Ancient Ones & Dynamite

Ancient one sits by doorway having Greek coffee
Square of Akamatra

Greek Orthodox Church near our property

Holidays are over so we can turn our full attention back on our property. We have run into some difficult, unusual problems. 

Teddy has just returned from a visit with our Architect Kosta, he explains to me, because our property is near a Greek Orthodox Church, an Ancient one (Priest) must be present during digging of our foundation. He tells me they must be assured there aren't any church artifacts or relics on site. If that did occur, construction would cease, an archeological dig would be necessary.  🙄  Needless to say it would have caused a major delay. Luckily we have not found any artifacts or relics on site so far, except for some old broken beer bottles.

Hammer

Difficult  problem, that we have, they have unearthed  a gigantic granite boulder. We have been told  it starts where addition is to be located, extends all the way to sea. Approximately 650 meters (2132 feet). As shocking, impossible as this sounds Ikarians have solutions for these type of challenges, they have co-existed, overcome, incorporated these giant  boulders into their every day life.

  First  they will try what they call a hammer, its a giant wedge like tool that they attach via back hoe. It applies one ton of pressure into boulder in hopes of splitting it into manageable sizes.  There are two types of granite here, shale granite, which machine can easily slice through, dense granite, which is unfortunately what we have on our property, not easily shattered.

  PLAN B "Dynamite lots of it. Ileas  is our heavy equipment  operator on site. He also is a certified dynamite technician. There are only 3 men on island that perform this type of  service. Luckily we have one working for us. Process  is to use a jackhammer to make holes in rock, big enough to accommodate a stick of dynamite, deep enough approximately 6 feet 10 inches down to fragment the boulder. He prepares 10 strategically placed holes which takes most of day. Then cars, people, heavy equipment are moved down road. He instructs everyone to take cover. Ileas is left alone to light long fuse, we hear him yell "Varda"  (which means run).

  The Boom was deafening, heard for miles around, rattling doors  and  windows. Just like that it was over. It is our first encounter seeing dynamite used. I would be lying if I was to say we weren't concerned about house incurring  damage, but upon inspection all was intact.  Dynamite  has done its job, boulder is split enough for Ileas and Nico to take  it away in large chunks. Some boulders will  be  kept used for septic system. As soon as site is cleared of debris they can begin to dig footings for new addition. 

Boulders removed all is well

 

Afterwards everyone gathers around our table, a fire is lit, men drink Greek coffee in dainty little cups, recapping success of today events, making a plan for tomorrow.

It always flabbergasts me to see these big greek guys with their huge rough hands sipping on these dainty, tiny coffee cup.

American coffee cup vs Greek coffee  cup