Now Playing: The square

 

The square of Corfu is one of the biggest in Europe.  It has got two parts, the upper part and the lower part .

The upper part has got a music stand for the band performances, while the lower part has got the cricket court and the Liston area with the cafes.  Both parts are valuable for the town people as this is the only place in the town they can relax and walk around.  It is a also the kids' favourite place for games and chat.

The square has got benches for the people to rest as well as public toilets.

Now Playing: Here comes May!

May the 1st in Corfu

 

We usually get a lot of sunshine but today it's been rainy and overcast.

However, the colours of nature are brilliant after the rain, and there is a smell of freshness in the atmosphere. The storm is moving to the mainland of Greece, so tomorrow will be a glorious day!

Now Playing: Back to Corfu...

Easter holidays are over.  Today schools opened and the visitors that came to celebrate Easter on the island are gone. But not for long.  The touristic season has began and many hotels are already open.  Cruisers stop by the port daily and groups of visitors flood the streets for a couple of hours, especially at noon.Direct flights from UK and other countries have started and bring tourists to the island.  April is a good month to drive around, as the place is not yet crowded.  May is also a good season for holidays- it is not too hot. As the climate has changed due to the greenhouse effect, you can experience sudden storms one day, and a bright sunshine the next.  However, no storm lasts for too long here, so you shouldn't worry about that. Easter was sunny and warm and the people enjoyed the countryside.

 On Good Friday the weather was good enough for the mini processions (from all the churches in Corfu town) to take place and the last one from Metropolis was wonderful.  On Good Saturday the residents smashed clay pots as the tradition dictates.  This custom dates back to the Venetians who used to throw all the useless items out of their windows onto the streets on New Year's Day. The Corfiots use this custom at Easter which is a big celebration in Greece.  They have replaced the old household items with clay pots, and they even fill them with water so as to make a louder noise!

Now Playing: 1st of April in Corfu

On Sunday, 1st of April, the procession of the relics of Saint Spryridon took place in Corfu town. 

The inhabitants celebrated the miracle Saint Spyridon did in 1630, when he sent away the plague, a deadly disease that killed numbers of people at that time.  It is said that as the plague was leaving Corfu, it scratched with its nails a huge cross on the rock of the old castle.  This cross can be seen from a distance, at the outer part of the rock when one is in a boat.

There was a crowd of people in the town attending the celebration, and the bands of the island were remarkable.

 

Now Playing: Buildings

 

On the right side of Alexandras avenue there is this building(see picture below).

It is very old and was built very long ago, before the modern blocks of flats started appearing on the island.

Now Playing: Alexandras Avenue

 

Here you can see a modern building that follows the traditional architecture.

Now Playing: Alexandras Ave

 

Alexandras Avenue is the central road to and from the town center.

Old trees spread their thick foliage on both sides, offering ample shadow on sunny days and protecting birds and people from the summer heat.

Now Playing: March schedule

 

If you are now in Corfu, you can visit the painting exhibition of Spiros Fronimos  at the local theatre in town. 

It will be open till the 5th April.

 

On the 31st March a concert of the local band will take place in the theatre. 

The conductor is Mr Dimitris Kafiris.  Free entrance.

 

Now Playing: Chamomile-how to use it

Sore throat and colds

 

In a cup of chamomile tea add a teaspoonful of honey and some lemon juice.  Sip at intervals. This remedy provides you with ample vitamin C and rare honey properties that boost your immune system.

 

Stomach upsets

 

Prepare a cup of chamomile tea and add some lemon juice. Drink slightly warm or cold.  For best results, drink it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

 

Insomnia

 

A cup of chamomile tea before bedtime is highly relaxing.

 

For external use:

 

Stiff neck

 

In a pan, simmer some dried chamomile leaves in pure olive oil for a few seconds.  When still warm (not hot), apply mixture to affected area. Leave as long as possible and repeat 2-3 times daily.

 

Ear ache

 

Prepare as above and apply some chamomile mix (on some cotton wool) to the back of the ear.

 

Aching joints

 

Apply mixture prepared as above on joints and leave for as long as possible.  Repeat several times (use a bandage to hold cotton wool on affected area).

 

Mouth ulcers

 

Prepare chamomile tea and use it for gargling or as a mouth wash after meals and especially before bedtime.  However, if mouth ulcers persist visit a doctor.

 

Skin problems

 

Women’s rash

 

Use cold chamomile tea to clean the affected areas. It can be used many times a day as it is soothing and healing.

 

Pimples

 

Cold chamomile tea is soothing and helps restoring the skin’s texture.

 

 

Bibliography

 

Ody,P. (1997) ‘100 Great Natural Remedies:  using healing plants at home’ London, UK,Kyle Cathie Limited.

 

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Related Sites

 

www.Englishteastore.com/camimile.html

 

http://greekfood.about.com

 

Now Playing: Herbs-chamomile

Chamomile is a beautiful small flower that grows on Pantokrator Mount, as well as in fields and gardens.  I remember my mum picked the flowers up from our garden ,dried them in the sun and used them to make chamomile tea.

It is good for colds, stomach upsets, indigestion, skin irritation and lots of other treatments.  The best chamomile is the natural one, but you must know where to find it and make sure this place isnot polluted.  On the mount it is clean and fresh but not easy to get it! 

Where to get chamomile:

In big supermarkets you can find chamomile bags or dried flowers.  You can make chamomile tea the same way you make common tea.