The Insider Guide to Mykonos Holidays
Author: sarahm“Take Picasso, Brancusi and Gaudi, knock their heads together, and you might get something like Mykonos by evening light. However many tourists come with their chatter and their litter, little Mykonos will not let the stranger down.” The Greek Islands, Lawrence Durrell
Mykonos is the most cosmopolitan of Greek islands and attracts a variety of different holiday makers, from those looking for a quiet beach holiday to those looking for culture, to those looking for some nice bars and restaurants.
Having travelled to Mykonos twice last summer, with wholly different parties, my parents and my best friends, I have put together my recommendations for a perfect trip to Mykonos.
In May with the family in tow, that is myself (early 20s), and my mum and dad in their early 40s. We were booked into a suite at the stylish Harmony Hotel, a boutique style with minimalist design, a 5 minute walk from the town centre. The hotel has a magnificent swimming pool with a view over the harbour, where a plethora of cruise ships are berthed. Once my father had dragged mum and me from the poolside bar, we started our exploration of Mykonos Town. Mykonos Town is one of the most beautiful of all the Cycladic towns, a postcard image, with endless little backstreets, home to immaculately whitewashed houses, little churches and individual boutiques selling everything from jewellery to pottery windmills. Half the fun of Mykonos town is getting lost in the labyrinth of streets but a few cultural highlights are the Archaelogical Museum, the Maritime Museum, and the Paraportiani, Mykonos’s oldest church.
The harbourside beach is also home to Mykonos’ most well-known resident, Petros the Pelican, a friendly chap who spends his days being photographed, petted and fed by tourists. It is impossible to not feel pity for him when the cruise ships come in and a group of fifty Americans chase him up and down the beach for photos. Cruise ships arrive once or twice a week, a few hundred passengers pour into the town but are gone as quickly as they arrive. The best response is retreat, either to a cafe or the tranquillity of your hotel.
No doubt, the best area of Mykonos is Little Venice, with its stunning Venetian house with balconies jutting over the sea, many of which are now converted into bars and stylish discos, where you can enjoy a drink whilst the seas crashes onto the building underneath. From here, you can enjoy a view of the Mykonos windmills, the must-have photo. Next to the windmills is Mykonos’ most praised restaurant the ‘Sea Satin’. Dining here is a special experience with its ideal location and something I would not hesitate for everyone to do ones. However, it is expensive in what is already an expensive holiday destination. The restaurant’s speciality is fish and with its enviable location, one could be led into thinking it would be freshly caught by fishermen on Mykonos that day, but the reality is that it is most probably frozen due to the depleted fish stocks in nearby seas. Steer clear of the fish and enjoy one of the delicious, typically Greek meat dishes. Wine is served with flowers floating in the ice buckets - beautiful!
A 10 minute boat ride away is the island of Delos. Boats are advertised as departing every 30mins all morning but the reality is that usually only one or two boats go and it is worth booking in advance at a ferry booking kiosk. The excursions allow 3 hours on the island. Delos was a sacred island to the Ancient Greeks as the central island in the Cyclades. Now it is a large open area Archaelogical Museum, famous for its statues of lions. Another island, which can be visited on a day trip from Mykonos is Tinos, one of the most Greek of the Greek islands and renown for the shrine at the church of Panayia Evanelistria.
In late July, I returned to the island with my best friend and this time stayed at Despotiko Hotel, closer to the centre of town and cooler, more quirky but a little less luxurious. The pool area is fabulous, an oasis within the town surrounded by citrus trees.
As soon as we arrived, we were off into town to try out the local bars and restaurants. On a much tighter budget than when travelling with my parents we had equally fantastic time. There are numerous more reasonably priced restaurants serving delicious Greek specialities. Just a stone’s throw from the expensive Sea Satin we dined under the stars, admiring the same view for a third of the price. Another definite must try is Blue Ginger, a Thai restaurant set in bougainvillea filled gardens in the centre of the town, with a great view of the sunset from its balcony. After, which we made the most of Mykonos’ spectacular open air cinema.
A little more adventures than my parents and a lot more beach enthusiast than my dad, my friend decided the best way to make the most of Mykonos was to hire a car. We found that most of the roads on Mykonos were very quiet apart from around Mykonos Town. There are 14 gorgeous sandy beaches on the island; some of the most famous (well served by a cheap local bus service) are Paradise beach, Platis Yialos, Ornos, Psarou and Agios Ioannis. Paradise beach is probably best avoided, especially in peak season as it is completely full of young Americans (but at least this is where they all stay) and it is the main spot for late night clubbing – the bars and clubs of Mykonos town being much more sophisticated. Platis Yialos is a fabulous spot, so much so that we decided to stay a night at Acrogiali hotel, right on the sea front. The hotel boasts a terrific restaurant, serving up delicious salads and locally produced wine and has many comfortable sun loungers along the beach in front of it. The beach is completely covered in sun loungers and coconut parasols, a sight in itself. Psarou is another very popular beach and the place to go for some celebrity spotting.
It cannot be denied that in July (but not May), we were surrounded by tourists from all over the world but it is clear why they come here. Mykonos is a fabulous island to visit, a dream of a Greek island, almost a ”chocolate box” version of a Greek island with its windmills, golden sandy beaches, beautiful hotels, stunning views and sugar cube houses.
Sarah "looks the part" in Mykonos
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A 24 hour guide to the best of Athens
Author: sunisleWe arrive into Athens airport mid-morning and we are both extremely excited as our island hopping trip has finally started. With Athens airport being the busiest and most important air-hub in South-eastern Europe we were soon amongst the rest of the tourist hustle and bustle.
Our first stop is the Arion Hotel which is located in the heart of the city and is just a couple of metro stops from the airport. Thanks to the Athens games the metro was extended and now boasts a 158km network with 57 stations. Return tickets from the airport cost around 10 Euros each so it’s quick, easy and cheap. We took the metro to Monastiraki and from there it was a short 10 minute walk to find our hotel. It was easy to find this well priced hotel in central Athens and I personally recommend this to save on taxi fares because everything can be reached on foot.
Once we’d dumped our surprisingly compact luggage, we went straight up to the roof terrace to get our first glimpse of this magical city. The Acropolis was placed in its commanding position overlooking the city like a guardian. It was beautiful. We both had a compelling urge to see it up close and decided that this was the first thing we would do. You can take a guided tour but we chose to walk up from the Plaka, there are other ways but this in my view is the most enjoyable as the streets are car-less. Built to honour Athena, the patron goddess of the city of Athens the best known building on the Acropolis is the Parthenon. The Acropolis was constructed in Ancient Athens in 5th century BC; however there has been a massive restoration programme which started in 1975 and continues to this day. The highlight for me was the state-of-the-art Acropolis Museum located near to the monument of Acropolis and houses all the Parthenon and Acropolis sculptures, together again, as one, complete exhibit.
After our tour we decided to go back to the hotel and have a bit of siesta…well when in Rome! It was around 6pm before we decided to venture out again and get a feel for Athens in the evening.
We found that you can walk endlessly around the various squares and get a little lost so to help one in particular is worth a visit and none other is more famous than Syntagma Square. Known for its political roots, pep rallies and in more recent time’s concerts, the Syntagma Square is grand and set the scene for the rest of our exploration. Next we decided to grab a bite to eat and headed to the historic area of Plaka. Located under the Acropolis, Plaka is the one of oldest and the prettiest neighbourhoods in Athens. It benefits from car-free streets so it’s full of restaurants and shops and even if most are aimed at the tourists this doesn’t dilute its appeal. I recommend visiting The Hani restaurant on Adrianou street, it has great food, is loved by travellers and locals and is a great place to people watch – one of my favourite past times!
After a spot of dinner we decided to do some shopping and we were spoilt for choice. There were tourist stalls selling everything from jewellery and shoes to coral and antiques. A lot of it is rubbish but I enjoyed walking the bustling narrow streets, I did find some great souvenirs though and bought some postcards to make my friends jealous. As the nightlife in Athens has previously been compared to that of New York we decided to visit Psirri; we’d been told that this is where all the hottest bars and clubs were. In my view Psirri mixes authentic Greek with international culture so thanks to these influences there are lots of different types of bars and clubs on offer. There was a definite energetic atmosphere to our evening and after drinking ouzo in a few of the bars we then headed to The Bulgari Red Club. Definitely a night to remember!
What’s new for SunIsle Holidays in 2010?
Author: nickfdMany people assume that once the frenetic activities of the summer have died down, the SunIsle team can just put up their feet and relax until January, but that is very, very wrong. We have the Christmas party to arrange, for one thing. And the decorations. And also, our managers remind us, we have to refresh our portfolio for 2010 and improve on the services that we offer. This is certainly true, although we feel that we can do these thing better only after the tinsel and fairy lights have gone up. Anyway, here’s a quick round up of some of the changes …
Paxos. Having sold out of availability in the popular 3 bedroom villas (Maritsa, Kastanida and Lioniskari) last year, we’ve added Villa Christina in Gaios, just 600m from the beach and enjoying it’s own private pool.
Zante. Added Villa Rizolia in Agios Stosis to supplement the Beach Villa, which sold out quickly last year. Sleeping up to 6 in 2 double rooms and a twin, this is an ideal property for a family holiday. We have also added Loukas Apartments and Studios, and expect them to be popular as they were described by our Island Manager as the “nicest apartments” she has ever seen (she is a lady of very high standards).
Corfu. We have added a number of new villas and apartments in the popular resorts of Avlaki and Kassiopi, many of which are on the beachfront. Of particular note are the Cochelli Apartments in Avlaki, which are a replacement for Lemon Tree Apartments which the owners are not planning to open for 2010, Marika Apartments, on the beachfront in Kassiopi and Villa Fedra, also in Kassiopi. We have retained our emphasis on Kalami and Agios Stephanos in the upmarket NE of Corfu, as we believe that these properties represent excellent value and are away from the noiser, busier resorts.
Kefalonia. Added some new villas and apartments, including a couple of private villas for 2 guests, which are very hard to find (Retreat Beach Villa and Villa Enyo). In particular, we have a new portfolio in popular Fiskardo (already selling well) and some new properties in Skala, where Skala Beach Villas sold out quickly last year.
Crete. We have a brand new programme on Crete of villas for all budgets, along with retaining the most popular apartments and cottages from the 2009 programme. The new properties are upmarket and well-finished (for example, they all contain DVD players) and are closer to the airports to reduce the transfer times.
Milos. Introduced towards the end of the 2009 season, we now have a full programme of villas, apartments, hotels and a windmill on Milos. This beautiful island is reached via ferry from Athens, opening up the possibility of using the low cost carriers to Athens and even combining with a city break in Athens. The island is small and fairly quiet but with plenty to do, including (famously) over loads of fantastic beaches and great walking routes.
Santorini. Revamped portfolio with 8 new properties. We realised that Santorini was a very expensive island and that most holiday companies offer the same (expensive) boutique hotels in the built-up areas. Our clients were telling us that they wanted the views and the classic architecture … but not the prices. So, we found some properties that are 5-10 minutes walk from the main hubs, half the price and all the better for their locations as they avoid the crowds and noise.
Mykonos. A similar process to Santorini is underway for a relaunch of the Mykonos portfolio at the end of December 2009. We anticipate good demand as Thomson have announced new direct flights to Mykonos for summer 2010.
Ask An Expert. We have introduced the Ask An Expert service to share our inhouse knowledge of the Greek Islands and encourage the questions that our clients want answered but are sometimes too shy to ask. Many times we have found that being able to quote the ferry timetable between certain islands, or recommend where to hire a boat, or talk about our favourite coastal walks etc has been the difference between a client feeling reassured and not.
Printed Brochure. For the first time, SunIsle will be producing a limited number of printed brochures, showcasing some of the best holiday options and providing inspiration for a Greek Island holiday. We will be launching the brochures in January 2010.
Where to eat on holiday in Fiskardo, Kefalonia
Author: sharongAs a general rule in Kefalonia, and holidays in Greece in general, the harbourfront restaurants tend to be a little more expensive and popular than the ones set back a couple of streets. There are a range of options catering for different tastes and different budgets and it’s a matter of having a little local knowledge in order to find the place that is best for you.
Tassia One of the largest and priciest of the harbourside tavernas. There is a huge range of fish from which you can select and most is sold by weight – our tip is to clarify exactly how much something is likely to cost before is os taken to be freshly prepared.
Alexis A more reasonably priced cafe set in a small square back from the front, it tends to serve more meat, pizzas and pastas than local specialities. It also has a sister bar next door which is worth a visit.
Apagio Expensive quayside taverna that has items that you wouldn’t really expect on a Greek menu – such as curry!
Lagonderia Our recommendation for home-style, authentic Greek, good value food. Friendly service and reasonable prices. Located just south of the main village square.
Fiskardo has just one disco/club for those inclined to enjoy late night dancing, Kastro Club, and the locals have seen the sense to locate it a sensible distance away from the main resort, on the main road, so that it cannot be heard from the village. For holidays in Kefalonia, there are numerous villa, apartment and hotel options and specialists like SunIsle are able to provide expert knowledge about accommodation and things to do in Fiscardo and the surrounding areas.
SunIsle acting with social responsibility
Author: sunisleSunIsle Holidays are a corporate friend of the Temwa charity which aims to sustainably improve the lives of those living in Malawi. We are asking all of our clients, friends and colleagues to please help us and support the ‘Protecting the Next Generation’ film project. 5-12 year olds are seen as the ‘window of hope’ in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Malawi.
Educating and empowering this generation to protect themselves against the virus will inevitably lead to a fundamental reduction in prevalence of the disease.
Funds raised for the project through the ‘Big Give’ channel are boosted by 25%, so if you are able to support us in this great cause, please do so here …This is a worthwhile cause with sustainable long-term benefits, and you really will be helping to save lives.
SunIsle Holidays - Supporting Temwa
How To Hire A Car
Author: JohnMcWhen you go on a greek island holiday, a hire car often gives you the freedom and convenience to explore the local area and experience just a little more of the country that you’re visiting. For that reason, most of our customers decide that a hire car is an essential part of the holiday. But how to choose a car to ensure that you gain – not lose – holiday enjoyment?
We recently had a client who booked to go to Corfu and decided that they wanted to hire a car. We quoted our rates and they also did an internet search of hire car companies, both the direct ones and the “middle men” type. Eventually, they found the cheapest option and booked their own car. As a company, SunIsle encourages transparency and choice in all services, so customers are free to choose their own car, their own flights, their own extras etc if that is their desire.
Towards the beginning of the holiday, their car broke down so they called the company’s help line (that then had to be relayed to the actual car company) to ask for their assistance. It turned out that the clutch had gone and the company agent told them they had to pay 400 euros on the spot (at the road side) before they would assist them.
Following intervention from our representative, who politely advised and offered assistance. She also overlooked that by not booking through us, we couldn’t guarantee the service and support received by their chosen company and helped in any way she could. After some negotiation by SunIsle, the car was eventually fixed for 200 Euros and the clients were given a new car. Understandably, they were quite upset about the whole episode and, at one point, wanted to call the police.
It appears that most of the “cheaper” car hire websites use third party companies and all of the car hire comparison sites work in this way – providing a “layer” between the client and the company responsible for sorting out any problems. Clients may be getting a better deal price wise, but as in the experience of this client, it is a big price to pay for appalling service.
SunIsle have one a huge advantage in car hire and that is our local contacts. Not only do we use local companies, who are more competitive than the larger firms, we have a proven record of reliability and excellent service and support. Clients are met at the airport and the car is waiting for them outside, having been checked over by our representative. No need to queue at the car hire desk, no fishing around for paperwork – everything is designed to get you smoothly from flight to property and give a proper start to the holiday.
Another client was quoted prices on Zante and thought our car hire was too expensive. They booked online with a company offering cars at £17.50 per day. However, when they arrived at the airport they found that their car hire company not there, realised they had no contact number and no way to get in touch. Throughout the summer, we have a (thankfully, small) number of these incidents and (thankfully) our representatives are able to resolve the problems with a minimum of upset.
Which brings us to the final point. Our car hire is not neccessarily the cheapest option on the islands (although usually is). However, you are getting at least two important bonuses when booking with us. Firstly, if you are our client, we will provide you with the cheapest RELIABLE car that we can find, guaranteed because we put a lot of business they way of local suppliers. Secondly, if you encounter a problem, we know exactly who to contact top resolve the problem and have the local relationships to ensure that everything is resolved quickly and without fuss.
5 most frequently asked questions
Author: sarahmNow that the Greek holiday season has started, I thought I’d share with you the 5 most frequently asked questions we get here at SunIsle …
1. I know you do villas, but do you do flights?
This is the most common question we get here at SunIsle. The answer is yes, we do do indeed do flights (at very competitive rates) with all of the charter airlines, as well as EasyJet. A big bonus to booking flights with us is that your holiday is fully ATOL bonded. In addition to villas and flights, we also do transfers, car hire, welcome hampers, and are now branching out into excursions. We can point you in the direction of a supplier for almost anything be that walking tours, boat hire, mule riding, cooking classes. Ask and we’ll try and get it booked for you.
2. Is your office near the seaside?
No, we’re not near the sea, we’re in the middle of the city centre but every spring we get a new pet baby seagull living on our window sill, who provides seaside noises. It’s a shame we’re not near the sea because the poor thing has a diet of garbage and McDonalds, never reaching a very mature age.
3. Do you just need the postcode when I give you my address?
We’re a small, personal office here with a small sales team and very little technology. Please bear with us, whilst we ask you the spelling of ‘Avenue’. We want to make sure that your tickets reach you. We’re all reliant upon numerous notebooks and pens – both of mine are pink!
4. How much should I budget per day for my holiday?
This is my least favourite question we get here! It’s impossible to say how much someone else should budget. It depends a lot upon where you are going, Santorini and Mykonos are more expensive than say Corfu or Zante, and the whole of Greece seems a lot cheaper than Bristol. Self-catering in a villa or apartment is a great way to save some money, stocking up on delicious local produce from the supermarket. However if you love to eat out, you’ll find everything from cheap tavernas to top class restaurants on the Greek Islands. If you’re staying in a hotel, make the most of breakfast, fill up your tummy (and maybe your handbag?).
5. Have you been there?
This is my favourite question we get here. I love to talk about all the great places I’ve been with SunIsle – so far Athens, Andros, Kea, Zante, Lefkas, Meganissi, Kefalonia, Corfu and Paxos (all in one trip). It’s a great way to give you more of an idea about what a place is like and whether it would suit you. Equally, it’s a great way for us to prove to our MD that it’s useful to send us to Greece. If I haven’t been there, I do enjoying saying loudly ‘Sorry, I can’t tell you more, I’ve not been there’ in earshot of our MD and maybe he’ll send us one day soon. There’s someone in the office who’s been to every island!
Island Hopping
Author: sarahmFor me, the idea of Island hopping evokes the smell of the port; that smell of fresh fish and octopus intermingled with the salt of the sea. There is nothing more exciting than seeing a miniscule dot of land growing until you see the traditional whitewashed buildings, then fishermen and black clad women, before you dock in port.
My best friend and I are planning our summer holiday, which inspired me for this SunIsle blog entry on island hopping. We have embraced the trend for upmarket backpacking – the way to holiday this summer according to all the glossy magazines – a backpacking vibe with a stylish edge, leaving you to get down and dirty by day (if you wish), reclining in elegance by night.
My destination – of course - is the Greek islands.
Any Greek island hopping holiday in the Cyclades should begin in Andros, or more precisely at Aneroussa Beach Hotel. Here Maria welcomes guests to this stunning hotel in an idyllic location. Lie in bed and listen to the sea lapping against the beach, sit on the generous balcony and listen to the sea, or indeed lie on the (almost) private beach and listen to the sea. Andros is an island only just edging its way onto the tourist map, but this is surprising with superb walking, quiet sandy beaches and excellent Greek food.
Mykonos, set of Shirley Valentine, is one of the most visited (and most expensive) of all the Greek islands, but for a reason. By day, take a day trip to the sacred island of Delos, browse the exclusive boutiques, or just lie back and enjoy the sandy beaches. By night, join the jet-setting party crowds, or avoid them, and enjoy a quiet meal in the island’s own little Venice. As far as accommodation goes, we recommend no less than a former bishop’s residence – Despotiko Hotel.
Rivalling Mykonos in charm but a little more relaxed and a little less expensive is the old town of Parikia on Paros. What’s more, it is ideally situated to sit back and admire the sunset over a drink or two. With one of the busiest ferry ports in the Cyclades, a visit to this charming island is easy. In Paros, I advise you to be unfashionable, forget all about the elegance and pick good old fashioned Greek hospitality and traditional architecture at Onira Studios, a small development of nine sea-facing studios, which share a pool just 1km outside of Parikia.
Santorini is a must visit island for any Greek-Island-ophile. I left this island unexplored, waiting for that “special weekend with that special someone”, on the advice of my cousin, who went there on her honeymoon (with her Greek husband). At this rate I’ll be waiting forever! The Windmill in Pori has to be the dream base for any holiday, be it a honeymoon, special family holiday or indulgent girly holiday. Staying at The Windmill with its beautifully decorated round rooms, private swimming pool and proximity to the beach, you won’t want to move. However, by sunset, you should be in Santorini’s old town of Fira. Sit on the cliff and admire the orange red skies over the caldera. My cousin’s top tip is to become a ‘proper’ tourist and to take an excursion by traditional caique, visiting the volcanic hot springs, the caldera itself and the largest of Santorini’s islets – Thirassia. Fira’s cliffside is lined with fashion and jewellery shops, bars, and restaurants, where you can enjoy the most stunning panoramas in Europe. There are also a number of exclusive hotels here – the best we think is Kastelli Hotel and Spa.
So, this summer, take a couple of weeks to explore the Greek islands without compromising on style. Each island has its own character – from the tranquillity of Andros to the cosmopolitan Mykonos, the bougainvillea-clad Paros and unique Santorini.
The Cyclades really are islands where you will mix a sense of adventure with affordability.
Now we’re finished planning our own holidays for this summer, SunIsle can help you organise a unique Greek holiday experience for you and you’re party. In addition to the great accommodations in our Cycladic portfolio, we’ve also put together a range of interesting island hopping itineraries.
Here at SunIsle, we are always on the lookout for offers to save you money. We recognise that an early season break isn’t as affordable this year as it might have been last year, but we don’t want you to miss out. That’s why we were excited to hear that EasyJet have just announced 50% off flights on over 250,000 seats for travel between 22nd April and 10th June. In addition to our own great late availability promotions over many accommodations, this is good for SunIsle customers wanting to holiday in Andros or Kea (fly to Athens), Corfu or Paxos (fly to Corfu), Santorini, Mykonos and Crete, especially for those looking to travel at May half term!
Here at SunIsle we can book these for you, meaning that you will benefit from great value low cost flights as well as our ATOL bond and free Supplier Failure Insurance with every booking.
Corfu at Easter
Author: sunisleEaster in Corfu is a special and extended affair during which the island sees a week of ceremonies, performances and marches that date as far back as 1550. The first thing to note is that Greek Easter is one week later than in the UK.
For visitors, the week is an opportunity to see another side to Corfu and experience traditions that have been kept alive for generations. The events and parades that take place during the week are set against a stunning backdrop of architectural styles from Byzantine to Venetian. Each period in Corfu’s history has added a further layer of custom and tradition that combine to make today’s Easter in Corfu a rich and fascinating experience.
Ceremonies and events take place across the island, but Corfu Town is the cultural hub of the island and the most popular events begin or end here. On Tuesday mass at the islands ‘ churches and monasteries includes the famous Orthodox “Kassianis’ Hymn” and harmonic chanting, also known as Cretan music, fills the narrow streets (kantounia) around the towns churches.
12 April (Sunday before Easter)
11am A procession takes place through the streets of Old Corfu Town, when the body of Saint Spiridon, the Patron Saint of the Island, is paraded through the streets of Corfu Old Town. This is an important celebration, dating back to 1600’s and is the oldest procession on Corfu. It begins from Saint Spiridon Church and commemorates the miracle performed by Saint Spiridon to save the island from starvation. Corfu’s philharmonic bands are also present.
15 April (Wednesday)
The Municipal Theatre is the focal point on Wednesday when the town choir performs a concert of religious music.
16 April (Thursday)
Thursdays mass is dedicated to the Twelve Apostles, during which 12 candles are lit and blown out one by one following each reading. On the Thursday evening traditional “Kolombina” (sweet bread with a red egg on the top) is shared and the ceremony of the Crucifixion begins – the most important religious event of the Holy week.
17 April (Good Friday)
On the morning of Good Friday the ceremony of the “Deposition from the Cross” is held at each church on the island. At noon congregations pay their respects to beautifully adorned floral Epitaphs before beginning processions that criss-cross the main roads of the town . This includes the Paris-inspired Liston , the famous main Corfiot square which is adorned with al fresco cafes and eateries. Banners and Byzantine flags are paraded while three uniformed bands play the Adagio by Albinioni, the Marcia Funebre by Verdi and the Funeral March by Chopin. The last procession, the Epitaph from the Metropolis Cathedral, begins after nightfall at 9. 00 pm. Lit by Venetian lamps, and with the striking purple cross and “boukes” on the Acropolis of the old fortress overhead, this procession makes a fitting finale to a day that is steeped in tradition. The only church not to be included in the processions on Good Friday is the Church of St Spiridon in the Old Corfu Town. This takes place on Saturday.
18 April (Saturday)
6am The day starts in the Church of St. Mary where the real earthquake is simulated at 6 o’clock in the morning. This represents the earthquake described in the Bible after Jesus’ resurrection.
9am The Epitaph starts from the Church of St. Spiridon in the Old Corfu Town centre. The Venetians forbade the Corfiot people from making this procession on Good Friday. Therefore, it still takes place on Good Saturday, with an entourage of the best philharmonic bands, including the Old Philharmonic (1840), Mantzaros Philharmonic (1890) and Capodistrias Philharmonic (1980).
11am On the first bell ring, clay pots are thrown from windows and balconies onto the streets below. This noisy custom, enhanced with locals often filling the pots with water beforehand for added impact, with disputed origins, began in Corfu town and has since extended to villages around the island.
11pm The Islanders congregate at churches for Holy Mass Everyone holds a candle lit by the Holy flame. The main square in Corfu town is particularly atmospheric. Once the service is over everyone tries to get their candles home, without the flame being extinguished. On returning home, many perform the shape of the cross under their door arch with their candle, leaving a carbon imprint of the cross. The week finishes with a firework display procession of candles and torches that lights the night sky.
19 April (Easter Sunday)
This is the biggest celebration on the Greek calendar. The 40 days of fasting are now over and families spend the day together, traditionally roasting lamb on a spit. Wine and good spirits are plentiful. Children smash hard boiled eggs in the way we used to play conkers. The eggs are dyed red and are a symbolic tradition.
There are other food specialities for each day over the Easter period, from soups to cheeses to spit roasts, as well as other traditions and customs waiting to be discovered …