Barba Mitsos and Kyria Athanasia are a couple who spend half the year living in a cabin high up in the mountains of Elati, Arcadia, and the other half in a village near Kalamata.
Barba Mitsos, in his 80s, and Kyria Athanasia, in her 60s, live simply in their mountain cabin without running water or electricity. They built the cabin themselves years ago with the help of friends and have gradually added what they need. For electricity, they use a small generator, just enough to have light at night. Cooking is done on a propane stove, and for water, they rely on a tank that they fill with drinking water from a nearby spring.
To fill the tank, they take their pickup truck to the spring, fill a portable tank with water, and bring it back to the cabin. They then use a small pump to transfer the water to their main tank, which supplies drinking water and water for their animals. A single trip provides enough water for about two days.
They also have a flock of sheep and a few hunting dogs. Every day, they take the sheep out to graze. While their lifestyle might seem tough by today’s standards, they seem to be in good health and physical condition. The daily work keeps them active and connected to their surroundings.
Barba Mitsos often walks the 5-kilometer trail that leads to the Elati-Vytina road, always accompanied by the sheep. Despite his age, he knows the path by heart and handles the rugged terrain with ease.
We stayed with them for two times after meeting them through a mutual friend. They were incredibly welcoming and generous. Each time we left, they insisted we take bags full of their own produce—vegetables, olives, and cheese. Their hospitality was genuine, and their products were of exceptional quality.
It’s clear they have a deep understanding of the challenges of mountain life. They work hard every day to ensure they have what they need, but they don’t complain. Instead, they seem content with their routine.
Their stories about life in the mountains, the animals, and the friends who visit them were straightforward and full of small details that made them memorable.
Barba Mitsos and Kyria Athanasia are people from another time—practical, resilient, and generous. Meeting them was a reminder of the value of simple living and hard work.
