"Doctor Nikolas" of old Sparta
"Doctor Nikolas" was a unique figure of old Sparta who thought and operated in his own particular way. Often, to make fun of him, people asked him: "How do you drink your coffee?" and then "Doctor Nikolas" answered them: "Strooong and sweeeet!". No matter how many times they asked him, he gave them the same answer, in the same characteristic way.
We do not know when he appeared in Sparta, but most believe that he came from his village, mountainous Georgitsi, in the early 1950s (after the end of the Civil War). It is said that "Doctor Nikolas" studied to be a doctor (hence his nickname) until a love disappointment drove him to madness. From morning to night, with a quick step, he crossed the streets of Sparta, shouting "varyyy (strong) glikooo (sweet)" when asked or saying verses on demand. Remarkably, this man remembered more than a hundred of his poems, which he recited in numbers. All his poems were clever, playful and abusive. Some gave him a few coins as a reward, while "Doctor Nikolas" also had certain friends whom he visited daily for his pocket money. But if they gave him money called "loans," he refused to take it, and then a whole negotiation took place until he accepted it. Also, he was always dressed in a jacket or coat while also wearing the characteristic wide-brimmed hat on his head. No one knows what the end of this man was, but what is certain is that he was a quiet and tormented man who never bothered anyone.
On September 11th, 1966, late journalist Andreas Chiotis wrote about "Doctor Nikolas" in his newspaper "LAKONIKOS KIRYX": "The well-known "faces" of Sparta are becoming fewer and fewer. Likeable "Chaloulakos" and poor "Konstinson" passed away. Last year's heavy winter wore them both out. And the only one left, almost alone now, is the amazing Dr Nickolas from Georgitsi".
(The information in the text comes from the article by Evaggelos Mitrakos, 17/05/2022, "Spartorama").