SCOTTY'S FINAL TRIP: HIPPIE HEAVEN

Dear Friends,

Much has been written in the past few weeks about the death of our beloved, Scotty, the last of the original hippies at Matala.  Unfortunately, most of the information that has been published about Scotty’s death is incorrect.  It has been reported that Scotty died in early November.  This is completely false!  I traveled to the “girokemeo” (old folk’s home) where Scotty had been living at the monastery of Agia Irini Chrisovalantou in August 2016.  The senior priest provided me with the details and facts of Scotty’s death, which I respectfully submit here in an effort to correct the erroneous information that has been reported about the death of Scotty:

To those who knew and loved Scotty, the last of the original hippies who lived in the caves (ancient Roman tombs) at Matala on the southern coast of Crete, it is with a great deal of sadness that I must report that our beloved Scotty has died.  On Monday, August 29, 2016, I traveled to the “girokemeo” (old folk’s home) on the south side of Heraklion to visit Scotty, but was told by administrative personnel there that Scotty had died about the first week of July 2016.  One of the senior priests was summoned and he talked with me at great length about Scotty.  I was informed that in recent months, Scotty’s condition had deteriorated and that Scotty had become mostly bedridden and seldom spoke.  The priest further told me that in the last year or so, Scotty had few if any visitors.  It seemed to me as if the implication was that Scotty had given up

Many of you may remember when I first begin searching for Scotty back in 2010.  My search carried me from the northern coast of Crete to the southern coast, as well as to several cities and villages between the two.  At one point I was even told that Scotty had died a few years earlier.  But I relentlessly pursued the search in the hope that I could uncover definitive proof of Scotty’s whereabouts.

Finally on August 31, 2010, I traveled to the “girokemeo” (old folk’s home) which was a part of the monastery located at the Agia Irini Chrisovalantou Church on the southern edge of the capital city of Heraklion.  I traveled there and had a most informative (and entertaining) conversation with Scotty.  I visited there again on September 3, 2010 for a follow-up interview with Scotty.  When I returned to my little apartment in Amoudara just west of Heraklion, I wrote an article for my web site entitled, “Scotty:  The Quest for Matala’s Last Hippie”.  I also included photos of Scotty that I took on both occasions.  That article and photos can be found at the following link:  http://bobscretanadventure.blogspot.gr/2010/09/scotty-quest-for-matalas-last-hippie.html

The existence of the little community of hippies living in the caves at Matala first received world-wide attention when Life Magazine published an article and photos in 1968.  After that extensive exposure, the community of hippies in Matala swelled as hippies seeking refuge from the world traveled there to live their idyllic lifestyle.  After the Greek government had assessed the historical and archaeological importance of the caves (Roman tombs), the hippies were forced out.  Many left Matala to sojourn elsewhere, but Scotty remained in Matala until he was placed in the old folk’s home.

After the Greek priest at the old folk’s home had provided me with the accurate details and facts of Scotty’s death, he arranged transportation for me to the Neo Koimiterio (New Cemetery) to visit Scotty’s grave.  Unfortunately, Scotty has been buried in a plain grave with no marker indicating his name, date of birth or date of death.  He has just a number - a very sad tribute to the last of the original hippies of Matala!  I hope that perhaps some of Scotty’s many friends who read this post might find it in their hearts to collect money to purchase a gravestone with Scotty’s name, date of birth, and date of death on it, so that Scotty might be properly remembered by those of us who knew and loved him.

I will conclude this post with an entry from my 2010 article about Scotty:  “When I left and walked through the garden and courtyard beneath the large building where Scotty now lived, I turned and looked up at the window under which Scotty and I had been seated. I couldn't help but feel that somehow Scotty's heart and spirit would always remain at Matala.  As I walked away from the monastery, I think that I came to the realization that Scotty would never really die; he would just gradually fade into the tapestry woven from the threads of his very colorful life.”

 

Rest in Peace, Scotty.  You will be missed!

Your Friend,

Bobby