2024-03-04 21:07:41
“Today is life. Tomorrow never comes”. With the above slogan, the residents of Crete are preparing to welcome former followers and current friends of the hippie movement from all over the world. The seaside village of Matala, which in the 1960s and 1970s became the most famous meeting point for the “flower children”, is set to relive its former glory almost half a century later. There, dozens of “veterans” of the “colorful” movement have made a reunion appointment for the three-day period from June 11 to 13 to remember the carefree days of their youth, together with thousands of tourists who want to experience a neo-hippie experience.
The reunion of the “flower children” will take place in the context of the presentation of the book of a former hippie and a festival organized simultaneously by the Municipality of Phaistos with the aim of stimulating tourism in the area. The reunion has expressed an interest to cover journalistic Greek and foreign media. Therefore, the Matalas will be at the center of attention, perhaps stealing the show even from this year’s most popular Spinalonga. Lepers vs hippies: did you mark 2? Let’s see…
It all started with the inspiration of the 69-year-old German Philhellenic, writer and journalist Arn Strohmeier to put into practice the reconnection of hippies all over the world with the cooperation of his publisher and compatriot Thomas Balistier, who may not have been in Matala in 1960 and 1970, however he loves Crete very much and maintains his country house there.
“What I originally planned was a small gathering of old hippies who came through the caves in the 60s and 70s. The reason was the publication of my book entitled “The Myth of Matala”. I intended to present it by having a party in the original place, in the village that was the most famous hangout of the hippies” says Arn Strohmeier to the “democracy” about three weeks before the big event.
During the time he was writing the book he came into contact with “veteran” hippies of Matala, who wrote him their stories and sent him photos from that period. Most of their letters ended with the same phrase: “We will come to Matala in June!” So he thought it was a better idea to organize something bigger than a simple celebration. “I did not face any difficulties in organizing the project. On the contrary, the mayor of Phaistos, Maria Petrakogiorgi, found my idea very interesting and immediately undertook to support it, organizing a big festival, which will advertise the region to the ends of the earth and stimulate its tourism” continues the author of “The Myth of the Matalas” “, adding that local reactions to the festival have been positive.
“The old-timers have fond memories of the hippies. They were doing great with them back then. There was a consensus because hippies were peaceful and did not cause a fuss. As I was informed, other villages of Crete were jealous because they would very much like the festival to be organized in their own area. But what to do? Matala has the caves. These are the symbol of the hippie life.”
“The days there were the best of our lives,” says German organizer Arn Strohmeier
“My favorite poets are Elytis, Seferis and Kazantzakis”
Arn Stohmeyer found himself in Crete for the first time in April 1967. He left his homeland by hitchhiking and reached Piraeus in the same way. From there he took the ferry to Heraklion. “When I saw the Matalas for the first time, I was in awe. While I stayed there I lived in the caves and I dare say they were wonderful. The road to reach the village was difficult. There was no electricity either. And yet, cave life, gatherings with songs and drinks around the fire and carelessness made up a fantastic way of life. In Matala I met George Danger, who later became a famous composer and singer in Germany and Austria. He has also written a song about the hippie village. He himself is no longer alive, but his son and daughter will come to the festival.” In the mid-60s Arn Strohmeier was studying at the University of Bonn. As he says, he could have stayed much longer in Crete. But he had to return to Germany to complete his studies. “Nevertheless, Matala holds a prominent place in my memories. And all the “veteran hippies” wrote me the same thing: The days there were the best of our lives.”
According to the calculations of the author, who has already written four books about Matala, about 200 old hippies will find themselves again on the semi-circular beach with the steep rock. “I don’t think they will stay in the caves again. After all, they all have money now and I think they will prefer a place with electricity and a toilet. The most romantic may spend the night at the organized campsite, where accommodation will be free. I will come to the festival with my wife, who is looking forward to living this experience as well.”
To those who argue that hippies were just aimless slackers who spent their lives dancing, drinking beer and smoking weed, the Matala ‘veteran’ replies: ‘Hippies had nothing to do with politics. They were romantic, dreamers and wanted a better world, without violence and wars. Some thought them naive but it’s nice for young people to dream. Hippies brought a lot of color to our lives without ever harming anyone. Their ideas of love and peace in the world are eternal values.”
Speaking about the modern Greek reality of the economic crisis, Arn Strohmeyer does not consider it a good idea for Greeks to adopt the… hippie lifestyle. “These are things of the past. I don’t think that would be the right path for the future. After all, the hippies did not think in economic and political terms” he says and continues: “I am not an expert in economics but at the moment the situation in Greece is very difficult. I hope you get over the crisis very quickly. Perhaps there is a good chance of this happening, but the interests of America, big industries and banks do not allow it. The Greeks carry a terrible burden. I know that Chancellor Merkel’s German policy has not always been in favor of Greece, but I hope that this will not disturb the friendship between the two peoples.”
Born in 1942 in Berlin, Arn spent the first years of his life in the midst of World War II. In addition to philosophy, he also studied sociology, while he worked as a political editor in German newspapers for 40 years. He himself wrote many books about our country. “Many of them have a historical and political purpose. In some I dealt with the Hitler occupation. Horrible things happened in Greece then and no one in Germany knows or… doesn’t want to know. The period of Nazism is a heavy burden for the Germans,” says Strohmeyer, a philhellene who vacations in Crete every year. “I learned ancient Greek at school. Since 1967, when I visited Crete for the first time, I have become a loyal friend of your country. I like your landscapes, kind people and old and modern culture. Crete has become my port. My favorite poets are Odysseas Elytis, Georgios Seferis and Nikos Kazantzakis. My favorite Greek musicians are Mikis Theodorakis and Psarantonis”.
Special events at the festival of the Municipality of Phaistos
The organizers of the Municipality of Phaistos aspire to develop the Matala festival into an annual institution with a different theme each time. Preparation procedures for this year’s three-day event have already begun at a feverish pace in the seaside resort of southern Crete.
As Mr. Yiannis Hartiotakis from the Municipality of Phaistos informed us, the projects are carried out with a long-term perspective so as to serve the needs of the festival, but also those of the village in general.
“As part of the festival, which this year has the theme of the reunion of the hippies, various cultural events will take place. Around 15 bands and 10 music producers from that period as well as younger ones who love the songs of the 60s and 70s will appear. In a few words, we will unite yesterday with today” says Mr. Hartiotakis in “democracy”.
The festival will be friendly to those who want entertainment 24 hours a day, but also to families who will want to enjoy it in less high tones, watching exhibitions and competitions. Although there will be activities throughout the village, the central area of the festival will be the beach and parking lot.
In terms of tourist traffic during the three days, according to information a high rate of bookings has already been recorded at the accommodation in the area. However, many people are expected to be at the festival from other parts of Crete.
Ilias Maraveyas
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