering of the Andrian Tridimas and a Karystinian.
The small square with the stands where the celebration took place – next to the bridge – of the resident Andreas Tiniakou – depicted in the photo in memory of Frosos’ recently deceased wife…
Before leaving, another photo of the impressive bridge under which the water flows…
STRAPOURIES HONEY SOURCE
We had a nice stop at the spring of Melitis in Strapouries, where the Ypsilos-Strapouries-Lamyros club held another May Day party in the most traditional way. Something like a memory from our childhood. With a magnificent Mayan crown (by Giakoumis) and with two of the best traditional musicians: Vangelis Triantafyllakis and Dimitris Stefanou. Family atmosphere with santouri and accordion. The preparation of the space and the organization of the event were supervised by Giakoumis Giannisis and the president of the association Maroulitsa Daniolou.
And when we think that everything was so simple and so family that suddenly time turned around while we were all sitting around the tablecloth…
With meatballs of all kinds and varieties: meatballs, potato balls, vegetable balls, cheese pies, spinach pies, peignirli, fruit balls, etc.
And somewhere there – all that was not enough – Anthoula Theodoraki came with more food to help: onion pie, dolmades, fruits, kourabiedes, etc.
Yannis Xanthos also arrived after his symbiosis with a cheese pie pan and a spetzofai cone…
Two words about Melitis. The original construction was shaped by the area’s benefactor, John Athenaios, a century ago. It was a place of recreation for the inhabitants of the surrounding villages, as well as for the children of the primary school who went there on excursions. Today, the havuza is half full of water from the spring that flows beside it. Scenes from a unique Andros.
And a word about the source. The marble dedication and lion’s head are a memorial to the locals lost in the wreck of the Golden Dawn…
RIVER IN LEIVADIA
Our first stop was at Livadia. We begin the description of the celebration with the unique pre-war FIAT model of Costa Lukisa, who once again patiently posed for us to photograph among the dozens of cars that had arrived and were parked with people from both sides from the road and the Prés bridge…
The Livadia association had set up large tables where dozens of residents had already taken their places early for the expected May 1st party…
It was the busiest May Day celebration. Hundreds of people have passed since Livadia is now a natural suburb of Chora.
The party was held on the flat, green bank of the river where the grass had been cleared and it was like a party on the grass. Music with the island dialect gave and took…
While some had planned to sell flower pots and May wreaths.
The food was simple for the occasion with volunteers of all ages providing labor to support the club.
The queue for refueling was long, stretching for several tens of meters. Fortunately, the organizers were organized and all the teams worked perfectly. The weather helped with its slight cloudiness so everyone had a great time. And there were many of them passing through many parts of Andros. They went through Stenies and Syneti, Chora and Korthi, etc. And there were hundreds who passed…
“IN A MAN”
