Wednesday 30 April 2008

Corfu Easter 2008 - A brief photo essay...

Well, Easter is officially over even the schools and universities haven't opened yet. Below are some photos I took from this year's Easter - which in Corfu is very popular as there are a lot of things going on and there are many tourists, mainly from other parts of Greece which decide to spend their Easter holidays in Corfu to experience the famous Corfu Easter.










Thursday 24 April 2008

Patras - Photos from my recent trip

This Monday I visited Patras with the orchestra for a concert with a local choir (we played Cherrubini's Requiem in C minor). I had a free morning to wander around the city, thus I took some photos depicting some streets and buildings of downtown Patras.

Patras Central Square (Vasileos Georgiou Sq.):

St. Andrew Cathedral - St. Andrew is the patron saint of the city:



The dome of the St. Andrew Cathedral:

The newly restored old Patras lighthouse, which now has been turned into a lovely cafe:


Agiou Nikolaou street is a pedestrianized road in which many of the city's cafeterias are located and it's very popular to youths and students.




Another central Patras square. Note the slim 10-storey apartment building and the fine looking bell tower across.


What a disgusting building! It is on Korinthou street, one of the most central throughfares of the city, it's looking definitely ghetto. Does any Patras resident know what kind of building is this?


On Agiou Nikolaou street, one can find the art deco "Ideal" cinema.


Situated across the Ionian islands, Patras has been influenced by its civilization, thus the arched buildings on Korinthou street:


An fine looking early 20th century building:

Wednesday 9 April 2008

Two interesting buildings of Old Corfu Town

Today I decided to stroll into the old Corfu Town, just to visit two notable buildings of the Venetian era: the oldest still standing house in town and the building where Nikolaos Mantzaros (the composer of the Greek National Anthem and one of the most important musicians in Greece) was born.

- 18 Filellinοn street

Historians say that this house on 18 Filellinon street (Φιλελλήνων 18) was built at 1497 and it is the oldest still standing house in Corfu town. Notice the detailed door's framework.





- Mantzaros House (Agiou Vasileiou street).

Another important house found in Agiou Vasileiou street (Αγίου Βασιλείου), is the place where Nikolaos Mantzaros was born in 1795, lived and died in 1872. A commemorative plaque above the entrance says in Greek: "In this house was born, lived and died the majestic Corfiot composer, who dedicated all his life to teach this divine art and composed the National Hymn, Nikolaos Ch. Mantzaros, born in 1795 and died in 1872". I think this building is important because Mantzaros was the founder of the so-called Eptanisiaki Scholi, which produced many notable composers who laid the foundations for the Modern Greek national music.



Monday 7 April 2008

Madonna & Justin Timberlake- 4 Minutes Video!

Tick Tock! Madonna has 4 minutes to save the world, supported by Justin and armoured by Timbo's signature beats, in an energetic and well directed video promoting the first single out of the forthcoming "Hard Candy" album of the Queen of Pop. Tick Tock...Time is Waiting!



The Lyrics:

Ha ha
Yeah
Ha ha
Breakdown come on


Madonna:
Come on boy I've been waiting for somebody to pick up my stroll

Justin:
Well don't waste time, give me a sign, tell me how you wanna roll

Madonna:
I want somebody to speed it up for me then take it down slow
There's enough room for both

Justin:
Girl I can hit it back just gotta show me where it's at
Are you ready to go? (Are you ready to go?)

Madonna and Justin:
If you want it
Ya already got it
If you thought it
It better be what you want

If you feel it
It must be real just
Say the word and
I'ma give you what you want

Madonna:
Time is waiting

Justin:
We only got four minutes to save the world

Madonna:
No hesitating
Grab a boy

Justin:
Go grab a girl

Madonna:
Time is waiting

Justin:
We only got four minutes to save the world

Madonna:
No hesitating

Justin:
We only got four minutes huh four minutes
So keep it up keep it up
Don't be a pri(hey)ma donna


Madonna:
You gotta get em a heart
Tick tock tick tock tick tock

Justin:
That's right keep it up keep it up
Don't be a prima donna
Madonna

Madonna:
You gotta get em a heart
Tick tock tick tock tick tock
Sometimes I think what I need is a you intervention
Yeah

Justin:
And I know I can tell that you like it and that it's good
By the way that you move
[4 Minutes To Save The World lyrics on http://www.metrolyrics.com]

Oh hey

Madonna:
The road to hell is paved with good intentions
Yeah

Justin:
But if I die tonight at least I can say I did what I wanted to do
Tell me how 'bout you?

Madonna and Justin:
If you want it
Ya already got it
If you thought it
It better be what you want

If you feel it
It must be real just
Say the word and
I'ma give you what you want

Madonna:
Time is waiting

Justin:
We only got four minutes to save the world

Madonna:
No hesitating
Grab a boy

Justin:
Go grab your girl

Madonna:
Time is waiting

Justin:
We only got four minutes to save the world

Madonna:
No hesitating

Justin:
We only got four minutes huh four minutes
So keep it up keep it up
Don't be a pri(hey)ma donna

Madonna:
You gotta get em a heart
Tick tock tick tock tick tock

Justin:
That's right keep it up keep it up
Don't be a pri(hey)ma donna


Madonna:
You gotta get em a heart
Tick tock tick tock tick tock

Timbaland:
Breakdown
Yeah

Madonna:
Tick tock tick tock tick tock

Timbaland:
Yeah uh

Madonna:
Tick tock tick tock tick tock

Timbaland:
I've only got four minutes to save the world