Easter in Corfu

Easter is a very big deal in Greece, so we planned to spend it in Corfu, which has a reputation as a 'smashing' Easter party town. We headed into a nice free port at Benitses, one of those abandoned EU-funded jobbies.

Benitses port

Megan enjoying the Benitses sea-side attractions

Too early in the season for the esplanade to be in action yet.

Lush flowering blossoms in Corfu

However, Benitses was too far from the action, so after a bus trip into Corfu, we were lucky enough to secure a berth at old Mandraki harbour. This is an ancient 16th century harbour built below the old Venetian fortress on the headland of Corfu town. We motored up early in the morning, and snuggled down into our new home in Corfu.

The old Venetian port in Corfu

North side of the fort

Mandraki old port

Pavlov on the dock, from the fort above

Moat at old fort

Mandraki harbour from the esplanade

Corfu is a delightful town, a mix of Venetian and Greek styling. It was quite crowded for the Easter celebrations. You might recall our description of sailing into Folegandros on Easter Sunday some two years ago. We initially thought we were being shelled as we sailed into the tiny harbour. In fact, it was just the joyous locals throwing sticks of dynamite into the water to celebrate the life of Christ. Well, Corfu has a similar tradition that involves hurling pots of high apartment windows, magically missing all the crowds below. Of course, extra points are earned if you smash the largest pot! Of course, the pots got very large for the biggest Greek competitors.

Ammo!

More Ammo!!

Every street corner

One of many launching pads

Easter crowds thronging the streets

The aftermath

Of course, a Greek celebration wouldn't be much without marching bands. Corfu boasts at least two municipal marching bands, colour-coded red and blue for convenience. It was interesting to watch how they negotiated right-of-way when the two bands were on a collision course in a narrow lane! Note that there are NO barricades, either for the pot throwing or the marching bands. Crowds just majestically part. Maybe they were trained by Moses.

Marching band of the blue persuasion

Head-on collision course

Amazingly, the crowds just magically part to allow the bands through 

The red variety

The bands are around 80 members or so, all ages.

Corfu itself was an enchanting place to explore, after you dug under the sprinkling of 'tourist crockle'.

We happily wandered the windy lanes, stopping for an occasional overpriced coffee fredo. Corfu has been owned by many other nations, so there is a large number of historical administrative building from the Venetians, British and others who called Corfu home.

Historical building

Ornate lacework on the balconies above the old town main drag.

The Linden, modern cafes in ancient buildings

A student famous for immolating himself protesting the rule of the junta.

A part of the British High Commission building

Corfu townhouse

Front view of the British High Commission

Corfu clock tower

We loved our time in Corfu. We met up with Anne and Gordon and enjoyed a fantastic roast leg of lamb Sunday lunch. We drove around the island for a day, seeing various beaches and mountain villages. We went to a Mozart Requiem mass in the municipal hall and visited a few churches. Such fun (to borrow from Miranda).

Church vestry 

Easter service, Orthodox Greek

Megan mixing at the local cafe

Traditional costumes

Mozarts Requiem mass with a large choir

Corfiot street scape

Spring blossom

So its with some regrets that tomorrow, we will say goodbye to Greece. We've loved the two years we've spent in the Greek islands and mainland. We've met some great folk and formed a lasting impression of a country coping with its financial woes in the typical Greek style -  eheh! So, we enter Albania and check into the port of Sarande. Onwards!