Mamma Mia! Damouchari

Back in early July, friends from Washington State, Trif and Brittany, came to visit. One day, they went with Pres. Pelagia and Kh. Makrina to Damouchari Beach, which is where parts of the movie Mamma Mia were shot.

Here's Trif and Paul in the van on the way to the beach.

Brittany, who took many excellent photos, in the van with Benny and Phoebe.

They hiked down to a river in Mouresi that locals swim in.

The kids at the beach.

Damouchari.

Brittany with a sleeping Damiani.

Phoebe swimming in the clear waters.

The kids all jumping off the rock in unison.

On the way back, there were a bit delayed by cows crossing the road.

For more photos, click here.

Skopelos with Aunt Makrina

Back in June, Pelagia's sister, Kh. Makrina, came for a visit with her son. Together, we went for a fews days to the island of Skopelos, specifically to Panormos beach.

The boat ride was about 3.5 hours. Damiani wandered around the deck, making friends.

Here's Kh. Makrina as we enjoyed lunch at Panormos.

Sunset at Panormos.

The view from the house we stayed in.

One day, we went to the island's capital, also named Skopelos (but often called Hora). The island is littered with small chapels. It is said that there are actually 365 on the island, one for each day of the year.

Walking around in Hora. We were trying to find the church with the relics of the island's patron saint, St. Riginos, but we never managed to connect with the person with the key.

Here's Phoebe swimming around in the water in Panormos. It was one of the most beautiful beaches we've been to, with a beach of small pebbles.

Here's Paul eating some grilled octopus for lunch, while his American cousin looks on with incredulity.

Damiani took a nap on the beach with some makeshift shade.

On the night before we left, we sent up some Chinese lanterns, which the kids really enjoyed.

For more photos, click here.

Triplet's 5th Birthday

Back in June, the triplets celebrated their 5th birthday with the visit of their aunt Makrina and cousin Simeon. We went down to a park on the waterfront in Volos for coffee and desert with some friends from here in Portaria, as well as their two children.

Above, you can see the kids playing some kind of relay race.

The long-awaited desert. The kids were also joined by some local well-wishers.

Here the kids were having fun setting off a smoke bomb.

Here they react as it shoots up into the air.

And here's Benny and his cousin clowning around outside the church in Portaria.

Flamouri Tea

Back at the end of June, we revived an old tradition here at our parish.

In the church's courtyard, we have a flamouri (or teal) tree, which produces a tea that is popular in Greece. In the past, the parishioners collected the tea, dried it, and then packaged it in bags in order to give to visitors at the parish's feast day on July 1.

With the help of a few parishioners (and the kids!), we revived the tradition this year and let the tea dry for about 10 days.

We then gave it out at our feast day and simply allowed people to make a goodwill offering for the church, if they so desired.