Today’s program included a hike. We would walk on the northern slopes of Menalon where we would reach, among other places, the ascetarium (place of spiritual upliftment, prayer and asceticism) of Sfyrida. We left Vytina and together with our guide on this route, Lambros Papalambros from Vitina Trekking, we headed towards the village of Lasta.
“It’s a very small village, where only one family lives permanently” he told us while in the car and we continued through the fir forest. On the way to the village, we stopped briefly at a spring to cool off and after gazing at the view, we continued on. Indeed, in no time, we had already reached Lasta. This was the starting point of our hiking route. We left the car a little further down and walked to the village’s main square.
The stone church and the view
Built in 1876, the large stone church of Agios Georgios dominates the large paved square, which enjoys amazing views. A perennial plane tree next to the old school creates the backdrop. An attempt has been made to convert the school into a guest-house as it is has fallen out of use. Here in this square every summer, on 15 August, the village fair is held, which is also a good opportunity for all those who hail from here to gather.
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The self-managed café
We have been in the village for some time and we have not seen a human being, only a dog that keeps us company. As we prepare for the hike, Lambros leads us to the café right next to the church. It is a different café though, as it is a self-managed. There is no barista, and anyone who wants a coffee takes on that role. “Anyone can come here and make their own coffee, using the supplies and utensils on site. Their only obligation is to leave it as they found it, clean and tidy”.
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The walls are decorated with photos from the village’s past, woven fabrics and a few portraits. An old radio-cassette player, backgammon, cards and various other board games allow me to imagine what the café must be like in the summer months. Next to the kitchen counter is a piggy bank with a sign that reads “cashier”. Just above it another small sign encourages us to leave something as a donation, “here you leave any financial contribution for the maintenance of our historic café”.
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