The Fishing Trip

A life experience to remember

As I grew up listening to my father’ s and my grandfather’ s nautical stories, I learned a lot about by the culture of seamen.

As a designer, I had always been fascinated by the depicted visual language that emerges around this special tribe of superstitious and brave, organized and homesick fishermen and sailors: Popeye. Red and blue. Green and yellow. Moby Dick.Tatoos. Seagulls. Textures of rust on metal surfaces. Plaited ropes covered with salt. Fishing raincoats and seashells on the deck.

 

 

Today, I have three very good reasons to be happy…

1) I went on a fishing trip!

2) On the fishing trip I met the most joyful and dynamic women, members of The Culinary Historians of Boston[!]

3) We had the chance to have with us D. Skarmoutsos, the executive chef of Lagos Mare Hotel, one of the most decent and creative Greek chefs, who had the most interesting things to tell us about food and the importance of great ingredients…

On the deck of Barbanikolas, which was the name of our boat, we became one group of friends, talking about olive oil and red mullets, laughing, watching the dolphins fly above the waves and the Aegean islands appear far away on the skyline.

A few hours later, the nets were pulled out of the water and we could smell the fresh fish. Hundreds of seagulls were waiting for a treat that was given to them; right after the chef selected the fish he would prepare for lunch. Then, back to the kitchen, were our catch of fish became honest food, so good that I know I will remember.

It was a life experience for me. One of the few that gives us a new perspective for a life, full of colors, tastes, friends and open horizons.

words by maria alipranti

© photos by christos drazos