“You have to arrive between 9.30 and 10.30 to buy bread,” says Gogo, who runs the only bread station, “Spitiko”, up here in the mountains in the village of Komi.
“Otherwise I leave the bread in a basket outside the shop or hang it on your front door”.
In this village, right next to the gas station, was the wood-burning oven that produced the most fragrant bread. But it went to the Chora (capital) of the island. Today, the entire area is served by a van that stops at the edge of each village, honks its horn repeatedly, and those who catch it will buy bread. The rest will either come to Komi or be left without. Of course there are different types of bread. We especially liked the one that was half / half, i.e. half whole wheat flour and half white flour, as well as the cornbread.
Kardiani that lives in our hearts
Cars are not allowed in the mountain villages on Tinos. You park on the street or in a parking lot outside the village and walk. Tinos is one of the islands with the most beautiful mountain villages… like Kardiani, for example, beautiful, with a balcony overlooking the Aegean Sea, with a wonderful cobbled street around the village that overlooks the sea. From the top of the village you can walk right down to the sea. But if you try it, you must know that it will be difficult to return because of a difficult uphill.
In the only, traditional, cafe there is, you can drink your coffee, try pepper pie, onion pie, artichoke pie or even one of Mrs. Dimitra’s delicious pan pies and get started!
Marni Hadjiemanouil
