Retracing our first taxi rides with our grandson.
A year and a half after retracing our first taxi ride, Charles and I found ourselves back in Greece. This time with our 18-year-old grandson Trey. The trip was a high school graduation gift we had talked about for years. During his high school years, Trey expressed how much he had been looking forward to this trip. Having spent most of his early years with me and Charles, he had absorbed much of the Greek culture.
He had experienced the Greek traditions, religion, and spoke fluent Greek. Once he started school, he continued to take part in and observe our traditions but unfortunately lost fluency of the language, which we know happens when one stops speaking the language regularly. However, we know he can easily recover the language because of the solid phonetics foundation he has.
It is an understatement to say Trey had been psyched for the trip. As soon as we landed in Athens, enthusiasm poured out of his young eyes. When we got off the highway, on our way to the hotel, our driver shared a plethora of information about the sites we were seeing. Upon checking in and refreshing, we wasted no time. Being within walking distance of several attractions, including the clear view of the Acropolis, we began by going to the famous Syntagma Square to observe the changing of the guards at the Greek Parliament.
After a brief rest, our driver, Yiannis picked us up for a visit to Sounion where we visited the Temple of Poseidon. We followed that up with a delectable meal of fresh fish at a local taverna at water’s edge. The hour-long return ride included a stop at the Olympic Stadium. We could sense exhilaration in Trey’s hurried steps to locate the circle from which the discus would be thrown. Discuss was his sport in high school.
That evening, a quick walk around the hotel’s neighborhood was enough to signal to our traveling bodies it was time to call it a night. We spent three days in Athens visiting the sites before our five-day tour began. Although Charles and I had been to all the sites, we wanted Trey to witness what he had read and heard about these ancient marvels. And for us to observe his reactions and to hear his impressions.
My excitement about our touring took me on a detour. I am supposed to be writing about the retracting of “Our First Taxi Ride” (Chapter 1).
Back to the taxi ride, June 2025. We arrived in northern Greece for the last 9 days of our trip. Staying in Litochoro at the base of Mount Olympus with my sister is always the best for me. There is something mysterious in saying “at the base of Mount Olympus.” We enjoyed spending time with friends and relatives, especially introducing Trey to everyone who had not met him before.
Part of retracing the first taxi ride was going to Kostohori. My yiayia’s (grandmother) and Theo (uncle) Pavlos’ village. Kostohori was the taxi’s destination in February 1958.
As Lena negotiated the last hairpin turn, we saw the entrance to the village. I felt somersaults in my stomach and couldn’t wait to release my seatbelt and get out. The energy in the car shifted, and I felt a somberness take over. I tried to imagine what Trey might be thinking. I hesitated to ask; I didn’t want to reflect my emotions onto his young mind. Was he reflecting on the chapter that describes our arrival in the village? Perhaps. Was he imagining how the entrance into the village looked different from what he read about in Chapter 1? Trey and Charles separated from me and Lena, and for a few minutes we all entertained our own thoughts. We gained our composure and took a few pictures before going into the village.
Katarahias siblings in front of the taverna
We found the Katarahia siblings waiting for us. As I have described in my memoir and in a previous blog, the Katarahia Taverna has been there since my childhood. This year our cousin Despina was home and joined us at the taverna. Other than my sister, Despina is the only biological relative Trey met.
I pointed out the one-room schoolhouse. The fountain where I used to fetch drinking water for the family. “There is my yiayia’s house,” I pointed down the street from the taverna. I did not ask Trey whether he would like to walk down to see it. I did not want to burden him with nostalgia. In my heart, I felt that if it’s something he wants to see, he will walk down with me. Charles and Trey walked to the church, where I met them after I stopped by Yiayia’s house. My other cousins live there, but no one was home.
Our meal was delicious. Our visit with Thalia and Despina was both pleasant and emotional as it brought to surface old memories.
It is always bittersweet when my visit with Lena comes to an end. We are both grateful for the opportunity to spend time together but at the same time we want more.
Our taxi driver skillfully navigated Vardari Square when we arrived in Thessaloniki where our first taxi ride began. The GPS guided Kostas to Lagkada Street and onto Agia Paraskevi Cemetary. Again, the somersaults in my stomach. Our footsteps to the cemetery’s gate were calculated. Mournful? Not sure. “This is where the taxi stopped. Theo Pavlos and the driver went inside the gate and a few minutes later we felt the thump in the trunk.” Did I imagine it or was there a reflective expression on Trey’s face? The same expression I noticed when we started our walk toward the gate. I pointed up the street toward our old neighborhood. “We walked on this street on our way to and from school. You read about it in my book.” For a few minutes the three of us indulged in our thoughts and made our way back to where Kostas waited. He also exhibited a solemn demeanor.
We gave ourselves the time we needed to regain composure and to indulge in the sites of my beloved Thessaloniki.
Although the retracing of that memorable first taxi ride ended, there was still a lot for us to do and enjoy in the city.
I was hoping to have some thoughts and reflections from Trey to include in this. After a couple of attempts to have him send me those thoughts, I have nothing to share with you. If you have teenagers or college bound students in your life, you may be experiencing similar behavior. I don’t know, I am asking. They are busy and involved in their world.
I would love to hear your comments. Click contact