Last Sunday's celebration

The procession of Saint Spyridon, the protector of Corfu, took place last Sunday morning in the town of Corfu.

Corfiots celebrated the miracle of the Saint that happened in 1673, when a plague epidemic hit the island. Then, Saint Spyridon sent the plague away and the Corfiots were saved.

An old local tale says that as the plague was leaving the island, she scratched with her nails the rock behind the old castle of the town. The signs are still visible to those who sail around the castle. You see, the plague was thought of as a monster who had iron nails and huge strength.

The procession was, as always, great and colorful. It was a sunny Sunday, as most days on this island are, and there was a crowd of people attending the ceremony.

Out of the town there are a lot of interesting places to see, and one of them is Mount Pantokrator, the highest mountain on the island. It is 918 meters high and has a small monastery on the top of it. There is a wonderful view to all directions from up there. On the way to Pantokrator the road is winding and narrow but lies between endless olive groves which are the green beauty of the scenery. On the mountain there are a lot of villages easy to reach by car, motor bike, bicycle or on foot. Walkers usually follow the route: Ipsos beach, Ayios Markos, Korakiana, Dassia and back to Ipsos from a different road. Mount Pantokrator is for those who love the countryside and its tradition. Visitors can admire the breathtaking view of the green olive groves and the sea, as well as the magic sunset and dawn. Ideal for relaxing and enjoying natural living in a friendly atmosphere. Climbing the mount is easy, as there are roads and paths right to the top and a drive by bike, motor bike or car is feasible. There are numerous villages scattered among the green on the way up and there are vast olive groves in every direction. The scenery is adorned by an abundance of tree variety as well. You can see tall cypress trees, pine trees, oaks and orchards and vineyards in between. There you can feel the smell of wild herbs and flowers lingering in the air. A big village on the side of the mountain is Korakiana, Crow Nest in English. There used to be lots of crows in this village years ago, but nowadays there is a big variety of singing birds around, offering the people a unique melody all the year round. Korakiana is the perfect village to rent a house or a room or even stay there for good. Some foreign visitors have recently bought real estate at low prices and have built their own houses on the mount. It is worth the money and time spent on a housing project over there if one likes nature and especially the green.