Until the mid-1960s, Matala was a small fishing village of a few inhabitants, where, among other things, there was the “Mermaid” cafe, “Nona’s” bakery, “Delfini” tavern and a kiosk.
Their trademark is the artificial cavernous spaces (and underwater caves), which are carved into the rock. At intervals they were used as residences, places of worship, leper shelters and tombs. And the beach overlooking the Libyan Sea is fantastic.
In this seaside settlement of Heraklion, Crete, the young hippie movement that broke out in the USA in the 60s and quickly spread to many countries found fertile ground, although… stony.
Initially, the caves were occupied by the English, Germans, French, Dutch, Americans, etc., while there was no Greek presence. An exception was an Athenian poetess, who at the age of 20 decided to live this special experience. Her name; Katerina Koutsoyiannopoulou.
Her parents were no accident. Her father was Dimitris (Takis) Koutsogiannopoulos, a professor of odes. One of his students at the Gymnasium he taught in Veria was named Eleni Psoma. They had a lot in common, so they married despite being at least 20 (probably 23) years apart.
The couple toured the villages of Imathia, in order to collect songs, fairy tales, proverbs, etc. This effort was not wasted, as the Academy of Athens awarded a relevant prize. The beginning had been made.
They decide to leave Macedonia and live in the capital. Eleni studies at the Music High School of Athens and excels in recitation. In 1955-56 he wrote, edited and produced the show “Our Macedonian Hour” on the Athens Radio Station. She also presents songs, fairy tales and proverbs with a choir, of which her husband is the director.
In 1973 he again toured the villages of Imathia, in order to record customs, traditions and idioms of the language. Nine years later, her work “Folklore from Veria and the Region” was published by the Tourist Club of the city. The first volume contains folk songs of the wider region and their melody. The second consists of songs, fairy tales, proverbs and raising the child.
Her father was Pontius from Chiotis father and Constantinopolitan mother. He studied European and Byzantine music at the Athens Conservatory, while at a young age he created a choral group. In 1920 he settled in Athens and worked as a teacher of odes.
Koutsogiannopoulos later taught in Drama, before moving to Veria, where, as mentioned above, he met his future wife Eleni Psoma.
He devoted his whole life to collecting, recording and promoting Pontic culture, until he closed his eyes forever in 1980, that is 19 years before his life partner.
Among other things, he founded a dance school in Drama, collected dozens of folk song melodies, composed musical works and 20 songs, published a monthly magazine for four years, wrote literary/historical works, presented studies in the “Archion of Pontus” and collaborated with various newspapers, such as “Refugee World”.
In 1967, the year she was in Matala, Katerina Koutsogiannopoulou began writing the first poems that five years later became a collection under the title “The Journey”.
She decided to stop her theater studies, in order to travel all over Crete by herself and eventually settle in Matala. She had a record player with her in the cave, on which she usually played classical music. The April 21 coup found her there.
A few days later, the Police checked the hippies. Katerina was insulted and forced to collect her identity card from Heraklion. It was then that he decided to leave Greece. He lived in Paris in May 1968, experienced London and Amsterdam, until he decided to return to Athens.
In addition to “The Journey” of 1972, he has published four other poetry collections. He had, in fact, given copies to Nikolas Asimos, who – as is known – sold books, tapes and other small items for a living. Their titles: “To the eternal lover” (1982), “The return journey” (1995), “Pteroentes en ti erimo” (2016).
“The sun stands on the hair, ears of gold, gilds the bare rocks, shadows the bushes.
Your face peaceful existence, I take in both my hands, your eyes, clear blue lakes, I bless them with two kisses.
A burst of relief. A hug full of health. Exercise in the sun, my heart.”
Excerpt from “The Journey”
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