Island Stories – about Τρύπα or “The Hole”

“The Hole” is located on a small island, a part of the Dodecanese. We get there via water and dock the boat right up front. 
Our friends, knowing our musical taste, are certain we will be satisfied by this place. This is the story of Manolis and an everyday life far away from the world; an everyday life dedicated to cooking and listening to good music. 
The island is inhabited by 30-40 people. During the summer season the visitors drastically increase. Those are “hard” days for Manolis. In the morning, everyone that has arrived at the pier is craving coffee and human contact on dry land. 
There’s a weird mixture of tourists, FRONTEX (The European Border and Coast Guard Agency) employees, and local weirdos…
As the clock hits 10 AM, the preparations for lunch begin and Manolis begins to peel garlic, because the lamb in lemon sauce requires garlic. After that the day continues to flow - some are eating, some are drinking, but by late afternoon everyone has settled down and it’s time to listen to the music Manolis enjoys. We met in such a moment and with every next play I recognized the same records we have on our shelves at home. After that we got into a serious discussion about taste, similarities and differences. 
Later he took me to his secret room, turned into a small studio. Shelves covered the walls, full of treasures. And the day slowly turned into night…
Then Manolis turns into someone else – changed in his Brahman clothes, he juggles between swinging his serving tray among the tables and quick trips to the back room to change the music or play exactly whatever has popped up into to his mind at that very moment. And since it ended with Miles Davis every time, here’s one for Manolis. So what.
May 2015 - August 2018
Image ©МА