LOVE spanikopita, one of our favorites! We just had one yesterday for breakfast from a local bakery here in Athens that was to die for! And thank you, the book launch was amazing! Hope to have a video of the whole thing soon.
You chose my very favorite Greek dish! Thank you for your kind words and best wishes! The book launch last week was a success, and we're grateful to everyone who sent positive mojo and good vibes our way. (Just replying to this now because I didn't even bring my laptop to Athens!)
Greek to me? My grandfather Kazanis (Ryan Elston's great-grandfather) shaking his head over my mother going to visit Greece. "We spent our lives and fortunes getting out. Now they all want to go back to see what we left. Crazy kids..." Granted, what he left was a tiny village where all they did was herd goats and go to church, but it is pretty ironic. ;-)
My mom discovered --after a tearful reunion -- that they really wanted stuff from the U.S. A corset for Andromache and Pepto Bismal for Spiridon. Amazing packages went back and forth. We got lead-weight scratchy goat blankets. There are probably still a few in family linen closets.
Wow! Do you happen to know if anyone is still in contact with any of those relatives? I would sincerely love to meet any of our distant cousins. It seems like we're in Athens at least once a year, and we're certainly willing to travel further afield if we have a good reason.
What is Greek to me--in addition to the amazing culture and the people (shout out to Ryan The Greek), I am fascinated and inspired by the women in Greek myth & legend.
Everyone here has been calling him Ryan the Greek all week! And yes, the Greek Goddesses in myth and legend and even in real life! We met some incredible Greek Goddesses last night at the book launch. Absolutely amazing women!
As you know, I am quite obsessed with the women (and goddesses and nymphs and all female forces) of Greek myth and legend! Hera, Athena, Aphrodite, Medusa, Medea, Pandora, Elektra, Cassandra . . . and so many more. Thank you for this comment!
That's awesome! Thank you! I'm not on Facebook (but Ryan is), and if you have any other contact info please send it my way (via email)! It would be great to reconnect with this branch of our family. I know my cousins (Katie, Annie, Danielle) would be interested too.
How exciting! We were just talking about making a trip to Tourlada while we were in Athens. Our taxi driver on the way to the airport was from Arcadia and told us he would take us there if we wanted to visit! Looks like now we have an actual contact to make that happen. Thank you!
I'm not sure about his English -- he seems to use Google Translate quite a bit. He may have younger relatives, though, who do speak English. Good luck!
Are you lads planning on being in Western Europe anytime in the coming year? I need to visit Norwich to do some research on Dame Julian for a book I'm pondering and will likely visit friends in France and Germany -- and the two of you, if possible. My time is flexible, so I could plan around your schedule. Maybe I will ask my cousin Kathy to join me. ;-)
Julian of Norwich! Hadn't heard that name in awhile! (I have a minor in Women's Studies and a minor in Medieval Studies, so coincidentally I took several courses in college about "Medieval Women" where Julian regularly made an appearance on the syllabus!) What an interesting subject to research!
And of course we would both love to see you when you visit Europe! (It would be great if my mom came along as well.) Our schedule for the next few months is looking absurdly complicated, but we will definitely be in Western Europe at numerous points in the upcoming months, so I'll send you an email shortly so we can sort out dates/times/countries/etc. Great to hear from you!
LOVE spanikopita, one of our favorites! We just had one yesterday for breakfast from a local bakery here in Athens that was to die for! And thank you, the book launch was amazing! Hope to have a video of the whole thing soon.
Best wishes,
R&R
You chose my very favorite Greek dish! Thank you for your kind words and best wishes! The book launch last week was a success, and we're grateful to everyone who sent positive mojo and good vibes our way. (Just replying to this now because I didn't even bring my laptop to Athens!)
Greek to me? My grandfather Kazanis (Ryan Elston's great-grandfather) shaking his head over my mother going to visit Greece. "We spent our lives and fortunes getting out. Now they all want to go back to see what we left. Crazy kids..." Granted, what he left was a tiny village where all they did was herd goats and go to church, but it is pretty ironic. ;-)
We hope someday we can make it back to the tiny village in Arcadia and see it ourselves! Such an amazing story!
I love this story, Mary! My grandmother would often retell it. Sincerely hoping to visit the village myself with the cousins one day. Thank you!
My mom discovered --after a tearful reunion -- that they really wanted stuff from the U.S. A corset for Andromache and Pepto Bismal for Spiridon. Amazing packages went back and forth. We got lead-weight scratchy goat blankets. There are probably still a few in family linen closets.
Wow! Do you happen to know if anyone is still in contact with any of those relatives? I would sincerely love to meet any of our distant cousins. It seems like we're in Athens at least once a year, and we're certainly willing to travel further afield if we have a good reason.
What is Greek to me--in addition to the amazing culture and the people (shout out to Ryan The Greek), I am fascinated and inspired by the women in Greek myth & legend.
Everyone here has been calling him Ryan the Greek all week! And yes, the Greek Goddesses in myth and legend and even in real life! We met some incredible Greek Goddesses last night at the book launch. Absolutely amazing women!
As you know, I am quite obsessed with the women (and goddesses and nymphs and all female forces) of Greek myth and legend! Hera, Athena, Aphrodite, Medusa, Medea, Pandora, Elektra, Cassandra . . . and so many more. Thank you for this comment!
We have a ton of cousins. Friedg Greg Kokkotis on FB -- he seems to be connected to everyone in Tourlada and Athens. https://www.facebook.com/grigoriskokkotis
If you're not on FB, I'll drop him a note and get his particulars.
That's awesome! Thank you! I'm not on Facebook (but Ryan is), and if you have any other contact info please send it my way (via email)! It would be great to reconnect with this branch of our family. I know my cousins (Katie, Annie, Danielle) would be interested too.
How exciting! We were just talking about making a trip to Tourlada while we were in Athens. Our taxi driver on the way to the airport was from Arcadia and told us he would take us there if we wanted to visit! Looks like now we have an actual contact to make that happen. Thank you!
I mean "friend" Greg Kokkotis!
Waiting to hear back from Greg :-)
Here is Greg's email: grigoriskokkotis@hotmail.com
I'm not sure about his English -- he seems to use Google Translate quite a bit. He may have younger relatives, though, who do speak English. Good luck!
Thank you! I will definitely send him a message.
Are you lads planning on being in Western Europe anytime in the coming year? I need to visit Norwich to do some research on Dame Julian for a book I'm pondering and will likely visit friends in France and Germany -- and the two of you, if possible. My time is flexible, so I could plan around your schedule. Maybe I will ask my cousin Kathy to join me. ;-)
Julian of Norwich! Hadn't heard that name in awhile! (I have a minor in Women's Studies and a minor in Medieval Studies, so coincidentally I took several courses in college about "Medieval Women" where Julian regularly made an appearance on the syllabus!) What an interesting subject to research!
And of course we would both love to see you when you visit Europe! (It would be great if my mom came along as well.) Our schedule for the next few months is looking absurdly complicated, but we will definitely be in Western Europe at numerous points in the upcoming months, so I'll send you an email shortly so we can sort out dates/times/countries/etc. Great to hear from you!