Chóndros/χονδροσ
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In Southern Heraklion, in the region of Viannos, there is a lovely little village between the high mountains and the Lybian sea, called Chόndros. Nestled in a fertile valley, once a prehistoric lake, with small rivers running through it over and underground as they have for ages, feeding it's many fruit bearing trees and lovingly-tended gardens, before flowing into the striking Portella Gorge, carving its way though the high narrow canyons, falling over rocks, swirling in ponds, pouring, bumping, and eventually spilling into the Lybian Sea, 400 meters below this sweet little village.
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some pictures of inside the house post-reconstruction, as it evolves. there are two bedrooms with double beds. (one pulls out from below. One is decorated with needlepoints of women flowers and animals in tribute to the wonderful strong women of Crete, and the other, is more about water and the beautiful Lybian sea just 10 minutes away. The fireplace includes stones i collected from the sea, and all materials in the house are natural, no plastic. i tried to create a harmony with stone, clay, glass, and metal.
Here are some images of the garden, it's feline inhabitants (descendants of mmy kind elderly neighbours cat, her daughter and 4 of her april kittens and her two friends who grew up with her in a gang of orphans, (auntie) Maggot and (uncle) worm. they're a couple. and some human guests and helpers, or evidence of their contributions. the garden, most particularly, is constantly evolving and I have many ideas and dreams. I have planted many trees, flowers, and delicious things, as a very inexperienced gardner, with help and contributions from my kind neighbour, whose uncle built this house in 1939. I feel humbled, honoured, and a bit frightened to be taking over the care of 7 ,perhaps 200 year-Old olive trees, 2 big walnut trees, 2 carobs, 3 different types of grapes, 2 different types of figs, a variety of oranges and mandarines, and many other wee trees popping up- apricot, plums, POMEGRANATEs, Bay, and i have added a Little lemon tree, some herbs, a baby palm, a yucca, a lilac bush, an almond tree, 2 types of Peaches, Apples, and pears, a cherry tree, an apricot tree, some young avocado trees, strawberries, sunflowers, peas, Kiwis, corn, beans, melons, squash, an artichoke plant (1 of 7 survived the rough builders), a tiny kumquat tree rescued from my berlin balcony, salads, and many other pretty flowers, some edible, and herbs....
that is just a beginning
Other ideas for garden projects ahead include beautifying the old well, as a water teple descending cave to look into the underground river coming down from the dikti mountains towards the gorge to the lybian sea as if flows generously below, while above, it is a sculptural stone and iron fountain covered in moss and plants that grow well in moisture, through which , the water is pumped up in the night to flow into an aquaduct, and into a pond which is also a thoughtfully and artfully designed irrigation system and a beautiful projection surface with black stones at the bottom. This and forming the land to best conserve the water is what i would like to work on in April 2025. Other garden projects include building an outdoor oven with the clay bricks, which were a wall in the house for almost ninety years, under the walnut tree next to the outdoor kitchen, now merely a sink with hot/cold water connections. near the well there is a large wall ready for a mural, and more concrete terraces and a walkway in need of perhaps stone mosaics (see "the bones of the living' Project concept inviting self portraits based on xrays of our bones as my property is directly next to the byzantine cemetery turned public square. the remains were supposed to have been exumed and i suppose most of them were, however... ) Because the surroundings are even more stunning from a bit higher up, i plan to build a raised wooden deck with a 360 degree view of the surrounding hills, high mountains above, and the entrance to the portella gorge at the bottom of the village, which is also a shading structure for the caravan ( see below) and has a pergola where a projection screen can be installed and seen from around the garden. there are already grapes and climbing flowers ready to climb it making the adorable 70's trailer more beautifully shaded and hidden and the perfect place for a resident gardner . i would also like to build a small greenhouse and garden shed next to it. on the other side oof the garden where another grape vine grows along the border of the property, we could also shape a maze of grapes with a lovely space under an olive tree at the center, and just outside , paint wall murals, build a swing, sculpt small clay and wooden figures as a tribute to nature and a treasure for the curious archeologists of the future. i am open to mmany ideas, collaborations, experts, and ideas of where to apply for funding to pay the experts, who i hope will act as mentors, for others in an environment of sharing knowledge empowering others and ourselves, through creative projects both surrounded and inspired by the splendid landscapes and living world and as we heal ourselves through the nurture of and learning from nature. more to come. please get in touch if you are interested in getting involved in any way or would like to rent the space for your own workshops, projects, retreats, and gatherings. +4917680060245
Here in the images below are my first visits to Chóndros and what the house looked like when i found it. broken roof, a wonderful home for lizards, the garden-wild and overgrown, but full of history to respect and care for, and potential to get really excited about.
living in a tent on the beach, next to a nest of sea tortoises.
between the tent on the beach and the house, i lived in the caravan which is from 1970's France, previously owned by germans, but i found it in a lot in athens, where a large turtle was roaming around. After seeing some horrible camping trailers on Crete, I asked the man in athens to put it on the boat and send it to me.
Below are some images of the basic demolition, restooration and construction in 2023
