Women's Back Association

Christ on the Back of Ikaria is the largest village on the north side with 300 permanent residents and its well-preserved houses are sparsely populated in a dense green forest. The village became known to visitors in recent years, for nightlife of residents and the opening hours of local stores, which open late at night, making the famous - along with the festival in honor of Jesus Christ on August 6 that takes place in the village and is one of the largest festivals on the island - for Ikarian time, topic that we will address in the article the daily life in Ikaria.

A thick shade, created by the tall plane trees, but also the mulberries and acacias, which cover the small paved three-story building, create a beautiful setting for the tasteful - side by side - cafes, taverns and bars.

In the square there is a workshop with handmade traditional sweets made by "Women's Back Association", With a lot of passion, enticing the visitor on a journey of pleasures.

Seven dynamic women Evangelia Giaka, Stamatia Parikou, Silke Walkner, Gabriella Filippa, Maria Karoutsou, Olga Karimali and Eleni Plaka in the late 2000s created a cooperative that 3 years ago acquired a store in Christou Square.

In the bilingual elegant sign of the entrance we read about the content of the store.

"Delicious flavors in baking-fridge sweets, Savory pies, Homemade Lemonades, Juices & Smoothies, Excellent Ice Cream and goat's milk, Ikarian products and gift items, Coffee-Drinks".

We had the pleasure to try 2-3 dishes, an amazing tambourine pie (sweet pumpkin pie), a pie that referred to a delicious strudel and a divine ravani!

Stamatia Parikou had the kindness to tell us a few words.

"We are fighting alone, without any help. We are moving forward with steady steps. In addition to the immediate consumption by visitors of the store, we prepare an e-shopping, where the dozens of types of jams that we produce will be available, as well as the respective liqueurs. We are also preparing for a certified laboratory. "Things are not easy, but we are a fist and we will succeed."