To be found...: Holy Tuesday

Holy Tuesday April 15, Corfu
Sunny with some clouds 18 °C

Holy Tuesday starts at sunset with the Vesper on Monday.

In a warm setting of the church where my father sings, I went for the first time this week to church. I had forgotten the feeling. Singing Byzantine psalms and accompanying my father, as I did long ago as a child. The curls and stripes above the words made sense once again and I felt pride to know that this old music is passed on from generation to generation.

When you see the hymns and join the choir, they make sense. Every word and every note has its place and all together make this feeling, that has survived for centuries.

Parable of the ten virgins

Matthew 25 (1:13)

‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
²Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
³When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them;
⁴but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
⁵As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept.
⁶But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.”
⁷Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps.
⁸The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.”
⁹But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.”
¹⁰And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut.
¹¹Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.”
¹²But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.”
¹³Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Corfu during the night from Monday to Tuesday

Ionian Bank, now museum of Greek Coins

The sun had set and darkness came, only to bring the light of the full moon. The Ionian Bank, opposite the church, was beautifully lit and I made a picture of it. It was renovated a few years ago,opening its doors as a museum of Coins.

I found my friends and we went to a small tavern called Mpeldes. There with every rink you order, they bring you a plate with various cooked food. As we were fasting, our plate consisted of potatoes in the oven, mushrooms, taramosalata and salad.I know, I should have made a picture and make you drool over the amazingly delicious food we have. But I won't be so harsh on you.

We left as the place closed around 2am to look for a bar but ended up at the Palace. There, a group of young musicians were improvising and playing jazz, rap and other kinds of music.

They were students of the Ionian Music University.

We bought some drinks and chips at a kiosk and stayed there until almost dawn. Just for the record, it was cold and damp. Otherwise I think this post would have a beautiful sunrise picture.

Corfu Symposium

Theotoki wine

A few hours later, I went to Fiori Hotel. There my friends from Green Corfu had organised a four day Symposium. I went there to present Oinovation, an entrepreneurial start up that I have worked for and promotes Greek Wine in a unique way.

In the afternoon, we went to the Theotoki Estate. The vines and olive trees stretched all around us and the building where the wines were held was stunning in its simplicity. The descendants of this important family, hold their land with love and their biological products are awaiting the official stamp. They may not be labeled as biological yet, but they always have been and always will be in compliance with nature.

Salto wine bar

When we returned from the Estate, I took a fellow attended to town. She was from Crete and lives in Athens. She wanted to visit Salto, a new wine bar in Corfu town. The owner is a local Chef who many food loving guests of our island adore. It was no wonder why! If you are in for an amazing culinary experience, then do not miss out.