The Lotus Eaters

[SueA]

Yes Warwick, the Ferryman Taverna was on the right at the bottom of the hill as you dropped down in to the village of Elounda. I must look on Google Earth to see if it is still there. Maybe someone on here from that area can tell us?

The Ferryman Taverna is still here in Elounda, but it's now an expensive restaurant, with many customers coming from the nearby 5 star hotels. Very different to the old taverna, it is run by the son of the man who owned it when the TV series was made. Dad used to have old photos from the filming displayed on the walls, but they disappeared more than 10 years ago when it was refurbished and extended. Mum and Dad are still about however. It is situated about 200m from the square, along the coastal footpath, and can be accessed from the main road by going down the steps next to the apartment that Alan Haldane stayed in.

[Kilkis]

Yes, I remember all the photos from the filming. The five star hotels you refer to are where Andreas Papandreou and his mistress Mimi used to spend their summer holiday. I can't imagine them eating in the Ferryman as it was then. Similarly Kostas Simitis holidayed there, with Daphne mou, for all those who remember Διαπλεκόμενοι Α.Ε.

Warwick

[Maud]

Thanks Sue. That is exactly how I remember its location, - and also with all the photos on the wall!

I am glad that as a family we enjoyed Elounda and it’s surrounds in the days when it was so unspoilt. We even remember just one small boat going out to Spinalonga as a tourist boat in those days. It wasn’t from Elounda, but Agios Nikolaos. The owner was called Captain Manolis, and he wrote a ‘book’ (more of a pamphlet In a cover) which he sold to the dozen or so tourists who took his ‘tour.’ - We still have ours somewhere.....signed proudly by Manolis of course!

The Papandreou family have two houses on Andros.They stand on headlands either side of a quiet, small bay on the east coast. They are both the size of reasonably large hotels. - In fact, when I first saw them, it is what I though they were!

How the ‘other half’ live!

[Kilkis]

I've only stayed on Andros once and it gave the impression of being very much the weekend retreat for rich Athenians. During the week the harbour would have a few small fishing boats bobbing about but on Friday evening the yachts would arrive by the dozen. We're talking Onasis/Abramovich type boats not small sailing dinghys. Friday/Saturday evening and Sunday lunchtime the harbour front tavernas would be full of very chic Athenians dripping in gold. Come Monday morning everything was back to normal. Strangely, despite this obviously very rich trade, the prices in the tavernas were not expensive.

Warwick

[bobscott]

Maud, what a super idea. I second it! Bob, you must try to upload your presentation somehow. I can quite see how it would have appealed to the locals.

Forget the idea of uploading the presentation. Bob should resurrect this original and take it on tour round the island (once travel restrictions are lifted and suitable venues open). If he gets started now he should be ready by the time things are more normal. Apart from anything else it'll give the old chap something interesting to do.

How about it, Bob? I'd wager you still have the PowerPoint presentation saved somewhere.

You win the bet Phil. Of COURSE I still have it. Plus an accompanying Word sheet with a synopsis of the film etc. There is a total of 24 slides on the presentation of which 18 show photos of the extras as they looked in the decade leading up to 2014. Bear in mind, they are all local Kokkino Horio villagers, quite a few of whom are now sadly deceased. If anyone REALLY wants to see this lot, send me a pm and I will send them to your e-mail. Bob.

[Maud]

You are absolutely correct Warwick. Andros is an island favoured by rich Athenians. Originally it was home to many of the shipping families, and the main town of Chora has excellent examples of the elaborate homes they built.

Locals will tell you the reason the island doesn’t have an airport is that the wealthy Greeks do not want mass tourism there. One reason for its popularity with ‘well off‘ Greeks is because of its proximity to Athens. - Two hours on a ferry from Rafina and you are on a pretty, quiet, unspoilt, island! It still gets busy at weekends. August is the other time to avoid visiting.

[Kookla]

Bob sent you a pm.