Nuts For Pistachio Nuts !!

 I was wandering through the sun - drenched  streets in Aegina Town on Aegina island today. Aegina is an island which is about 40 minutes by hovercraft from mainland Greece.and it is where I live.
 I try to take a walk everyday, mainly because I enjoy taking a walk !

I was on   my usual route to the  seaside, and after saying my  greetings to the locals I know, I was surprised to see a festival before my eyes.

There it was all over the  promenade- booth after booth  all selling the wonderful Pistachio nut in one form or another.

White - canvassed booths were all along the promenade, with tourists and locals    rambling along looking at the packets of nuts, the drinks made of these nuts, the jars with a paste made of these nuts, even decorations made of these wonderful little nuts.
Greek music was blaring out from loudspeakers, and most people looked cheerful,  the Greeks in particular,  to enjoy a short escape from their everyday worries of sky high bills and their everyday
punishing  regime of calculating what food they can afford to buy, because of the evil austerity measures inflicting on them to keep the E..U elite living a life of luxury.

I have noticed over the last few years, how every festival has got bigger since the crisis, as people are desperate to escape, just for a few hours, from the insanity they have to put up with every day as they run around paying the massive bills, the huge taxes they have to pay, with shrinking wages and pensions.Such a wicked game has been played upon an innocent people.

But here was sunshine and good cheer that people flocked to , to feel a lift in their spirits.

Here was the old Greece; the Greece of fun and laughter that the German politicians seem to hate.
Are they jealous of Greeks's joy of life ?
Well, they can't take that spirit away
They have robbed and looted these people, but they can't take away their spirit or soul.

And then I remembered . This is the Aegina Fistiki Festival that takes place every September on this island.

The 10th Aegina Fistiki Festival takes place on the 13th- 16th September this year.

This was all started in 2008 by a group of people who decided to promote and support the cultivation of the Pistachio nut which is grown in Aegina.

It's a big do. More than 20,000 visitors come.

This little nut is very versatile as it can be used in many ways.

It is used in sweet dishes and savoury ones.

Famous Chefs come here every year and show off their creations.

You can eat;

Pistachio Nougat

Spoon Sweets

Pastry with Syrup.

The celebration is packed with events.

The booths on the seafront sell homemade foods, and crafts and jewellery, lace and small gifts.

Dozens of events from piano and violin recitals around the temple of Aphaia take place.

The whole island including Perdika, Souvala and Agia Marina come alive.

Children love it too as there are creative activities every day such as drawing, crafts, dramatic workshops, cooking and baking lessons.

Pistachio is a fruit, but the outer shell of the fruit is removed and the yellow coloured seed kernel is eaten.

It is very good for your health.

The following information was taken from www. stylegraze.com

1. It helps in reducing bad cholesterol   and increases good cholesterol.

2.It Prevents Heart Disease.

3,It has vitamin A and E and has anti- inflammatory properties.

4.60% of the daily required phosphorous is in a cup  of these nuts.

5.It can prevent type 2 diabetes.

6.It has vitamin B.6. which carries oxygen to the blood.

7.Very good for the nervous system as it contains vitamin B6.

8 .It prevents blindness.

9.Good for the brain.

10.Good for the glands.

11.Good for the skin.

12.Anti- ageing.

13.Prevents cancer.

14. Stimulates hair growth.

Well, first thing tomorrow, I'm off to the seaside to buy a large packets of Pistachio nuts !

Mike Selley.