Cafe of Mrs. Rini in Agiassos

In the middle of the route Polichnitos-Mytilene at the height of the intersection to Holy, is located Mrs. Rini's cafe at Lesvos, maybe the most beautiful cafe in the Aegean Archipelago.

Here, in the old days, travelers could pet their animals, rest, eat, thirst, but also spend the night on the couches of the cafe or the adjacent inn.

Η Mrs. Rini, the former "goldsmith" of the cafe, is over 95 years old. Her art in spoon sweets and coffee is now continued by her daughter, Mrs. Aphrodite of Akamatos and her grandson.

"Even Theophilus, the painter, was coming here. My grandfather fed him and he painted… ", says Mrs. Aphrodite, talking about the historicity of the store. It may the works of Theofilos, to be lost from the weather and humidity, however the atmosphere of the cafe remains "theophilic". Ragged wooden floors, beautiful blue wooden ceiling, many colors, bright windows, the smell of pine and resin burning in the stove.

Ms. Venus and her daughter, Chrysoula, which helps when many people come, offer coffee and soft drinks to guests. Their specialty, however, is spoon sweets, always made from seasonal fruits and vegetables, without preservatives, but also the cherry liqueur, which they make from fresh sour cherries in July. Then, the store "blushes" from the sour cherries left in the sun. "Our sweets do not have preservatives and so depending on the season we offer different". I was lucky enough to try tangerine, orange, frappe, apple, quince and pumpkin! The tomato, the fig, the eggplant, the cherry, the grape, the walnut were out of season!

I left fascinated by the environment and the hospitality. The whole family gathered around the fireplace and the new generations ready to take the baton.

I passed again in 2016, grandmother Rini is approaching 100. A small renovation made by the grandson, removed the blue color on the ceiling and windows, painting them with a dull green color and the store lost some of its shine. But it's one of the easiest things to do - five to six days at work - and I think I'll listen.

Update (2018): Mrs. Rini (Irini Karetou) passed away full of us on 7/10/2018 at the age of 97.