It was mid summer when my good friends Meena and Jean Marc came to Azogires for their summer vacation, along with two very famous musicians, or should I say music Gods, Carl Wyatt and Archie Lee Hooker. As they were relaxing on my veranda they turned around and said "Lets fill this place with life". So, whilst we got busy putting out posters for a Blues Night in Azogires, Carl headed out in search of a bass player and drummer, returning only hours before the gig with two very good musicians, Theo and Roberto, from the Greek rock group "Arrapao". With the right training from Carl Wyatt in just a few hours they became blues experts. As soon as people heard who it was all about they came storming to the village. Before long the road was blocked as people took to the street dancing. It went on all night long as no one could stop grooving in the blues rythim, especially when Archie sang his uncles song "Boom, boom, boom, boom". Everyones heart was pounding, the band was exausted and they wanted to stop playing but everyone kept shouting "More, more". People adored it, they were leaving little thank you notes on the tables saying it was the best night they ever had . The band did the show voluntarily, taking no money at all for their time and effort but simply enjoying to give life to the village once more in the best way anyone can imagine possible. For this I send from all the Azogirians a HUGE and heartfelt thanks. * we only say one thing guys we woship you, *
A few weeks later Johny Human, also a musician and a resident of Azogires, came down to the cafe with his acordeon and played for us all. The place filled once again only this time the street was not closed by dancers but by a future tai chi master who was here with Master Lydias Tai Chi group. He took his sword and, under the influence of Johny's music, he went out into the road and gave us a lesson or two in tai chi.
And it didn't stop there. Over the following days others came to just play too in Azogires, like my good english friend and artist John. He has restored a 100 year old violin and he plyed for us in the same spot where Carl Wyatt and Archie Lee Hooker had played only a few weeks before just so that we could feel the spiritual rythim of music once more. I can only hope that we will have more of these wonderfull evenings with Carl, Archie, Roberto, Theo and Johny whom we all love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbSm1UZqb8w&feature=relatedThe Band
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Tai Chi with Azogires style
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Johnny and his "manager"
You know it's true Blues when even the crickets approve
This year's festival of St. John the Hermit was more than spectacular ,we had wonderfull weather and great people .All the way from Malia we had Karolina and Martina two beautifull girls who made the sky brighter and with their beautifull smiles made a joyful atmosphere there were about 100 visitors who came in honor of the Miracoulous Saint others praying for health purposes and others for personal and economical reasons ,no matter what they prayed for they all said that they are more then satisfied of the outcome ,and that they will return next year to honor the Hermit .Who has helped them at least once in their lives,many of the worhipers brought with them Artos, Holy Bread as an offering and they give it away peace by peace As for the Koukoutsakis Family they made a barbeque ,Antonis Koukoutsakis and his wife Harriet !Yes my parents cooked juicy and tender steaks for everyone. Pavlos and Yiannis Koukoutsakis gave out sweets, cheese pies and other delicacies. And all the way from Temenia Mr .Giorgos Lazopoulakis brought some of his very own strong red wine ,just like Manolis Giakoumakis did ,he drank and told us of the old and good days when he also was a resident of Azogires as a child. How crazy and proud the Azogirians were ,and how hospitable and warm hearted .Stories that make our hearts break .Hope to see you to next year on this unique and truly traditional festival on 8th October I added some photos of the cave that was Saint Johns home ,cause I fell in love with the hanging birds nest on the caves ceiling you can still see the stone built bed that he slept on. Its a very spiritual place to be ,the energy is amazing.
The past few months have been a bit hard in Azogires I will start by telling you that the river became so high this winter that it made the main road in to a second river right thru the middle of the town .Not to mention that olive trees and 200 year old stone walls came tumbling down like paper ,but Azogires is still intact and in one peace .Weve had hale 3 times this year , one of those times the hale reached egg size and literaly thrased everything .But again no serious damages done,like in Kountoura where they had 3 million euros worth of damage on the greenhouses. Azogires got away with it ,with just a few fallen leaves .Which the other 2 situations were not the same , the first took place on 7th October around 2 in the afternoon causing serious damages to the Azogires olive crop and the second just about a week and a half ago, late evening after a day of clear blue sky the street was just filled with hale,and here is the odd part of this story both times there was a Gentlemen visiting our village .To speak more clear he came to visit us twice in two diferent years and both of the times he visited we had serious hale storms, so I've added a photo of this rather charming and smiling Gentlemen, that he may be recognized wherever he goes.Locals have started to refer to him as Mr.catastrophy .I on the other hand sugested that he go and sell his services to rich Arabic countries with vast deserts ,cause he is guarenteed to bring hale storms, wherever he goes ,therefore he can bring life to dried out areas .Ps all of the above is not a joke it happend in Azogires.
