Pavlos must have been smiling behind that big bushy mustache of his when he looked down upon the lunatic antics of his beloved village last month. It never fails to amaze us how news on the island can spread like wildfire, because within twenty-four hours of his passing, it seemed like the whole village and a great part of the meglopolis of Hydra’s townsfolk, including both current and former mayors, had assembled at the little chapel in Kamini to pay their last respects.
Pavlos smoked Judas for years at Pascha
However, the event was not without its share of village idiosyncrasy. Firstly, and remember all this happens within a twenty-four-hour period, the venue for the farewell changed location twice, which in itself could have caused havoc for the those wishing to attend.
The local beards deemed that a chapel service would be inappropriate because Pavlos and his wife, Peppa, had not had an orthodox wedding but been married in a civil court. So Pavlos was to be carried straight to the Vlichos cemetery for a graveside service. This provoked outrage from the community who, to quote one local resident, threatened to burn the church down.
Then we knew Pavlos had made it back to the island at 9.00 a.m. the morning following his passing when the first prolonged dong of his death knell sounded across the Kamini valley. A second reverberated and then followed an unusual silence. Turns out the chain broke on the third yank, and a kindly neighbour, Captain Brian Sidaway, came to the rescue. His back terrace adjacent to the bell tower was the most expedient avenue for solving the problem. He produced and attached a makeshift rope in time for the 11.00 a.m. memorial service. A final tale so fitting to the life Pavlos led.
Pavlos's office with with a view
We agreed when someone this past summer commented on the fact that the Kamini Comet was started to resemble a running casualty list. We seem to have lost so many friends and residents in 2010/11, and it was becoming understandably depressing. This is why we have not posted many of the recent sad obituaries, but we also feel we would be remiss not to say anything about the loss of one of our finest and best-loved local characters.
Pavlos will be remembered for his kind generosity, by island kids for playing Agios Vassilis (Santa) for many years and executing Judas each Paska, and for his extraordinary skill as a gunsmith and builder. He had gone into Athens for tests of suspected throat cancer six days earlier and died suddenly in the hospital of suspected heart failure the 10th of December.
"Santa" discusses the fate of naughty children
The year 2011 also saw the demise of some of the islands most beloved personalities: Bill Cunliffe, Maggie Martin, Rolfe Chamness—to mention but a few of our long-term fellow inmates. We shall miss you all, and our lives are richer for having known you.
The staff and management of the Comet hope that 2012 will be a kinder, healthier, and more financially stable year for all.
A bunch of the usual suspects, 1979
This photograph was taken by John Paul Jacques in the ruins of a pre-umbrella Castello. Maggie Martin, who passed away this summer near her home in Thailand, is in the centre. The happy crowd surrounding her includes the following people: Simone (Maggie’s daughter); Christina Kingsmill; Tayu (Barbara Lapcek’s daughter); Evelyn (Nicky and Robert Hale’s daughter); Vassily; Lena Cunliffe and her daughters Cathy and Caroline; Helle (Rie and Robert Goldman’s daughter); Thor (Alison Gold’s son); Joel (Thor’s friend); Kathy (Johanne Goldman’s friend); Amanda Divine and her daughter Fern. The donkey’s name was Oswald. The Goldman family borrowed him from Lilly Mack that summer—probably 1979. Maggie and Christina are remembered with much love by many people.
Submitted by Helle Goldman.
Winter Lifeguard Wanted?
This “lifeguard” seat suddenly appeared on the Kamini Rocks recently.
Pietro and Fabrizio Caróla at Da Barba Dimas.
This summer the island acquired a couple of splendid new attractions. Not only Jazzmin’s jazz club but also a real asset for the palate in the form of authentic Italian cuisine. Da Barba Dimas is owned and run by a team who hail from Naples, father and son, Fabrizio and Pietro Caróla.
A great alternative dining experience and reasonably priced for us village folk when we do escape to the megalopolis of Hydra Town, ‘Little Italy’ in a very short time has earned a reputation for scrumptious food and splendid hospitality. They also stock wines from their hometown region.
We wish them a long and prosperous stay on the Rock.
Anybody get it?
Not quite as outlandish as the artistic ‘happening’ that involved a grilled shark and a glass coffin of two summers ago, this astounding “sculpture” on the Kamini coast road gets our vote as a close second for the most incomprehensible art form to grace our island recently.
Titled ‘Space In-between,” the pair of golden wrapped ‘walls’ was part of an event for the Eleventh Plateau—a performance only understood by those familiar with new-age-type convictions.
We did not enquire as to the cost of the event because as anyone in the ‘know’ will tell you, one cannot put a value on art, which is in the eye of the beholder. Still, we prefer the natural sunset beauty unhindered by a golden barricade—at no cost, though that is neither here nor there.
And the Runner-up is...
