On Saturday, September 21, a hike on Mount Taygetos connected Australia with Greece, as different generations of Greeks and relatives from the Ligouri, Kouramba, and Valsamaki families came together, according to tharrosnews.gr
Eleven cousins from Melbourne and ten others living in Messinia embarked on the route from Kato Karveli (or Hani Hanakia) to Ano Karveli. This journey served as a pilgrimage to honor their immediate ancestors. At the same time, they paid tribute to their grandparents and, more broadly, to all the earlier residents of the region, reflecting on the difficult daily life of the past, when walking along these trails was the only way to travel to Kalamata for work and return to their villages.
Ioanna, the organizer and inspiration behind this event, described it as a privilege to walk in the footsteps of their ancestors. She dedicated every step to the memory of her father, Souli. The entire group thoroughly enjoyed the large family gathering, feeling moved as they reflected on their shared history.
They hiked for many kilometers through the beautiful landscape, undeterred by the challenges. This idea had been in the works for three years, demonstrating the persistence of these 21 young people, whose gathering spread joy, vitality, and hope for the future. The visitors received a warm welcome from their relatives and fellow villagers, with the “reward” at the end being a family celebration, or more accurately, a traditional Karveli festival. The festivities featured local delicacies such as tsipouro and lalagia, which were given special honor.
Source: tharrosnews.gr
