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October 2010 marked a
return trip to Psara to revisit the place of George's birth and to see
other descendants of the Sarighannis family. Social media has helped
keep everyone in touch and visits continue in Greece and the U.S.!
The top row of pictures
shows the port and town of Psara, seen from the Promontory at the southern
tip of the island.
The second row shows the
revamped town square and three monuments: an obelisk at the harbor commemorating the heroes
who gave their lives in the cause of Psariote resistance (on which the
names of several members of the Sarighannis family are listed); a
monument to Psara native Konstantinos Kanaris; and a monument to
Agios Nikolas (St. Nicholas), patron saint of mariners.
The third row shows the
portrait of George Sirian from 1828, painted four years after he last saw
Psara. The other three pictures are from the beach that extends east
from the foot of the Promontory, a beach like the unknown one where, as
George himself related to family members, his mother pushed him into a
boat to safety.
The fourth row features
pictures taken while standing on the Promontory, showing Antipsara, to
the west; the Women's Monument; the explosion crater;
and the ruins of the Paleokastro. The fifth row has pictures
taken at the Monastery at the north end of the island, including candles
lit for George and family members; a picture of Agios Giorgios (St.
George); and views of the Monastery from the east and west sides,
facing south.
At the time of this visit, Psara
was reachable
year-round by ferries from neighboring Chios and also from the port of
Lavrio, a bus ride from
Athens, but a characteristic late-October storm caused an unscheduled
two-night stay in Chios, until the weather cleared. |
