To dinner yesterday evening at our famous local pizzeria: famous around here that is and known to all and sundry but not exactly local, situated about four kilometres away in the village of Litsarda; the village where every year we attend the panagyrie that seems to attract more and more people each year. There used to be a pizzeria in Vamos but it gave up the unequal competition. Everyone would drive passed on their way to Litsarda. There isn’t a great variety of pizzas there. In fact I’m not too sure they would know how to produce any varieties but the ones they do consisting of a straightforward and a vegetarian; that is tomato topping instead of meat. However they are delicious and Elleni makes the best chips in the whole world. That, together with a Greek salad and wine makes up our meal every time. No, Douglas doesn’t drink wine so usually has something like a gozaza, a fizzy drink rather like cream soda used to be. Good grief, Charlie Brown! When last did I taste cream soda? When last did I have ginger beer? Unheard of things these days more’s the pity.
The restaurant itself is nothing to look at, more of a large open space with tables and chairs and in summer there are tables outside. You can arrange the tables according your party. Last night we were no sooner tucking in when who should appear but Brian Smithakis and Marie so we attached the next table to ours to make room for four and were in for a delightful evening as Brian is a fund of Irish stories which he tells with relish and like poor Yoric is wont to set the table on a roar. The lovely thing also is that no matter how many times he tells his stories he obviously relishes them and laughs ass much as any of his listeners. Marie says she’s been hearing them for twenty-seven years and still finds them funny and I can quite believe it. Mind you she can be a bit Irish herself or more. She tells of when she had a phone call from someone who said, “I have this phone number but no name, who am I talking to?” And she said, “Hold on a minute, I’ll go check.” And if that’s not Irish I would like to know what is.
Soon the pizzeria will be moving. Unlike some of our favourite eating places that alas with the passing of time are no more, it is just moving across the way to where they are building a new one. Evidently the lease is up on the current premises and anyway they feel they are now paying too much rent. They’re not the first business on Crete to pull out because of greedy excessive demands. It will feel strange no doubt not going to the one we’re used to. Well, can’t be helped, sometimes it’s called progress and what a lot of progress we’ve seen since we moved here all those years ago.