Page 36 - BLISS-2024

BLISS_Kos island

THE PURPOSE OF Crafting
Dreams: The
THEIR JOURNEY WAS Shipwright
Legacy
TO UNDERSTAND AND of Mikes
Castrinos.
OBSERVE GREECE AND
ITS PEOPLE AS THEY
REALLY ARE.

KOS – STELIOS KOSTOGLOU
He fell into darkness. He fell into rivers. He fought,
but he still stands. He is here. “I am just getting
to the best part of life,” says Stelios Kostoglou –
and he’s already 85 years old.
No normal road leads to his house. He lives high
on the mountain, in the house his father built in
1939. He has no electricity, but he doesn’t need
it. He wakes up with the morning light. He goes
to bed when the darkness of night conquers all
– just as he learned as a child. “When I was a boy,
there weren’t any lights at night; people didn’t
need them, as the sun was their life.” He hasn’t
left this place or Kos, except for his two years
of soldiering.
He inherited the animals from his father. But it’s
hard now. It’s not raining, and the grass is dry.
He has played the lyre since he was a boy. At six,
he persuaded a musician to lend him his lyre for
a bit, so that he could see how its strings made
sounds. Slowly he learned himself. He started
with simple tunes, old tunes – and he learned
them well. Then, he began to be invited to feasts,
dances, and even weddings. Now, he has a pinav- A CULINARY
li (handmade pastoral flute of Kos) in his hands
and blows, playing as if it were the most natu- GEM ON KOS
ral thing in the world. “Pinavli is a tool,” he says,
“for the animals to hear at night, but it’s also a
pastime for the player. There’s an art to playing
it, but also making it right from good reeds. It’s Α gastronomic journey through the waters of the Aegean, with each dish thoughtfully
a sweet sound; it’s a companion.” Stelios made prepared to celebrate the island’s rich seafood heritage
his by hand, so it’s an extension of his soul. The
same goes for dancing; he was a dance teacher with the carbine factory, where Mikes himself Mikes learned the craft by experience, alongside
once. Whenever there was a festival, he was the had been shoved as a lad, as soon as he finished his father, but he developed it further thanks to
first to attend. fourth grade. Eighty of the one hundred trebu- a thorough knowledge of geometry – knowl-
He’s all alone up here, but he’s got it all. Despite chets in the harbour today were probably made edge he picked up with his lieutenant when he
the difficulties, he feels he’s had a good time in by his hands. Mikes Castrinos has been a ship- served in the Navy. He is proud of his son, who
life, having four children and six grandchildren. wright for a lifetime, yet he still spends each and is also engaged in the craft passed down to him.
In the evenings, when night falls, he’s got his mu- every day working with wood. He has, of course, “It is a craft you can serve only if you truly love
sic to keep him company. “I’m alone in life, and made himself a boat. Her name is Zacharula - it, because it is very difficult and doesn’t pay well
I’m having a good time. I’ve got my lyre, and we made of pine, a wood he declares ideal for build- anymore. Nowadays, it seems that factories can
stand by each other.” ing a strong ship. do it all. Everything in life can be hard – even eat-
“If one dips the pine wood in water, takes it out, ing can be hard – but if you really want it, what-
KALYMNOS: MIKES CASTRINOS and dips it again, once or twice “to burn” the wood, ever it is that you do, you learn. Whatever you
His grandfather and father had their hands full it can then last a hundred years.” want, you can learn.” •
G. Averof 26 str. Kos Island Greece – 85300 | T. +302242020170
E. info@ilovebarbouni.com | www.ilovebarbouni.com
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