Day 10 - Sunday, June 23 - Corfu, Greece
Corfu is the second largest of the Ionian islands off the shore of Greece.
In the morning we took a bus across to the west side of the island and boarded a small (10 person) boat to see the famous grottoes and caves along the shore. The most famous is the "Blue Grotto" where it looks like a bright blue light is shining from the bottom of the sea into the grotto - see photo below.
After getting back to Corfu, we had a short walking tour of the old city between the old and new forts. At the Greek Orthodox St. Spirodon Cathedral we were able to see St. Spiridon in his casket which many pilgrims come to visit from as far away as Russia. We weren't quite sure what the protocol was as some people bent into the casket to kiss his shoes and then kissed the glass over his head. We just tried to be respectful. He was buried in Constantinople for 400 years and when Constantinople fell to the Turks 400 years later, his body was removed and taken to Corfu for re-burial. His body was in the same condition as when he was buried 400 years before. His shoes are replaced every year because they get worn out from his getting up every night and walking around the town.
We got a bit lost in Corfu. We were supposed to meet the bus at the old fortress but got turned around and ended up at the new fortress instead. We managed to get reoriented and back to the bus.
In the morning we took a bus across to the west side of the island and boarded a small (10 person) boat to see the famous grottoes and caves along the shore. The most famous is the "Blue Grotto" where it looks like a bright blue light is shining from the bottom of the sea into the grotto - see photo below.
After getting back to Corfu, we had a short walking tour of the old city between the old and new forts. At the Greek Orthodox St. Spirodon Cathedral we were able to see St. Spiridon in his casket which many pilgrims come to visit from as far away as Russia. We weren't quite sure what the protocol was as some people bent into the casket to kiss his shoes and then kissed the glass over his head. We just tried to be respectful. He was buried in Constantinople for 400 years and when Constantinople fell to the Turks 400 years later, his body was removed and taken to Corfu for re-burial. His body was in the same condition as when he was buried 400 years before. His shoes are replaced every year because they get worn out from his getting up every night and walking around the town.
We got a bit lost in Corfu. We were supposed to meet the bus at the old fortress but got turned around and ended up at the new fortress instead. We managed to get reoriented and back to the bus.
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| Blue Grotto |
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| Paleokastritsa coast |
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| Corfu between old (left) and new(right) fortresses |
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