Takis' Taverna
1106 Davie Street V6E1N1 Vancouver, BC, Canada

The Grandmother of Soldiers This is a story about a very brave Greek-Cypriot woman. Her name was Kalliopi Avraam. She was an extremely poor woman, but content. She lived in a small tin roofed shack in the north of Nicosia, the capital of the island of Cyprus, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. I shall try to relay the history of her bravery, as passed to me through my nephew, Christos Ioannou. ... In 1974, Turkey invaded the island of Cyprus. Kalliopi's humble home was very near to the camp where the Cypriot soldiers were stationed. She cooked for them when they were hungry and gave them food when they ran out. These soldiers were as young as 19. They called her Yaya, which means grandmother. She called them her boys. They grew to love her as she did them. When the invasion became forceful, and close to her house, she was told to leave. But she could not leave her soldiers, these young men she cared for. She would not abandon these soldiers, who were risking their own lives to protect from the Turkish army. Rather, she stayed back and continued to prepare food and care for them. One of Kalliopi's daughters visited her during one of the truces, between the first and second invasion. She went to her mother’s house and tried desperately to drag the old woman with her, to a safer part of Cyprus. She knew her mother would be killed if she were to remain there any longer. Kalliopi refused to go, telling her daughter that she could not abandon the young soldiers who were relying on her for food and milk from her sheep. The Cypriot soldiers also urged the grandmother to leave - to save her own life. She refused to them as well. These were her words: "I will not leave you alone; I will stay with you until the end." Her daughter realized that her mother was determined to stay so she finally, reluctantly, left her mother -- never to see her again. On August 16, 1974, the army headquarters ordered the Cypriot (Greek) soldiers to finally retreat to safer areas. The Turkish army was occupying the northern part of the island. The final battle took place on the edge of Kalliopi’s yard, and a nearby school. Along with the casualties was the old woman. Alongside the dead soldiers was the old woman’s body. She was found embracing a soldier, attempting to protect him. She was buried in a grave, surrounded by her soldiers, in a mass grave. Thirty years passed without anyone knowing of her exact fate. A few of the old people had remembered the incident and there was an inquiry. They excavated the sight and found, through DNA testing, that Kalliopi's bones lay to rest with the soldiers’ bones. She was declared a National Greek-Cypriot heroine. There was a ceremony with the Minister of Defence, the heads of the Army, and many other important people, commemorating her as a truly brave Greek-Cypriot Woman, who risked her life for the lives of these young soldiers. This great woman was my Grandmother. Takis Ioannou.

Standing Still in Golden Jewels Acropolis, do you ever age? You are the one who seems untouched by time. You will always remain youthful to me. Your true and simple beauty...only you I am true to... though I wander to other corners, I take you with me. You are a part of me. I love you dearly. ... When I was young, I travelled to Greece with my sister. We were weary when we arrived to the last county of our tour. Europe is difficult in the wintertrain stations in Belgium, camps in Dachaudark, sad, cold. Brindisi, Corinth Canal and finally, Athens, late at night. I first saw you there. Presented high onto of your hill called Acropolis. Do you ever sleep? You were wide awake that nightshowing off your majesty. We stared at your elegancecouldn't look away. We were told that we must wait for early morning to visit you. You were sacred and must not be disturbed; it was late. We sleep at night. So we waited. Found a pension to put our things, and then we went walking. We went deep into the streets of Athens. Below one street we found a tavernahidden. Only men up late. We were greeted. We knew it was welcoming. We felt safe and cared for. Dim light filled the cave room. Food came for hours. There was no ordering or discussion about what was what. No. Just delicious dishes, offered as though we had finally arrived home, to our relatives of ancient times. We were intoxicatedthe flow of the music and the spill of the wine. Wine, called Retsina, from large barrels, with musky odour. There was Taramasalata, Calamari, Houmous, Tsatsiki. We sat for hours with these funny men while they told us of their country which they loved. They were characters. All differentall dramatic moustacheswarm and kind. We danced, sang, swayed to the music. And then we caught a glimpse of light. We had to leave. We parted from our friends, thinking we would see them again. Athens is like that. Time was running out...but which way? Searching anxiously through the narrow, winding streets. Runningand there she was in full viewright before our eyes in the early morning light. You were waiting for us to arriveyou have waited for decades. You look so lovely in your golden jewels, sparkling in the clarity of only the Mediterranean sun. I will climb on you and hold you. You are strong and resilientwarm and honest. I love you Parthenon.

This says it all....

On the Turkish side of Cyprus we travelled to the Alley above Kyrenia....So beautiful!

Please go to Takis taverna with the flower profile picture as this is an old website and Iust delete it. In the beginning I made 2 websites. Ooops. Don't want to lose you though. Tak

Michelle Gould Please go to :::: http://www.facebook.com/people/Takis-Taverna/100002145298009... and join Takis Taverna because this is an old website....and we want you to join our new one.....We value our friends, customers and followers. Thanks. Takis' Taverna - Gallery | Takis' Taverna www.takistaverna.com

I will be deleting this account in 2 days as it is a duplicate account of the main Takis Taverna account...here is the main one...Please join us there .... thanks xo http://www.facebook.com/people/Takis-Taverna/100002145298009

IMPORTANT NEWS!!!!!!! To our friends at this site......please join us at Takis Taverna at the site that has the bouquet of flowers displayed!!!! We apparently have 2 websites...one with the Greek scene and one with the bouquet of flowers....the one with the floweres is a larger one so we will have to close this one....BUT we don't want to loose you are friends.... Here is the site for you to join...So sorry for this confusion....I opened 2 when I waas setting up....OOPPPS> http://www.facebook.com/people/Takis-Taverna/100002145298009

Fall is beautiful in Vancouver...being outside is the best when you can walk to the beach with a friend.

Gay Pride today!!!!! Come out and join the festivities!!!!

Hope the yellow encourages the SUN!!!

We are renovating the restaurant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nancy Gould Takis' Grandmother wouldn't leave the dangerous areas in Cyprus when the Turkish army was coming in to take the land. The people were all told to leave but Takis' Grandma wouldn't leave her boys, the soldiers. Everyone else left but her. She fed them everyday until the army came and she became a national hero. 8 hours ago