Τhe "Coffee & Books" coffee shop

    Today morning I came across an advertisement posted on a tree at the Esplanade advertising an event which will took place at a new place simply called "Coffee & Books". As the name suggest, this is a place in which someone can read a book enjoying a cup of coffee in a peaceful environment. Establishments of this kind are popular abroad. Here in Corfu, "Coffee & Books" is the first coffee shop which has a selection of greek and foreign books. 

  According to the shop's website, books can be bought. There is also the possibility of second hand book exchange, so if you have some used books you don't really need, you can bring them there and get some other second hand books in return.
  I would like to congratulate the owners who had this bright idea of establishing a coffee shop different from the others, trying to incentivate people read more and appreciate reading as a free time activity.

  - Visit their site at: http://www.coffeeandbooks.gr (on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Coffee-and-Books/188896444506037 ) or get to know the place yourself at 6 Kapodistriou street, Corfu Town (opposite the Esplanade).

Some infamous bars of Corfu Town

  Well, I wasn't sure whether I should post this or not but I believe that these places deserve to be presented to those who may wonder if there are any unsavoury hangouts in Corfu Town. These bars usually are passed unobserved by the passers-by and few people hang out in them. 

   My favourite and the oldest of all is the bar "Barita" near the jewish quarter. A sign  mounted on a building wall facing the main street is the only indication of its existence. 

  The second establishment is not a bar but a suspicious ground floor apartment near the old hospital. Some say it used to house a brothel.

  Few hundred metres away, on a bar's door named after an italian town we can read "Enterprise offering Internet services" - I doubt if it is offering only this kind of services!

  Finally, near the old psychiatric hospital a bar named "Prive" is open day and night. It is frequented by some lorry drivers who use to park their vehicles in the area.

  There should be few more places of this nature in town - there are some strip bars in the suburbs which probably will be presented in a future post.

Spiros Samaras "Flower dance" from "Flora Mirabilis"

  Yesterday the Philharmonic Society of Corfu gave a concert celebrating the 150th anniversary of Spiros Samaras birth. Samaras is one of the most important and acclaimed greek composers, mostly known for its operas. The band performed pieces of his era and style which was pretty close to that of Puccini and Leoncavallo.
  Here is a video in which the band is perfoming one of the most famous melodies composed by Samaras. It is the "Flower dance" from the "Flora Mirabilis" opera.

Bands playing marches after litany

  Here are two short videos taken from the festivies of "Protokyriako" (every first Sunday of November we celebrate one of S. Spyridon's miracles). Right after the litany's end, the Philharmonic Society of Corfu and the Philharmonic Society "Mantzaros" marched in the Liston square playing marches.

My blog is already four years old!

  Four years of continuous blogging are not a few. I started this blog on November 05 2007 following the then growing blogging trend. My scope always were to promote my island's culture, diversity and history to local and foreign people and to make them appreciate this little charming place. 

  I promise more interesting posts in the near future as Corfu's long history and variety is endless. At this point, I would like to thank my followers for their support and interest. You are the best!

A new Kapodistriou street sign

   I noticed yesterday a new sign placed behind Liston buildings on which is written in greek and french the name of the street (J. A. Capodistria street) and the following explanatory text: "1st governor of Greece 1776-1831".

   But why in french and not in english or even in russian? It makes more sense if written in english or russian because , in our days it is the most popular language on earth and Kapodistrias himself was a diplomat in the service of Russia. A possible explanation could be the fact that Liston buildings were built by the french during early 19th century - at that time Kapodistrias lived and workerd in Switzerland as a russian diplomat. 

   Anyway or another, this is another good initiative which helps the locals and our (french speaking) visitors to learn more things about our history.