Corfu # 6 Vidos Island (part 1)

When I was in Corfu (it seems so long ago now) I visted Vidos Island, which is a short ferry ride from where we stayed. It is a beautiful little island that you can walk around quite easily if you have the energy. I took some lovely views but this is not what I want to share with you today. As we left the ferry, we stopped to have a drink at a small cafe and this was the floor show!
So what are these rabbits watching..........
....pheasants. It was so interesting to see that as the pheasants approached the rabbits closed in and positioned themselves in a way that looked threatening. The pheasants did not come any closer and pretended they didn't see.
Even the male decided to turn his back and walk away.
We came across this little area where a lady was feeding pheasants and turkeys, it was then that we decided maybe these and the rabbits were being bred for the table! Better not to dwell on this!


Archives:
2007: Twin Peaks at Sunset

A holiday reunion

Yesterday I met up with some of the people I was on holiday with in Corfu. We met at the home of Anna (blonde lady standing) and everyone took a Greek dish. It was a wonderful spread and we ended up with far too much food for ten people. I think those who lived locally were going back to eat up some of the leftovers for lunch today and the rest will be heading for the freezer!

There were a lot of holiday pictures to look and it was interesting to see how differently the same shot can be captured. There were also a couple of me that I would rather not have seen! They say the camera never lies well I wish it would as I don't like looking that fat even if I am.....no I'm not showing!!!!!!


Archives:
2007: Secret Ornament Exchange
2006: Coffee with Clare

Corfu Keykera # 5 Mon Repos

I know my holiday in Corfu is rather a distant memory but I still have several draft post of photos so I thought as it was a dreary day I would cheer myself up by posting a few reminders of sunnier times.
One of the places I enjoyed visiting was the birth place of Prince Philip which is now a museum.







It is very quiet peaceful walking in the grounds and you get some lovely views from the top of the house.
One of the people who organised this trip has a very special connection to Corfu. Her great-great grandfather (John Davenport Shakespear) was stationed there with the British army back in 1856. Her great grandmother was born on the island and baptized in St Georges Church on the Old Fortress, same as Prince Philip.
The family lived in a flat above Edward Lear and they became friends. Lear sold Shakespear a 'photograhic machine' in 1858 and he took many photographs of the Island. This collection of photos have now been made the centre of a permanent exhibition; and is housed in one of the rooms in Mon Repos. I feel very privileged to have been present at the preview, organised to coincide with our visit. The exhibition is a very important record of the social history of Corfu. The original photo album is now in a special glass case to ensure it is properly preserved.
We were also allowed to tour the whole house including the top floor, which is used for educational visits.
Below you see one of the pictures of an artifact excavated nearby.

You might just be able to make out all the little pottery pots in the miniature kiln.

The top room is circular and the central windows looks down on the floors below.

So should you ever visit Corfu I would recommend a visit to Mon Repos.

Archives:
2007: Witty Wednesday 27
2006: Dining a la O'Sullivan

Thursday Thoughts

Firstly this is a picture of a Butterfly that I took when I was in Corfu. It's not a terribly good picture because it wouldn't keep still for very long! I think it is a Swallowtail!


Secondly my new header is part of a panorama view I made from photos taken on a walk at Carrickgollogan when I was staying with Beccy last month.

Finally I am taking part in a Christmas Ornament swap arranged by Julie. I'm just showing that my parcel is going in the post today. No clues as to where it is going...I took the photo before adding the address!! There are about 60 bloggers taking part, and this must have taken a lot of organisation...so thanks to you Julie, I now know I will be getting at least one Christmas surprise!




Archives:
2007: Spicy Pumpkin & Corn Soup
2006: It's nice to see friends

Corfu-Kerkyra # 4 Holiday Companions

No time to write a post so I am sharing a photo of some of the people (who were not shown in yesterday's Corfu photo). This was taken just before we went out to dinner. As you can see they are a happy group and they were very good company!


Archives:
2006/7: No Archives

Details of Secret Ornament Exchange 2008

I don't know what is happening to me this is the second week that I have not joined in with Fun Monday # 87 and I am very disappointed in myself because,as I've said before, I have missed very few of these since they first began. Maybe I'll be back next week we'll see!

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In the meantime some of you may recall around this time last year Julie organised an ornament swap. It was so successful that she is organising another swap year. This is what she says:

By request, and because last year’s exchange was really fun, I am happy to announce the 2008 Secret Ornament Exchange!! Calling one and all to sign up to participate!

If you choose to participate you are agreeing to mail a NEW, STORE BOUGHT Christmas ornament to your assigned person. You can spend any amount you wish on the ornament but please send one you would proudly display on your own tree.

To sign up please send me an email (abbilyeverafterAThotmailDOTcom) with your name, site URL and standard mailing address. The deadline to enter is October 31. Please put “ornament swap” in the subject line.

By Nov. 7 I will email each participant with the name, site URL and mailing address of the person they are to mail an ornament to. I will only share your name/mailing address with the person assigned to mail to you.

All ornaments should be in the mail no later than December 1 - preferably sooner for any going to, or coming from, overseas. That way they should all arrive well before Christmas and after everyone’s trees are up!

Let’s see if we can increase the number of participants this year. Last year we had 38 swappers - hailing from 6 different countries and 12 different U.S. states. So sign up! Please feel free to post a note about this on your own blogs - all are welcome and the more the merrier!

I'm sure those who participated last year will be keen to do so again and anyone who didn't know about it might like to join in. All you need to do is let Julie know it would be lovely if we could help Julie increase the number of participants.

Another Corfu Picture

On my recent trip to Corfu there were a lot of people taking pictures of the group as we all met up for dinner one night. You will see that the camera is sitting on top of a bottle and had been pre-set. I thought as I was sitting behind the camera I was quite safe. But Mandy had managed to get a few sneaky photos of me and they arrived by email a couple of days ago. Good job I wasn't doing anything horrendous like picking my nose...oh and don't read too much into the fact there are so many empty bottles down this end of the table most of those are water; the small brown jugs held the wine!!!


Archives:
2007: Blog Day Action
Archives:
2006: No archive

Corfu- flowers # 3

I'm sharing pictures of these very pretty flowers, that I saw in Corfu, in the hope that someone will be able to tell me their name. My friend thought they were a variety of alium and they also look like a trumpet lily but I have been searching google and not found a match. I was fascinated by the way they grew, and they looked really attractive, I couldn't stop taking photos.





Archives:
2007: Jonny did it
Archives:
2006: Tyntesfield House

Corfu-Kerkyra The New Fortress # 2

Today I'm sharing photos of my visit to the New Fortress. I took so many photos it was difficult to choose which ones to share. I'm probably posting far too many as it is, so hope you don't get bored.

From research-The New Fortress, also known as the Fortress of San Marco, was built by the Venetians near the Old Harbour of Corfu town between the years 1576 and 1645, shortly after the second great Turkish siege. The Italian military engineer Ferraute Vitteli was responsible for the work.
The fortress was a strong point in the town's defense. Its structure is a complicated network of chambers and galleries. The French and later the British completed the fortifications and the buildings of the fortress.
The entrance to the Fortress is approached up a flight of back street steps. On one side there are little cafés. On the other side of the street, there are little alleyways leading to houses, many having been turned into apartments.
You can see from these two photos that these alleys are very narrow and and the outlook is not always very appealing.
The view below is overlooking where the new marina will be built.
Looking down from the fortress is a better view of the park that is in front, and to the left of the hotel, where we stayed.
The mainland of Greece seen on the horizon was slightly misty on the day I took these photos.

This is the archway leading to a higher level of the fortress, where you get good views of the sea

As you climb higher you can get a 360 degree view.
The pictures above and below are to the rear of the fort. Where you see some of the ruins of the outer walls.
Unfortunately I didn't take any decent pictures inside the buildings as the lighting was not so good.
Below you can see across the rooftops of the town buildings and in between are numerous narrow streets, many lined with small shops and restaurants.
From the top of new fortress you can look across the city and see the Old Fortress, and I'll show you more of that visit later in the week.



Archives:
2007: Pussy cat Pussy cat where have I been
Archives:
2006: I never knew that

Corfu-Kerkyra # 1

If you are here reading this you will realise that I have not joined in with Fun Monday this week. Instead I'm beginning to relive my recent holiday to Corfu.

We arrived at our Hotel in the old port area of Corfu Town after dark so it wasn't really until the next day that we had a real look at where we were staying. Corfu has a very interesting history if anyone is keen to know more about this Greek Island that had strong ties with Britain.
Below is a picture of the hotel that I took from the square opposite. We had a room overlooking the sea and part of the port where they are planning to build a new marina.
Below is the view we saw every day we opened the small balcony doors. You can see mainland Greece in the background.
Looking to the left from our window we could see the new fort (will be telling you more about this another day).
Just opposite the hotel was a little square, where you could sit and enjoy the scenery. In the background of this last picture you can see Vidos Island and I took a lot of photos when we visited the island (will show you these in another post).
So this is my way of introducing you to an island, that has some beautiful coast lines, many churches and very friendly people.

Archives:
2007: No Archive
Archives:
2006: Elder Flower Champagne