Day 7 Poetry Teaching Trip to Kefalonia Greece cont: in addition to reading my poetry atop Mt. Aenos, teaching a poetry workshop in a marble amphitheater, beachside lunch at Avithos Preview Taverna, Kefalonia beehives, the mountains, magical writers in a magical place!
Day 7 Poetry Teaching Trip to Kefalonia Greece: I gave a poetry reading atop Mount Aenos!!!
…at 5,300 ft the tallest mountain on the Ionian island of Cephalonia, Greece…on a mossy stone outcrop, surrounded by Greek fir, black pine, wild bellflowers, violets, and poppies…and generous people willing to pay attention to me lipping off for 20 minutes while on top of the world.
Here I am reading my poem “Come In Go Ahead Say Again” recently published online at The Normal School.
https://www.thenormalschool.com/blog/2024/11/21/come-in-go-ahead-say-again-by-christopher-citro
Day 6 Poetry Teaching Trip to Kefalonia Greece: Skyline lunch at il Borgo, visiting the mountaintop Byzantine Castle of Agios Georgios, Argostoli nightlife including a live performance of Astor Piazzolla tangos. Sigh…
Day 5 Poetry Teaching Trip to Kefalonia Greece: After reading my poem at the Zervati Cave, a boat ride through Melisani Cave, a swim at Antisamos beach, sea bass for lunch in Sami, crawling around Ayioi Fanetes Monastery / the Acropolis of Kyatis, first views of Myrtos Beach, and basically a lot of adoring the Kefalonian mountainous countryside.
Day 5 of my Poetry Teaching Trip to Kefalonia Greece: I read my poetry in a Greek cave! I read my poetry in a Greek cave! I read my poetry in a Greek cave!
The poem: “Hawk Shadow Here to Help,” temporarily retitled “κότσυφας Shadow Here to Help” in honor of the blackbirds singing around us.
The cave: Zervati Cave on Kefalonia Island.
Day 4 poetry teaching trip to Kefalonia Island Greece: walking the mountain town of Kastro, exploring the Medieval Church of Evangelistria (1508), an impromptu visit inside a mountainside villa with the angriest cat in Kefalonia, a gift of preserved bergamot oranges, trees full of bougainvillea dates almonds oranges, and Sophia’s awesome dinnertime story of the time she slapped a crooked priest.
Day 3 of my 10-day teaching poetry trip on Kefalonia Island Greece: 1st visit to Argostoli port town, a walk along the De-Bosset Bridge, shopping, a beautiful walkway with lemon tree and cat outside the Ionion Center for the Arts and Culture in Metaxata where I stayed and taught.
Day 2 of my 10-day teaching poetry on Kefalonia Island Greece trip: Arriving at The Ionion Center for the Arts and Culture for the Arts and Culture in Metaxata, my first dip in the Ionian Sea, a beachside lunch with a view!
I just returned from a 10 day trip to Greece to teach poetry on the island of Kefalonia. My first time overseas. An experience I will never forget. Kefalonia, an island that I fell in love with and will hold close to my heart. Here’s travel and day one in the Athens suburb of Artemida (you know, Artemis, goddess of the hunt).
I’m reading Saturday May 10 at 7 pm EDT for this benefit for Ukraine. It’s in person here in Syracuse AND available to stream on Zoom (register via the QR code or the link below). Readings from me and Jessica Cuello, Virgie Townsend, Misha Tentser, Tim McCoy, Sara Parrott, Mary Jumbelic, Deb Diemont, Stephen Kuusisto, and Georgia Popoff. Music and singing from a local Ukrainian choir.