Cooking class in the mountain village of Karia.

On Wednesday we traveled about 40 minutes to Karya. It is a remote village near Mount Ziria. The class was arranged through Greco Paths. We always try to cook with locals when we are visiting a region. We find it is the best way to briefly immerse ourselves in their culture.

We met Vasileios who was our English speaking guide for the day. He introduced us to Irenea. It was in her taverna that we learned to make Gemista, Greek stuffed vegetables. Irenea reminded both Ed and I of my mother as she instructed us with her many hand gestures.
The finished product😋

We then strolled up to a higher point on the village to the backyard kitchen of Christina. Here we learned to make cheese pie starting with the homemade phyllo.

Christina
Christina was quite impressed with Ed’s culinary skills. I don’t think she was used to a man being able to roll out dough so effectively. What she did not know is that he is the pasta maker in our house.
The pie wa baked in her wood burning oven.
Her backyard was small but set up to provide for her needs.
The finished product😋

Lunch included lamb roasted over the charcoal grill.

And delicious fried potatoes. I don’t know what it is about Greek potatoes but they are the best we’ve ever eaten!
The village is lovely but sadly, the young people have moved away in search of employment and action. It is only the grandparents left to keep the village running. Karya tends to be a day trip out of Nafplio for those seeking the beautiful scenery and fresh air.

We traveled back to Nafplio with full tummies and new Greek friends 😍.

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Author: robmin57

We still enjoy planning our own travel (most of the time😉). Using “Third Home”, a home exchange program, has added a new dimension to our travel planning. As Andy Dufresne says “Either get busy living, or get busy dying”

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