Coming of Age

I was born and raised in Ioannina, a lovely garden city with a long tradition in “weapons, coins and letters.” My mother was from the Lappas family, who were considered “notables” (Photo 1.1). They were among the best-known lumber merchants in Greece. My mother’s genealogical tree dates back more than 300 years. Their mansion on the island of Lake Pamvotis in Ioannina, where we spent our summers, was built on a large tract of land on the edge of the lake. It was comprised of three houses: the first and the second were built at the beginning of the nineteenth century, and the third at the end of that century.