Mini Museum (Crete)

Loutro, Greece. It's easy to miss the Mini Museum because the only sign is a TINY title painted above the blue door—of the side kitchen at Taverna Limani, in a roadless village that is only accessible by foot or by boat. The only way to visit museums such as this is by accident, in my case, eating dinner out front. 

The Mini Museum is a reminder of our universal desire or need to display (revere) objects that have meaning to us. The most basic "home made museum" is just one step away from "home", our most personal repository and display area for meaningful objects. It's home, but open to the public.

The objects hang from nails on the wall and minimal labels are written in magic marker.

The meaning extends to community, as most of the objects are weapons related to the turbulent war history of Crete, an island with a strong independent identity and a center for fierce resistance.

The primary need seems to be to represent shared memories and an unspoken understanding between neighbors. When there is no orientation or introduction, it sometimes means that it's not really "meant" for the outside visitor. And one feels the atmosphere of reverence, here, like visiting a temple.

The Mini Museum is completely integrated with the daily life of the Taverna Limani. Later, I noticed some similar displays at other Tavernas in town (mostly old tools). The only real difference is the name "Museum".