Advanced Sternas

7.24.10

Today Giannis took us to the village where his ancestors used to stay during the summer months. There was a few homes, a chapel, and extensive olive orchards. He showed us his family orchards and also pointed out several sternas used to collect spring water instead of rainwater. If you're just tuning in, please see some of my other entries (July 20 and July 23) for more information on sternas.

So far Giannis had taken us to see sternas constructed for catching and conserving stormwater. The spring wells; however, were built to hold water naturally bubbling up from the ground. In hydrology, we call this a spring. Springs usually emerge when the groundwater table (the height or elevation of the groundwater) reaches the land surface. Later on we visited a monastery set right on top of a large spring. For pictures of this please see my July 30 entry.

This chapel was around 500 years old and this stone work around the window was all done by hand.

Grapes on the porch of Giannis' family's summer home.

View from the Porch

We stopped to pick mulberries from a tree on the land owned by Giannis' family. The berries were so ripe that they squirted all over your hands when picking them. They were slightly tart but very delicious.

Channel for Water

(It's dry during the summer.)

This sterna was supplied by a spring. Giannis told us that he used to swim in this sterna when he was young.

Family Olive Orchards

A spring well that's not very full.

This spring well has more water.

James wanted to sit on the ledge and look in.

This old sterna was used for holding rainwater. Now it's in disrepair...

...with a fig tree growing through its side.

Almonds!

A Fresh Almond with the Brown Shell Removed

James, Giannis, and Margaret

These goats are owned by a monastery. They're spending some time near the sterna.

More goats. Margaret used to raise goats and she told me that both the males and females have horns. I didn't this. I also didn't know that they are typically removed when the goats are still kids. If they're aren't removed then the goat is more likely to get its horns stuck in something...like a fence!

Greek Desserts: Loukoumades and Baklava