Author Topic: Ye olde Greek kafeneion  (Read 3560 times)

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Offline Maik

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Ye olde Greek kafeneion
« on: Wednesday, 08 November, 2017 @ 13:12:00 »
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232 Years Old and Counting: The Oldest Coffee Shop in Greece

Although not that well known, the traditional medieval village of Lafkos in Pelion, offers a magnificent mountain view to the Pagesetic Gulf, while enchanting every visitor. The centre of the village is dominated by the central square; which is surrounded by the huge, shady plane trees and the traditional taverns and ouzeri.

Among the old stone houses of the village, there is a recently renovated two-storied mansion, where you can find the traditional café of Emmanuel Forlidas; which is also the oldest Greek coffee shop.

Although dark; with only a few bands of light coming in from the small windows, a worn-out cement mortar floor and an old, low ceiling that bears the history of over 230 years, the café of Forlidas has been operating continuously since 1785.
http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/11/08/232-years-old-and-counting-the-oldest-coffee-shop-in-greece-photos-video/

Offline Colleywobble

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Re: Ye olde Greek kafeneion
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday, 08 November, 2017 @ 18:01:17 »
Quote
232 Years Old and Counting: The Oldest Coffee Shop in Greece

Although not that well known, the traditional medieval village of Lafkos in Pelion, offers a magnificent mountain view to the Pagesetic Gulf, while enchanting every visitor. The centre of the village is dominated by the central square; which is surrounded by the huge, shady plane trees and the traditional taverns and ouzeri.

Among the old stone houses of the village, there is a recently renovated two-storied mansion, where you can find the traditional café of Emmanuel Forlidas; which is also the oldest Greek coffee shop.

Although dark; with only a few bands of light coming in from the small windows, a worn-out cement mortar floor and an old, low ceiling that bears the history of over 230 years, the café of Forlidas has been operating continuously since 1785.
http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/11/08/232-years-old-and-counting-the-oldest-coffee-shop-in-greece-photos-video/
Pelion is a truly magical place. We stayed there some years ago in a renovated Merchants house which was unbelievable. I laid on the floor to take photos of the salon ceiling it was covered in very old paintings.It had been renovated by a Greek from Athens and was truly sumptuous.That was about 300 years old and all the furniture was of the time. The whole area was fascinating. In the village we stayed in(Agios Georgios in the north of the peninsular) the local shopkeeper lady kept her sheep in the shop over night. Some of the stock ,first aid items were stamped from the 1st World War. It was like the land that time forgot. Some of the villages clung to the mountainside and to access the houses they had to climb very steep steps up to them. One day we saw someone having a new washer delivered and it had to be hauled up on ropes. The old people looked about 100 years old but they were as fit as a fiddle, don't know how they climbed up such steep steps. From our accommodation in the evening it was like hanging from the stars looking down to the Gulf below. The tour operator was Tapestry which did dual holidays with a week in Pelion and a week in Kefalonia. They flew via Kefalonia then on to Volos. Very good company but sadly no longer in existence. Anyone else heard of them? There was a lovely little heritage steam railway that ran across the Peninsular to a place called Milies. Fantastic journey ,recently highlighted on one of Michael Portillos  programs. Well worth a visit!!