Amphitheatre Project Underway

After years of planning, an ambitious privately-funded project to construct an amphitheatre is underway at a disused stone quarry just outside Pelekas.

The work will take four years and will result in a unique entertainment venue for up to 10,000 people.

It is expected to attract performances from top Greek and international artists and will encompass all types of music, drama and dance. We will keep you updated as the project progresses.

Good Friday

Good Friday (or Great Friday as it's known here) is a day of mourning. The icon of Christ is taken off the cross, wrapped in linen and placed in the Epitafios, which symbolizes the tomb of Christ. Late at night the Epitafios is carried around Pelekas in a solemn procession which symbolizes the burial of Christ.

Flowers of Corfu

A new website has been set up to record the extraordinary abundance of flowers on the island of Corfu. During an eight-day walk along the length of the Corfu Trail 150 different flowers were photographed by local author John Waller. The resulting images were taken in a variety of locations, ranging from coastal sand dunes in the south to mountain ridges in the north. The same flowers can be found in abundance across the island and are mainly in bloom from March to early June, and again in September and October.

Pelekas Team Ends Season on a High

Congratulations to local team Megas Alexandros (Alexander the Great) on winning their league and being promoted to Corfu's 'A' Division. The team is owned by Nondas Kritikos, coached by Costas Tsoni and sponsored by Aquis Hotels.

Easter Monday

If you look closely at the hill which sits above the neighbouring village of Vatos, you can just make out a small white church at the summit. This church, dedicated to St. George, is the destination for much of Pelekas on Easter Monday. Departing at first light, the icons from the church in Pelekas are carried up the mountain where a service is held, followed by food and drink, before returning via a circuitous route via the outlying areas of the parish.

In the evening there is a rather low-key festival in the main square with traditional music and dance,

Agiotfest 2010

Agiotfest is held each summer in the village of Agios Ioannis. This year's entertainment takes place over two days - Friday 27 and Saturday 28 August. Topping the bill on Saturday will be the legendary Joe Brown and his band. Joe was one of the UK's original rock & roll stars who topped the charts and had The Beatles open shows for him.

On Friday the headline attraction will be One Drop Forward, considered to be one of the best reggae bands in Greece. At this early stage, support acts already include folk/rock band 4Square, jazz singer Laura Zakian and local band Omega 5 (back due to popular demand following their AgiotFest 09 performance). It is also expected that several local Greek bands will participate.

Tickets are available online via Paypal and remain at 20 euros per night or 35 euros for both nights. Ample food and refreshment will be served at sensible prices. CDs and memorabilia will be on sale, and there will be raffles and much more going on in parallel with the performances.

Cookery Corner

This section gives you the opportunity to re-create some of your favourite Corfiot recipes at home. This time, Ginger Beer, a refreshing summer drink that was first introduced to Corfu and the other Ionian islands during the time of the British Protectorate in the nineteenth century and is still made today using the same recipe.

Ingredients

1 cup of sugar. 2 heaped tablespoons of powdered ginger. The juice of a lemon. A quarter of a teaspoon of dried yeast. Tepid bottled water.

Instructions

Put the sugar and yeast in a plastic bottle. (A plastic bottle is important as the pressure of the fermentation may cause a glass bottle to explode!) Shake the bottle well to mix the ingredients. Then blend the ginger with the lemon juice and put it into the bottle. Shake again until the sugar melts. Add tepid water until the bottle is three-quarters full. Loosely put the cap on the bottle, then squeeze the air out. This deforms the bottle and provides a visual indicator that the fermentation is still working. Tighten up the cap and put the bottle somewhere warm for a few hours. When the bottle is rigid again the liquid is suitably carbonated. Put the bottle in the fridge for a few hours to chill, then drink!

Archive

Editorial

It would be impossible to send out this newsletter without commenting on Greece's well-publicised economic woes.

Like many countries, the Greek government relies on borrowed money to balance its books. The recession has made this harder to achieve, because tax revenues are falling just as welfare payments start to rise. It doesn't help that, in Greece, tax evasion is commonplace and pension rights are unusually generous.

Investors have lost confidence in Greece and have been demanding ever higher rates of interest to compensate for the risk that they might not get their money back and Greece has had to turn to the European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for loans totalling 120 billion euros.

In order to borrow this money the government has had to introduce austerity measures aimed at cutting its budget deficit. These measures are naturally unpopular, not least with public workers who were looking forward to retiring on a full pension at 53 and civil servants who received 14 monthly salaries per year! It is commonly perceived that those at the bottom will be paying for the mis-management of those at the top.

There have inevitably been price rises but most bars and restaurants have not put up their prices, preferring to keep their customers and absorb the lower profit margin. Certainly in Pelekas, rooms appear to be the same price as last year with a few bargains to be found at the lower end.

Greece - like other countries - is facing a difficult and uncertain few years. But at least the sun's still shining!

Pelekas.com Branches Out

There are now a couple more ways to stay in touch with Pelekas.

Pelekas.com has a Facebook page with regular updates of its news, photos and videos. You are welcome to join us and become a fan.

And a new website, Pelekas.net, is now online and hosts full versions of all the video clips on Pelekas.com.

Giant Moth

The Giant Peacock Moth (Saturnia Pyri) is the largest known moth in Europe. This one was spotted on a lavender bush in Pelekas in late April.

Which Way?

Just in case anyone has forgotten where Pelekas is, the local authorities have erected a small, unobtrusive sign at the crossroads below the village.

A.O. Kerkyra Promoted

Corfu's top football team continues to bounce between the top two divisions having once again been promoted to Greece's Super League. Let's hope this time they can stay up for more than one season.

Costume Museum

Located just outside Pelekas is a wonderful private collection of costumes dating back to the 19th century. Originating from both Corfu and the rest of Greece, the collection has been amassed over many years by the museum's curator and is housed in her family home. It is a fascinating portrayal of the many different styles of costume worn in mainland Greece and its islands and provides a unique opportunity to appreciate the work and artistry that went into their manufacture. As well as costumes, there is a small section dedicated to Corfu's musical heritage.

The museum is open each day from 10.00 to 14.00 (other hours by appointment) and entrance costs two euros.

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