The butcher

Several times a week we visit Tony the butcher. He is a native Astypalaian, but he speaks great English since he spent some of his childhood in Australia. It was a bit surprising to hear his Australian accent at first, but we are very glad to be able to communicate with him.



He makes some really fabulous hand made sausages, nicely seasoned and then smoked. We asked if he could make them spicier, but he says that local people don't like spicy food. We have also noticed this to be the case, the flavors are much more subdued than in Southern California. He doesn't always have sausages, because he has to get up the ambition to make them. So if we show up on Friday and ask for sausages, he will say maybe on Tues, but on Tues he says maybe on Friday. The sausages eventually show up in the meat case on Sunday.



He tells us about all kinds of things when we visit his shop. The other day he educated me about the types of motorcycles available on the island. I learned which were better for street vs. dirt riding, which ones had power to go uphill and which were put-puts. He advised me NOT to try to ride one, as local drivers are hazardous. My dreams of skimming over the mountain on a bike are dashed.



Stop in and visit him if you are up in Chora. He has the white butcher shop with red trim.



More soon.