Paleokastritsa under the February sun

The weather is getting better day by day in our beautiful island. Nature has already started to blossom, temperature is on the rise and sun comes out more often than he used to some days before. So, I grabbed the chance to take some photographs in Paleokastritsa, a place so famous about its natural beauty and a classic destination for Corfiots who want to have their walk.










Suddenly, some grey clouds appeared in the sky and soon after the blue sky turned into a more winterly one. Corfu's sky can change mood so rapidly I guess!

Wind Bands playing at the Santa Theodora litany (21/02/2010)

The Feast is kept in memory of the final defeat of Iconoclasm and the restoration of the icons to the churches. The corpse of Santa Theodora is kept in the Mitropolis church and thus, as she was the leader of the protest against Iconoclasm, Corfiots organize this procession in order to commemorate that important event.

In the litany, as always, take part the major wind bands of the island. Below are some short videos taken by a friend:

Filarmonic Society "Mantzaros" (Est. 1890):

Filarmonic Society "Omonoia" (Gastouri) (Est. 1898)

Filarmonic Society "Kapodistrias" (Est. 1980)

All the videos above had been uploaded by the user kantonis1990 .

Corfu in detail 3: A "bay-window" in Kampielo

I always loved those bay windows which are so dominant in Victorian architecture. They are also prominent in some old buildings in Constantinoupolis or in some Macedonian and Ipirotic towns (Old building in Veroia, Macedonia). In fact, bay-windowed buildings are hard to find in Corfu, mainly because they are not a part of venetian architecture nor the Neoclassical one. The latter was the prominent architectural style in Greece during the 19th - early 20th centuries.

So, by luck, I encountered this building in Kampielo, the oldest part of Corfu Town. It bears only one bay window, a detail which makes this edifice distinctive from its neighbours.

Corfu Soundtrack by corfuland.gr

A really interesting video by Corfuland. Beaches, landscapes, sunsets and scenes from Corfu town in fast forward. Some of the places included in this video: Old Fortress, Liston, Corfu old town, Vlacherena church. Please watch and rate.

Snow in mount Pantokrator!

Most people say that it never snows in Corfu...Well, that's not true! It actually snows almost every year up in the tallest mountain of our island, Mount Pantokrator (910m tall). Usually the snow is not that thick to block a road but it's adequate for making your own snowman!

Below is a video I just found in Youtube, uploaded by the user Corfiot30, shot just yesterday:

Handel "Water Music" by English Concerto on the river Thames

This 19-minute long video is taken from a BBC documentary about the ambitious attempt of a team of historical experts to revive the 1717 premiere of Handel’s Water Music on the Thames. The result is the second-ever performance on the river, filmed in costume on a regal-style period barge against the backdrop of the present-day Thames from Whitehall to Chelsea. Includes performances by The English Concert of favourite movements from the F major and D major Suites.

Route followed: Westminster bridge upriver Thames to Chelsea bridge, London

NOTE: IF YOU LIKED THIS, I SUGGEST YOU BUYING THE WHOLE DVD AVAILABE FROM AMAZON.CO.UK. IT HAS THE WHOLE DOCUMENTARY, NARRATED BY THE FAMOUS LONDON BIOGRAPHER PETER ACKROYD

Amazon.co.uk link: www.amazon.co.uk/Handel-Water-Music-DVD/dp/B000BA8ED4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1265808584&sr=8-1

Copyright: BBC, 2003

Handel "Water Music" by English Concerto on the river Thames
από johnt_gr

Corfu in detail 2: Carved angels on a neoclassical building

Last Tuesday, I posted some photos of some carved faces on a building in Alexandras avenue. The next edifice I discovered that features such details is a neoclassical building in Mantzarou street, opposite the Perfecture offices. It really stands out among the neighbouring ungly apartment blocks and it's the home of some doctor and lawyer offices.

A latticework above the central door bears the date 1903, which I suspect is the year that the building was built. Also, right under the date, the acronym "AA" could be seen. Does anyone of you know what it stands out for?

The small angel faces with wings could only be seen right under the windows of the first floor. Unfortunately, the first one from the left is gone.

Generally speaking, the building is not in a bad condition but a facelift could have been done. It is about time some important old buildings be listed in order to preserve them from dilapidation?

Enjoying the view from Anemomylos, one cold but sunny February day...

Today, hopefully, was another sunny but a bit cold day in our beloved island. The northern wind of the last few days, resulted in a clear atmosphere, which is perfect for taking quality photographs. Anemomylos is a good point where someneone can have unobstructed views towards the old fortress, the city and the mountains in mainland Greece and Albania.

General views of the Old Fortress



The snowcapped mountains of the mainland


Esplanade, Saint Spyridon campanile and Kapodistriou street buildings (including the Ionian Academy and Cavallieri Hotel buildings), as seen from Anemomylos.


Almost same zoomed view, but now you can notice the southern side of the Liston buildings. Notice Mount Pantokrator with its clouded top!


Focusing on the spot where Alexandras avenue meets the bay (Douglas column). Two communication antenna towers could be seen, the big O.T.E. one and the smaller on the top of Avrami hill.


A sparrow enjoying the view, as I did!


The western of the two hills of the Old Fortress with its distictive cross and lighthouse on the top.


Zoomed view towards the Esplanade again.


The 'Corfu Palace Hotel' dominates the view towards the northern end of Garitsa bay.

Corfu in detail: Carved faces above a window

Alexandras Avenue was the first and unique boulevard-like avenue in Corfu town. It was an offspring of the British occupation, a part of the first planned suburb, Neopoli (the area is bordered by what is now called Rizospaston Voulefton, Marasli, Dimokratias and Vraila streets), an area characterized by straight avenues and streets.

This area attracted the upper classes, as it was then away from the hustle and bustle of the old walled town and its gardens and trees provided clean air. A number of grand houses erected, some of them still survive (I'm intenting to cover them in the future). One of them is the apartment building below.

What makes that building unique are those beautiful carved faces above the windows of the first floor. It seems that buildings like that, so carefully and tastefully designed, are not built anymore.

Have you ever noticed that detail yourself? Which mythical icons do they represent?