A taste of Island life at Voutoumi Taverna, Emerald Bay — Anti Paxos
Behind the beach of Emerald Bay on Anti Paxos is Voutoumi Taverna. Only 200 yards from shore Voutoumi Taverna is hidden from view by the Islands thick green bushes and trees.
Seeking shelter from the afternoon heat we chanced upon Voutoumi Taverna by accident only a sign in the distance indicated that anything was there. Its inviting shade was are motivation to explore.
Standing at its entrance, Voutoumi Taverna has numerous terraced levels protected from the sun by a timber-framed roof covered in bamboo leaves etc’. This makes Voutoumi Taverna well camouflaged and deceptively large.
It’s here that we met the owners Sophocles and his business partner. Their typical Greek welcome to new faces was reassuring and very soon found ourselves at their table eating and talking as if we’d known each other for ages.
Island life Greek style is a lifestyle most of us hope to achieve at some time, yet sitting at their table I never thought we’d be able to achieve such a vivid vision of what Island life is actually like. Until we got talking to Sophocles here in Emerald Bay.
Over the next two hours we touch on all types of Island life issues, from the number of houses on the Island of Anti Paxos to the growing and harvesting of Wines and Olive Oil. Anti Paxos has no Olive trees, according to Sophocles Anti Paxos only grows grapes for white, red and rose‘ wines. The number of litres produced is too small for export so its essentially home-brew for their own needs only. Any excess is given away to family and friends that visit.
“There are 120 houses on the Island but nobody stays on the Island all year round,” says Sophocles. “They are summer houses owned by people from Paxos, we use them when we are working the grapes.” Sophocles was only too happy to explain Island life to us and what goes on during the winter and spring. Cristina was particularly taken by his voice his soft melody accent she found alluring.
Audio Interview — Sophocles owner of Voutoumi Taverna, Emerald Bay, Anti Paxos
I could go in talking forever about our time spent there, but for posterity I chose to record an interview with Sophocles instead. So here is a 6 min recording of Island life for all to hear…
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Tags: afternoon heat, anti paxos, emerald bay, grapes, greek style, home brew, olive trees, soft melody, summer houses, wines, winter and spring
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