Bey's cafe in Lagia

Bey's cafe in Lagia at laconic Mani I met it years ago with bad weather with torrential rain and fog. Everywhere you could find desolation and the slightest trace of life in the smoke of a chimney or in the dim light behind a framed shutter parked, a lighted window and smoke. A half-extinguished sign "The hangout of hunters" and an indefinable hope led me to the entrance.

I step on the door… and meet an incredible spectacle. In the southernmost point of mainland Greece, but also of continental Europe, in complete isolation, one of the most beautiful cafes in Greece. The walls from floor to ceiling, all paintings, photographs, decorative objects, newspaper clippings. In the background a young couple, in front of a fire to drink their coffee and next to them, a bent hawk to greet me with a smile. I had just entered the magical world of Bey's cafe.

Born in 1927, involved as a child in the guerrilla, "you served the country successfully for four consecutive years", from 1953 he was involved in his father's cafe. Five children, 14 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, thousands of friends all over the world - among them Patrick Le Fermor from Kardamili - and dozens of tributes to Greek and foreign newspapers and magazines is the account of his life.

I went through it again this year as well 2016. Rumor had it that the cafe had closed. I stopped in front of the entrance, it was raining again, and I opened the door. The cafe was not working, but the Vassilis Georgariou - Bey had moved his bed there, and lived in the cafe with his memories and all the old decor. His joy was great when old friends came to visit one of the best ambassadors of Greek hospitality, in the "inhospitable area of ​​Mani".