Edith talks about the feast of chestnuts and the Kastanitsy in Arcadia [2017]

„You were in Kastanitsy?” „She asked me one day living for over twenty years in Athens Edith, my friend.
Not. I. „I know where it is, because once a year I’m loud about her, I’ve been a short time away, but I don’t know the village itself.”
-I’ll be going in a few days. „She added, and I felt in my heart a pang of light jealousy, a positive. „I’m going to go to this year’s Chestnut festival.

and went.

Kastanitsa is a small village, picturesquely situated on the slope of the Parnon mountain in Arcadia on Peloponnese. Every year, on the last Saturday of October, the Chestnut Festival is held here, attracting crowds of people. It seems that in no other day of the year Kastanitsa so does not come alive as it was that day.
The houses are built of gray stone and most of them are covered with a slate roof. Due to the construction of the village, it gives an impression of Gray, although in its capacity on the last Saturday of October is seen to be strongly colored.

-It was Zajefajnie! -tells the euphoria of Edith after returning from Kastanitsy. – A beautiful village, celebrating successful, but I never want to enter there on top: too nervous I am! Twenty last kilometers we rode close to an hour. Rustic roads are in my opinion for the donkey, not for the coach. I didn’t feel safe at all.

On the way to Kastanitsy

Well, the village of Kastanitsa is located at an altitude of more than 800 meters above sea level And although the entry to it may be for wrażliwców a bit stressful views unforgettable after all.

Edith says:
I went there by coach-I bought this organized tour, because imagined yourself what problems there will be parked. And well, that’s how I decided: the crowds of people were to Kastanitsy! It is a village with those above located, from here and much cooler than in Athens, but as serenely and without rain. Interesting are the villages: pospacerowałam with Pleasure.

Strolling through the village of Kastanitsa

-You know…-says Edith. „Really pretty is a village, more than pretty. These houses make an impression: such a solid structure I like very much. Sometimes the pavements of normal width, but sometimes such wąziutkie-like in mountain villages. There are shops, cafeteria, taverns and a church from the 18th century, and the ruins of the Byzantine fort Koutoupou on the hill.

The village is surrounded by chestnut forests: chestnuts were collected in the past in quantities of hundreds of tons, and used, inter alia, for dyeing leather and other materials.

Surroundings of the village Kastanitsa

-in Kastanitsy-says Edith-I saw the jams of chestnuts, but they can be bought and in Athens also, so they were no surprise to me. However, these local products are available here, so much more appreciated by me.

I saw a lot of chocolates and cakes with the addition of chestnuts. Tried! I bought a cake that’s called Kastanopita and it was with chocolate: very tasty!!!

-You could buy liqueurs or chestnut tinctures that I had never met-pulls Edith. -something as trivial as roasted chestnuts already do not mention: in Athens is a daily delicacy, available especially in places such as Plaka, Monastiraki or Ermou.

As befits a chestnut village-chestnuts everywhere much

Edith continues to talk:
I do not know whether this is the Kastanitsy always, but during the feast of chestnuts you can see here what a beautiful decorative element can be chestnuts and how many souvenirs can be produced from them: the most popular are probably everywhere available magnesiki, but also mugs Watched plenty. But I have not seen anything like that resembling our chestnut people-maybe it’s unknown here, or perhaps not popular? Or maybe you just haven’t got that idea!

-As you know-Edith says-for Greeks still, despite the crisis, Glendi is the basis.
-Glendi? „I ask.-What is this glendi?
-a sort of fun combined with food and drink. Good mood at such festivals in Greece is the basis, hence a nice, nice smile Częstowano all the wine, roasted chestnuts and a traditional town dish: something like stew with the addition of chestnut.

In addition to the festivals-added Edith-it was possible to buy Kalamaki, tyropity, spanakopity and chestnut meat. And what positively surprising: It wasn’t expensive at all! Of course it was loud and uproariously. Believe me: Podobałby you this festival! The Greeks up when they hear some music – and they dance. As someone has an instrument – just starting to play, and not infrequently and sing.

-I do not know how long it took this fun. – Ends up telling Edith. -I could not stay until the end, because I was dependent on the coach, but when the late afternoon odjeżdżałam to Athens-Fun took on the best.

And I have to tell you one more: they say that, although I know a great Greek, I often couldn’t understand. The Greeks, of course, know, but between them they say a dialect.

She spoke: Edith, wrote: the betas.

Photos: Edith, Athens [2017]