HUMBLE LIFE IN GREECE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 110, 26 May 1941, Page 5

HUMBLE LIFE IN GREECE

MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS

SOLDIER'S REFLECTIONS

In what he describes as the land of mountains and valleys, Private A. H. Wild, son of Mir and Mrs J. E. Wild, of Ruakaka, gives some Interesting impressions of his visit to Greece. Private Wild is a member of the Fifth Ambulance Brigade. "This country is" a marvellous place for its landscapes, despite its mountain wastes," states the writer., "The valleys are very richi with all shades of brown and green—a unique sight, and something altogether different for colonials." Precipitous Mountains. The writer mentions his trip from Egypt to Greece, and for three days they travelled under the shade of precipitous mountains before reaching their destination. When they landed they found the roads to be r>f a poor nature and the going verv slow. Every mail in this little country is at war, and the women not only till the land but also work on the roads. Usually they are very neatly dressed, and although rather pinched looking and simple tliey are content, for there is always a wave of the hand and a glad eye for the soldiers as the iconvoy speeds mile after mile northward. Blessed! With Spring. "Just now the country is blessed with spring," continues the letter, "and everywhere there are signs of activity in the wheat fields, ancl here again the' women with 'their long flowing dresses, and faces half veiled, do-the work. Greece, too.. is' a great place for wines, and vineyards llourish. The actual vines,, when pruned, as they are now, are cut back to practically ground level and hoed between the lines in the same way as we grow our potatoes. Distinction of Male Sex. "The Grrecian male always regards himself a little higher than his mate,, a similar custom to that adopted in Egypt. While the women walk, the men ride their mules, and in such a method they travel to their fields to work side by side from, dawn till dark. It can be seen that tliey are hardly ever in their homes, which, incidentally are of a very primitive nature, and for the most part are made of stone and mud.. But against the blue of the sky and the lofty mountains studded with beautiful alpine flowers, it is a rare sight to behold."'

Quiet and Peaceful. j AIL have been struck by the*peac!! j and quietness of the place. The shepherd wearing his hooded cloak i squats among his flctk of siheep and j goats that seem to move in endless streams, clinging to the rocks and crevices in scarch of their daily I bread. Life being in its humblest form, these simple folk live chiefly on what they cultivate, . comprising brown bread, which they bake ' in huge cone-shaped ovens on the end of Jong-handled steel plates. Eggs appear to be plentiful, for every morning they visit the camp with baskets of them, as well as dried figs strung in circles, the size of a saucer, the price for which is 20 drachma (lOd). Unique Currency. Speaking on the subject of the Grecian currency, Private Wild says it is something out of the ordinary. For the value of an English pound a 500 drachma note is received, while the lowest value in paper money to be obtained is an amount of about sd. "So you can just imagine what a little pile of money o chap can accumulate. When' you think in terms of pounds', it certainly makes you feel prosperous," : Barren Mountain Slopes. The mountaia slopes, where, barren of cultivation, are covered here and there with stunted growth. Among the huge boulders vegetation clings hard, and if lucky enough to strike soil alpine and rock flowers bloom in profusion. With the spring lat present in full flush the slopes are covered with dwarf forget-me-nots and anemones of the deepest red and blue, and dozens of tiny flowers, making a real domain of natural beauty. is the life and surrounding'; of the hill folk, with their hom? spun clothing and tassled sho^s v and complexions as dark as the Maoris*** (Continued next column)

Sunset Beauty. "The sun is; setting amid these beautiful surrQundings*" concJudP's Private Wild, "aaid the light is slowMuch Bird Life. ' ' . There are Many varieties of bird (ife amongst the hills:. There is the hawk that seems to drift and glidaover the vajleys and gjens in search of foods. These are the torices with their mot fried backs, which makes them hard to distinguish among tha boulders.. Snakes are plentiful, being a rich green in colour and ; about 3ft in length. > ly fading, .and the, rose-colourert snow on the high peaks reflects the bea?tty from a perfect sunset, while down the mountain slopes comes the well known tinkle of the goats an<j sheep driven by a dark form with peaked hat, who after locking them safely in a rather weird corral, returns to his home in th# hollow of the vallev."