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A Romp with Antiquity

4/7/2021

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A Romp with Antiquity

By Christie Seeley
Vallartasounds.com

Some years ago my daughter and I were invited to a baptism on the Greek Island of Paros. Her friend’s one year old daughter was receiving her Greek Orthodox sacrament having already celebrated in her grandfathers homeland of southern India. The ceremony was to take place in the exquisite Byzantine church of a Hundred Doors filled with weathered beams and impressive icons of silver and gold. The original structure dated back to the year 326.

My assumption was that such a traditional event in a remote place like Paros would be a very conservative affair. I was soon proven wrong.  I was amazed as I met the colorful family and guests, finding myself surrounded by a very sophisticated group of the glamorous young artist friends of the couple from New York.  The colorful members of the father’s once left wing activist family were also a surprise. They were important players in the 1960’s during the revolutionary movement portrayed in Costa Gravas’ wonderful film  Z. 

The god mother, owner of a boutique in Mykonos, wore a very brief white dress with black detail, the essence of Greece and the sea, and the grandmother wore a diaphanous flowing retro design in pale grey.  The great grandmother played the music as her young “comrade” sang and danced for us in the open air cafe where the party was held.  The guests whether European, Indian, Greek or American astounded us with graceful, poetic moves on the dance floor. 

The island itself, a three to five hour ferry trip from Athens, was sparsely populated.  Known as the poor man’s Mykonos, it was dotted with simple white dwellings adorning the rocky hills leading down to the shore.  My room in the more modest of the two hotels in the area was sparkling white, spartanly furnished, with one large window looking over the perfect blue of the Aegean Sea.  Two cot like beds, a small painting and a mirror imparted the feeling of an ancient monastery, perfect for reflection. I loved it!

As far as hospitality was concerned, no corners were cut.  The father met fishermen at the market to purchase the freshest of fish.  At one meal there were four different courses of four distinct varieties from the sea all served with great simplicity flaunting their freshness and flavor.  Wine flowed freely and the atmosphere at the simple outdoor restaurant near the port was absolutely charming.

My experience was the stuff dreams are made of.  It was as if I had been transported to another planet filled with enchantment!  Maybe I had.




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    Christie Seeley

    I am a writer who covers film, art, music and culture expanding on my own experience, travels and interests.  My goal is to explore and to share, hopefully inspiring my readers to follow my lead and further enrich their lives as well.

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  • Home
  • Support Our Musicians
  • Bahia World Music Festival
  • ESAÚ GALVÁN and TATEWARI
  • MEDIA LUNA
  • Ignacio "Nacho" Flores (MORUNO)
  • Trem de Minas
  • LOS BAMBINOS
  • Piel Canela
  • Roberto Falcon
  • Gary Flores y Gary Flores! Responds to Quarantine
  • RAUL SIMENTAL
  • GATO NEGRO
  • Osmar Esquivel
  • Faralae
  • Articles from Vallarta Paper and Vallarta Daily News
  • Articles Written for PV Mirror
  • Articles in Vallarta Tribune
  • VENUES
  • Calendar of Events
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
  • Archives
    • Portrait of An Artist--Ignacio "Nacho" Flores
    • Portrail of An Artist--Esau Galvan
    • A Walk Along the River Cuale and Other Tidbits
    • I'm Still Here--Marina Reaves
    • Covid 19 Inspired Innovations in PV 2020
    • Puerto Vallarta Dreaming
    • Hasta Que Ese Mundo Caiga
    • Footprints in the Sand
    • Back to the Beach and Music Too
    • The Bamboo Harvest
    • The Turkey of Orhan Pamuk
    • Reimagine--You Can Say I'm a Dreamer
    • Happy Surprise from Media Luna
    • Lots of Changes on the Horizon
    • We Will Survive-- but How Will We Look?
    • Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool
    • Discovering the Many Voices of Fernando Pessoa
    • Mexican, American, European--Man of the World! Carlos Fuentes
    • A Coronavirus Birthday
    • A View from Home
    • Let's Talk About Josephine Baker and Robert Brady, An Unlikely Couple
    • Crossing Borders with Music
    • All Roads Lead to Rome, or So They Say
    • The Case of Luis Donaldo Colosio
    • Musical Getaway to La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and Sayulita
    • Happy New Year Dear Readers
    • Portrait of An Artist--Brian Macedo
    • Tajin--Hot and Spicy
    • Portrait of An Artist--Fernando Gonzales
    • Portrait of An Artist--Jair and Caleb Cabrera
    • Portrait of An Artist: Lazzaro, Immer, Giorgio and Carlos Morales (aka Los Bambinos)
    • Thrive to Survive
    • River Cuale Island: An excellent place for music!
    • Vaccines are in the Air
    • Memories of San Miguel de Allende and Media Luna
    • A Love Affair with Mexico
  • Blog