Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark

Getting around

Traveling on Foot and by Mule

Because road networks were limited, most people traveled between towns on foot, often in small groups for safety against bandits. A journey across the island of Crete, a distance of roughly 60 km, took 24 hours and required a brief overnight stop.

At the table

Resinated wine was the common beverage

People often drank retsinata, a resinated wine with a strong scent of turpentine that was the primary table beverage.

What people wore

Traditional footwear choices

Men's footwear included tsarouchia, red leather shoes with upturned, tasseled points, while some people preferred walking barefoot even in cold weather to avoid the inconvenience of footwear.

Music

Private family music ensembles

Small musical groups called kompanies, typically consisting of violin, santouri (dulcimer), guitar, or oud, played for private family celebrations like weddings and engagements.

Daily life

Democratic and free public education access

Education was highly valued and free for all Greeks, with children from diverse backgrounds, such as a cabdriver's daughter and the child of a Secretary of State, learning together in the same schools. Attendance was eager, contrasting with the listless air observers found in their own countries.