Agios-Stefanos 1972
In 1972 two globe trotters visited Makri Gialos .
One American Howard Schrager and a woman Malin Lager from Sweden
This is there story
“38 years ago we visited Agios Stefanos, I from USA and Malin from Sweden. Tourists/ travellers were very rare to the village in those days.
The children followed us wherever we went. We were treated royally.
We went there because we had heard that it was the feast of Saint Stefanos.
We stayed a week, watched olive harvest, dined at the papa's house and witnessed the arrival of the first TV in the village.
In those days the women did the washing at the well.
Our month in Crete was one of the highlights of our lives.”
Howard Schrager and Malin Lager
Pictures taken back in 1972
Picture above Papas Ioannis with his wife at one of the many outside ovens that the village had. Papas Ioannis and his wife were much loved in the village.
Papas Ioannis died in 2005.
People back then had only the basics in the house . No bath room only a room to sleep and a room for sitting together during the winter where they used the fireplace to warm the house and also to cook there food.
But making bread was always in one of the ovens outside.
People back then lived from the land as they do also now . As seen on the pictures donkeys where used to work the field but even now some people still use there donkeys.
The village has about six working donkeys left.
Back then and now the olives are being done by hand then a wooden stick now a rotator.
In 1972 the woman had the do the washing at the public washing place. The woman is Vangelia with here daughter Maria.
Malin from Sweden is on the back of the picture.
Now some of the washing places are restored.
Howard (in black vest) together with some locals.
The one on the right is wearing a typical Cretan trouser with the heavy black boots. They are still making those typical black boots . Costume made.
There is a shop in Kritsa who makes them
Marika on here donkey going up the the village back then it was a dirt road .
Only about back in 1982 they asphalted the road
Marika moved away and lives down in Makri Gialos
Yorgi- Ethenoula -..............-Kosti
Maria - Elleni - Yiorgos
Kaleopé - ......... Manolis - Marika -..-Stelios -Penolope-.
Maria Katina
Andreas- Manolis- Theodosios- Marika-Joanna-Maria - Eleni
Poppi
Now almost all of the children on the pictures have moved away to Makri -Gialos or to a other area.
But most of them moved just 6 km further to Makri Gialos . There they have there work or there own business or there own shop.
2010
1972
We like to find the history back of Agios-Stefanos. Who ever can help us with more pictures taken many years ago please contact us.
It is much appreciated. sasteria.crete@gmail.com
Many thanks to Howard Schrager and Malin Lager
In 1972 the roads in the village were only dirt roads and here and there some concrete. Now inside the village we have nicely paved roads.
And asphalt all the way to the connecting villages.