Greece revisited. Part 4: Salt Lake City

You are wondering why I am continuing the series after a month, already back in Germany? The next story will tell you.

After we left Kastrosikia and Ammotopos behind us, we continued our road trip down South towards Athens, with a one night stop at two old friends’ house in Missolonghi. Leros and Nitsa had been living in Germany for some time and then returned to Greece, where they set up a huge garden which could almost be called a farm, judging by the kilos of fruit, vegetables and also eggs it produces every day. The chicken they are keeping had inspired me to nag my parents long enough 20 years ago until they bought me some as well which I then kept in our garden (for some years until I lost interest and my parents had to take care of them). Except for spices, rice, pasta, meat and fish, Leros and Nitsa live a self-sufficient life. They even make their own soap from olive oil and produce their own spirits.

Missolonghi is known for two things: It has played a major role in Greece’s independence from Turkish occupation. Second: Mesolongi is Europe’s largest salt production area. The city is like an island surrounded by kilometers of salt lakes, which function somewhat like the rice fields in India: Fields are first flushed, then drained, and what remains is a thick layer of salt. As if buying the salt that is distributed from Mesolongi throughout Europe somehow gains in value if it is bought at the place of origin, I bought kilos of different salt varieties which will probably serve me a lifetime. Ironically, because I kept the salt in a separate bag, it was one of the few things that would remain in my posession until the end of the trip.