Now Playing: Animals

 

Now it's the best season to visit Kerkyra.

From the early morning you can hear birds singing.  I always enjoy listening to them and doing some bird watching at times! 

Those who are nature lovers will like a walk in the avenue in the town where they can see several kinds of birds in the trees. The swallows build their nests on the roof tiles of every house and at night you can still hear them chirp as they are perched on their nests.  The pigeons are perched on the balconies and on the branches of the trees but they approach people at times to get some food.

You can also find cats and kitten in the streets, as no one cares about them.  Well, to tell you the truth, some old ladies feed them at night, but cats increase in number so fast that they are almost everywhere.  It's not a bad idea to adopt one or more if you can. Maybe , one day, there will be a stray animal society to take care of them.

 

 

Now Playing: Sports in town

Cricket is an English game that Corfiots have played since the time the English occupied the island.  It is very popular and a lot of young children join in every year to learn the game and participate in the competitions.

It takes place in the lower square of Corfu, on the lawn.

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.