Ioannis, the grandfather on my father's side

I don't think I've told you the story of the grandfather on my father's side.

Ioannis Panteleimon was born in a village close to Tessaloniki, Greece. He was the only child of a medium class jewish family that was selling premium textiles. He was a good child, well educated by mother. When he grew up, he was tall and elegant, had olive skin and slightly curled hair.

After the invasion german from april 1941, the jew were being hunted everywhere. His father payed a lot of money for him to skip the army so that he wont die on the battlefield. Now Ioannis had to leave his home, so he packed some clothes, jewelry, he kissed his parents and started making his way to the north of the continent. His plans were to go to Russia and stay there just after the end of the war. But life had something else planned for him...

He managed to buy a horse from Bulgaria, on which he payed most of the gold he had on him. He was traveling by night and rested on the daylight. They've got preety quick at Danube's south bank. Using sign language, he tried to convince a fisherman to help him cross the river for a silver bracelet, but the guy wanted his horse. My grandad refused to give up his horse, that cost his a small fortune, and was his only friend, so he leaved and decided to stay hidden for hew days. One night, he stole a big fisherman's boat, and crossed the Danube with Thunder (that was the name of his horse), somewhere in between Gaujani (RO) and Mechka (BG).

After they crossed the river, boarder patrol tried to catch them, but Thunder was faster than light. Ioannis thought he won't make it alive. Patrol dogs were after them, officers were firing their guns... Because it was night, my grandfather and his horse managed to hide in a village. After Thunder rested for a while, just before the sun rise, they continued their road up north. Early morning, when peasants go to their crops, they've stopped in a small willow&acacia forest, on the other sider of Tiganesti Village, Teleorman County. After some hours of sleep, Ioannis felt the need to wake up. Thunder was eating grass, birds were singing and air started heating because of the summer' Sun.