Nikos Lazaris – Painter and Decorator
Nikos is our well trusted plasterer, painter and decorator who can do loads of other things building wise.
He’s fit and strong, starts at eight on the dot every morning and survives on fags and coffee. He’s a trained P&D and does things by the book. Sometimes I want him to go faster and cut corners (that’s me all over) but he won’t. Everything he’s done is great so far!
He’s generous with his knowledge and has helped me understand a lot of plastering techniques.
He’s good company too and we’ve had a good drink or two on a number of occassions!
Giorgos Gerontis – Electrician
George owns and runs Gerontis Electronics and has a small shop in town and a business that installs and repairs electrical apparatus all over the island.
I now know all the lights in town and which have been done by George.
He and his team worked incredibly hard with plenty of skill on replacing the whole elelctrical system in the house. With his advice we prepared the building for the eventuality of two apartments at very little extra cost to ourselves. An excellent job all round.
George is a really nice guy and is married to the lovely Kiki. His son, Vangelis, also worked on the project and is as nice a young man as his dad. Anna his talented basketball playing, playwriting daughter,completes his tribe.
George and I have committed some of our forthcoming labour into what we term as “Barrel Business” where we have 100 litres fermenting into what one hopes to become a vintage Samos Rose. Bring on the summer!
Pantelis Galeotis
Our roofer and general builder.
Pantelis looks like a builder and laughs like a builder. But there is a lot more to him than that.
When I was first introduced to him he made the point that his foremost interest was to renovate the old buildings of Samos. Bringing the fading glories back to the place of his birth was important to him and when we forensically examined the idea of restoring my roof in the old and traditional way he seriously showed his expertise and knowledge to me. I knew then that our project would be in good hands.
Pantelis is a laid back guy and deadlines can be arbitrary but he is also a committed professional and the quality of his work is known across the isalnd. Still the project was finished by the time he said it would be and he and his team, including the two talented Albanian guys Nikos and Stavros, did a stunning job. Check the Before and After photo section.
Pantelis is also quite an artist and he is also the Band Leader of the Samos Town Brass Band. He plays the tuba.
Not your typical builder.
He’s pictured here inside the church that he is currently restoring
Costas the Carpenter
When I decided to walk into Costas’s traditional woodworker’s workshop halfway up the hill in the middle of the densely packed buildings of Vathy village I didn’t realilse at the time that it was going to be the single best thing I did on Samos island in the first year that I was there.
Costas is a quiet guy and doesn’t speak English. All negotiations are done through the lovely Despina his Samos born but Canadian bred wife.
Like Pantelils, his good friend to whom I was introduced, Costas spurns the brashness of the new builds and turns his focus on restoration work. He is a master craftsman and is possibly the best on the island.
I needed at least five windows and two sets of shutters. He came and viewed the project and quickly returned with a suitable quote. He is a man in demand and told me I had to wait a month or so.
When the windows arrived they were immaculate. He fitted them all in a morning and then did the same to the shutters the next day.
I have been lucky to find all of these guys in my first foray into foreign property renovation and I couldn’t have been luckier to find this man of few words but much talent.
