Watch out for the men in BLACK

Driving through Crete is an interesting experience.  One minute you are driving along a wide two way highway and then you're on a winding mountain road, and then gingerly driving through a tiny village wondering if you are actually on someone's  driveway.

And that is how we found Anogia!

Our first sight was of a group of men sitting chatting over a cup of coffee.  

Nothing unusual in that you would think ... It's Greece, they do that all day everyday and then we met local restaurant owner "Michael".  Through mime and family photographs tells us the story of Village's part in the capture of a German General and the subsequent massacre of all the men of the village 

You can read more here 

Fiercely proud of his family history he has created a family tree - in the form of a tree - each limb bearing the names of family members.(Its a bit difficult to see from my photo... too much reflection, but you get the idea).





We learnt from him about the famous "Men in Black"   Villagers who are fiercely independent of Government and proud of their families history in the war.

"You will see them everywhere" he says.  "You will know them by their black TShirts and their moustaches."

Apparently stand off's with police are not unknown.  I decide not to photograph them.

Michael is proud of the village's agriculture... lamb, olives, cheeses..his hands sweep the landscape.

We find ourselves buying lamb.  Not quite what we expected.  The butcher's shop is immaculate...What else would you expect this is Greece!

A smiling young woman opens the freezer and offers us ... a lamb.   
"No! No!" we exclaim gesticulating wildly.. "small, just a little".  We are wondering if we really want to eat lamb and if so how we will cook this back at the villa.  

Finally we end up with part of the leg... thankfully not too big.

Clutching our neatly wrapped parcel, we make our escape.