| The Epirotians are the oldest of the Greeks. Are the habitants of the PIND mountains. They are, courageous fredom fighters during the ages. They are, orthodox cristians, devoted sincerely in the their holy faith. They are hospital and helpfull people that apreciate in an incredible way, everyone who respects their specific principles. They are hard workers who managed to grow everything in their mountanious land. They are artists, manufacturers or engineers that painted or builded impressive creations. They are, poets or writters with a protypical point of view. They are singers or muzicians admired internationally. They are scientists recognized worldwide. But most of all they are HUMANS with the lost real sense of the term humanity. Many of them, left their homeland and emigrate all over the world. From the hot beaches of Miami till the frozen valleys of Sweden. There, they worked hard and they became respected members of the local communities. Always they live with the dream of returning in their beloved Epirus. They sing their traditional songs with the use of the clarinet (the Epirotic traditional organ) and tears fall from their eyes, sweet memories of their beloved fatherland. From the Konitsa villages till the town of Arta, the visitor can admire the hospitallity of these people. They are opening their houses for anybody, they help everybody and they respect you one hundred percent. The ancient Greek habit of hospitality in Epirus, is a reality. But do not dare to not respect their pride or their principles, they will smash you. In the past a lot of invaders tried to occupy them and to change them, nobody manage it. From the Romans to the Normands and from the Turks to the Italians, Epirus faced a lot of hostile invasions, but Epirotians never loose their specific and original Greek character. "The enemy can kill me, but he can not take my soul" Old Epirotian motto. |
