Post by holidayman on Jun 15, 2012 11:39:50 GMT 2
Hope you all enjoyed the "Old Perithia-Ghost Village and The Two Island Cruise reports.
It's time now to review the third tour we took via NSK on Sunday 3rd June 2012.
As usual this tour leaves from the pick up point at the taxi rank across from the Afroditi Hotel and currently runs on a Wednesday and Sunday departing Roda at 10.00am and returning to Roda about 5.30pm.
Cost via NSK is 15 Euros per person.
Coach arrived on time,we all boarded and headed towards our first visit on the day with was a 30 minute stop at Mavromatis kumquat distillery.
The first item on the distillery tour was a short 5 minute film on the growing and production methods of kumquat and also the various products derived from it.
After the film we went straight into the tasting room were you were shown the finished products( including wine) and you could taste as many small samples of each item as you fancied
And very nice they were to even though it was early in the morning - but hey your are on holiday!
Attached to the tasting room is a exhibition area and a large shop selling all manner of goods derived from kumquat including marmalade ,sweets, liqueurs etc all very reasonably priced and make a nice gift to take home for someone (or yourself!).
If you want a closer look at this distillery use this link:
www.koumquat.com/
So back onto the coach climbing higher and higher on the mountain roads with beautiful scenery all around you and heading for Paleokastritsa.
Paleokastritsa meaning "old castle" has long been considered one of the most beautiful villages in Corfu and is a renowned Greek beauty spot.
The Monastery of Virgin Mary of Paleokastritsa ( 12th century) stands on a sheer hillside full of wild trees and olive trees at the most northern point (Agios Spyridon).
It is also known as the Theotokos Monastery.
Within the Monastery are the complex courtyards, archways decorated with beautiful flowers , monks, cells, oil presses and the store rooms.
It has numerous depictions of characters like St George and the dragon as well as a magnificent Last Judgement.
The ceiling of the church is unique in that it features a breathtaking Tree of Life woodcarving.
There is also small museum which is contains further icons such as jewel-encrusted silver-bound Bibles.
You will also find a prehistoric skeleton of the so called “sea monster” with a very large vertebrae and tusks. It is said that it was killed by fisherman in the last century.
Theotokos Monastery
A word of caution here - the coach drops you off at the bottom of a very steep hill ( there is nowhere for it to turn at the top) which leads up to the Monastery.
It is only a few minutes walk but be aware of the taxis which make there way constantly up and down the hill.
There are also a few souvenier stalls on this hill selling the usual products.
So back onto the coach to head for our next destination of Paleokastritsa itself.
We were dropped off in the small harbour area a short distance from the main beach.
Here you can find local jewellery shops/bars/restaurants etc - most with stunning views.
You can also board and sail underwater in the "Yellow Submarine" at your own cost if you wish to do so.
Our trip was on the Sunday the day of the large thunderstorm which started without warning and lasted for two hours.
Just as well we decided to go for a Gyros Pita and a beer just before it started!.
And boy did it rain along with tremendous lightning and thunder!
We sat in a small taverna at the main beach and were not surprised when the owner pulled the plastic sheet windows down when the storm started.
What did surprise us was that within a few minutes a river of water about six feet wide and two inches deep suddendly began to flow through the middle of the Taverna.
It appeared that the drain pipes from the roof gutters were actually were built inside the Taverna with the outlets facing inwards instead of outwards!
Taverna owners solution? - move a few tables and carry on as if nothing was happening! - only in Greece!
So we enjoyed a free "floor show" with our meal!
Paleokastritsa Beach Area
We then boarded the coach to go to our final destination of the day Lakones.
This is the village with the Bella Vista viewpoint.
The stony boat of Odysseus (Kolovri)
According to the Greek Mythology, the rock of Kolovri is Odysseus ship turned to stone by the God of the sea Poseidon on its return from Ithaca.
Also there is another legend saying that the ship of an Algerian corsair who was sailing in to loot the monastery was turned to stone in answer to the Abbot's prayers.
This small rock can be clearly seen from the hill where Theotokos Monastery stands & from Lakones village
So a stunning end to the day.
A great tour at a very good price with views you will never forget so please remember to bring your camera.
I hope you all enjoyed viewing report.
David
It's time now to review the third tour we took via NSK on Sunday 3rd June 2012.
As usual this tour leaves from the pick up point at the taxi rank across from the Afroditi Hotel and currently runs on a Wednesday and Sunday departing Roda at 10.00am and returning to Roda about 5.30pm.
Cost via NSK is 15 Euros per person.
Coach arrived on time,we all boarded and headed towards our first visit on the day with was a 30 minute stop at Mavromatis kumquat distillery.
The first item on the distillery tour was a short 5 minute film on the growing and production methods of kumquat and also the various products derived from it.
After the film we went straight into the tasting room were you were shown the finished products( including wine) and you could taste as many small samples of each item as you fancied
And very nice they were to even though it was early in the morning - but hey your are on holiday!
Attached to the tasting room is a exhibition area and a large shop selling all manner of goods derived from kumquat including marmalade ,sweets, liqueurs etc all very reasonably priced and make a nice gift to take home for someone (or yourself!).
If you want a closer look at this distillery use this link:
www.koumquat.com/
So back onto the coach climbing higher and higher on the mountain roads with beautiful scenery all around you and heading for Paleokastritsa.
Paleokastritsa meaning "old castle" has long been considered one of the most beautiful villages in Corfu and is a renowned Greek beauty spot.
The Monastery of Virgin Mary of Paleokastritsa ( 12th century) stands on a sheer hillside full of wild trees and olive trees at the most northern point (Agios Spyridon).
It is also known as the Theotokos Monastery.
Within the Monastery are the complex courtyards, archways decorated with beautiful flowers , monks, cells, oil presses and the store rooms.
It has numerous depictions of characters like St George and the dragon as well as a magnificent Last Judgement.
The ceiling of the church is unique in that it features a breathtaking Tree of Life woodcarving.
There is also small museum which is contains further icons such as jewel-encrusted silver-bound Bibles.
You will also find a prehistoric skeleton of the so called “sea monster” with a very large vertebrae and tusks. It is said that it was killed by fisherman in the last century.
Theotokos Monastery
A word of caution here - the coach drops you off at the bottom of a very steep hill ( there is nowhere for it to turn at the top) which leads up to the Monastery.
It is only a few minutes walk but be aware of the taxis which make there way constantly up and down the hill.
There are also a few souvenier stalls on this hill selling the usual products.
So back onto the coach to head for our next destination of Paleokastritsa itself.
We were dropped off in the small harbour area a short distance from the main beach.
Here you can find local jewellery shops/bars/restaurants etc - most with stunning views.
You can also board and sail underwater in the "Yellow Submarine" at your own cost if you wish to do so.
Our trip was on the Sunday the day of the large thunderstorm which started without warning and lasted for two hours.
Just as well we decided to go for a Gyros Pita and a beer just before it started!.
And boy did it rain along with tremendous lightning and thunder!
We sat in a small taverna at the main beach and were not surprised when the owner pulled the plastic sheet windows down when the storm started.
What did surprise us was that within a few minutes a river of water about six feet wide and two inches deep suddendly began to flow through the middle of the Taverna.
It appeared that the drain pipes from the roof gutters were actually were built inside the Taverna with the outlets facing inwards instead of outwards!
Taverna owners solution? - move a few tables and carry on as if nothing was happening! - only in Greece!
So we enjoyed a free "floor show" with our meal!
Paleokastritsa Beach Area
We then boarded the coach to go to our final destination of the day Lakones.
This is the village with the Bella Vista viewpoint.
The stony boat of Odysseus (Kolovri)
According to the Greek Mythology, the rock of Kolovri is Odysseus ship turned to stone by the God of the sea Poseidon on its return from Ithaca.
Also there is another legend saying that the ship of an Algerian corsair who was sailing in to loot the monastery was turned to stone in answer to the Abbot's prayers.
This small rock can be clearly seen from the hill where Theotokos Monastery stands & from Lakones village
So a stunning end to the day.
A great tour at a very good price with views you will never forget so please remember to bring your camera.
I hope you all enjoyed viewing report.
David