It's Showtime!

 Recently at the nearby Hyatt Regency Hotel we attended a show put on by singer, dancer, impressionist, Takis Zacharatos.                                                   

It turned out we were sharing a table with two ladies originally not only from Thrace but who were actually from Asvestadis, the village where Z’s mum was brought up. So we shared the many names of family and friends we had in common – what a small world!                                                 

Then the consummate showman made his be-sequined-caped dramatic entrance, paying tribute to our beloved Scot, Annie Lennox, with his opening number being her song – Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This. What was great was we were not at a disadvantage in our cheap-seats-at-the-back location as Takis performed in front of a huge screen on which were projected scenes of him in character, fully glammed up!

Below you can see his take on Liza Minnelli with Noo York, Noo York. His make-up and wig for her were impeccable.                                             

Next was his beautifully exaggerated version of the eternal Dame Shirley Bassey, 87 and still going! :o His rendition of her Goldfinger expressed incredible vocal adaptability.                                          

His set of well-known Elvis numbers gave him the opportunity to show off some really natty dance moves- as well as to croon seductively.                                         

His next tribute was to Marinella, his mentor and well-loved Greek singer. They respect each other greatly and have performed together.                                            

He did some comedy turns featuring other Greek singers and particularly politicians or wannabe candidates for the up-coming Euro-elections.                                   

In his final set he had the audience singing their hearts out as he presented some well-loved old rebetika numbers. He, along with two accompanying lady vocalists, local dancers and musicians, all worked incredibly hard for three hours with no break. They made it a memorable evening.                                  

As we left it was with a real sense of satisfaction, having enjoyed an evening of great entertainment – and having made new friends! Taki, you were terrific!

Run Up To Orthodox Easter

 This year Orthodox Easter was relatively late. Our two Easters were about a month apart.  Orthodox Easter is normally calculated as the first Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring equinox. Still with me? This year that full moon was on March 25th, so Easter was celebrated on March 31^st. However, the Orthodox calculations simply put follow the same measures, but must also be after the Jewish Passover or Pasach which this year was celebrated from April 22^nd to 30^th.^.Consequently, we celebrated on May 5^th.                                           

So, here we see the preparation of the festive foods: the easter bread is freshly baked and the eggs are boiled and coloured, ready to be cracked open on Easter Sunday as the fast is broken. It used to last for 40 days but now, if observed, the Lenten period will be for the week preceding Easter, the holy week.

                                           

In Macedonia one tradition is to hang red fabric on the balcony to indicate that in that household eggs are being dyed.                                            

One neighbour followed the tradition but indicated it by delicately adorning her door with a red ribbon,

                                                         

Traditionally in holy week eating meat is abstained from along with certain other foods: fish, eggs, dairy and alcohol. Here is our lunch on Good Friday - potato salad, fried squid, a cucumber and radish salad, accompanied by a fava bean mash with caramelized onion. Time to ‘fess up: we did have a wee ouzo with that. :o                                                

Good Friday, when the crucifixion is commemorated, is usually overcast and wet and, so it was this year.  But Easter Sunday dawned clear and sunny and the lamb-roasting got under way – ours took between four and five hours.                                 

 Roasting done, the tethering wires are removed before the meat is carved, ready to serve.

                                        

And here we are at our neighbours’s table – a community event with family, friends and other neighbours, each household contributing to the spread: lamb, roast potatoes, eggs, salads and wine, lots of wine!                                    

One neighbour maintains that such feasts after fasting almost inevitably mean they have more work ahead. His is macabre humour since they produce bases for floral wreaths – usually for funerals!                                      

This final array of sweets demonstrates the wealth of goodies provided. After such indulgence we definitely have to tighten our belts. But the truth is we need a wee while of abstinence before we even attempt to close our belts, never mind tighten them!