New Church Inaugurated

On October 2nd a new church was inaugurated in Pelekas by Nektarios, Archbishop of Corfu.

The church of Platytera is built on the site of an earlier church dating back to the sixteenth century and sits among peaceful olive groves. The original church had been closed for around 100 years and had fallen into serious disrepair. The construction of the new church took three years and was privately funded. It brings the number of functioning churches in the parish of Pelekas to seven.

Platytera church can be accessed by a footpath from the back of the old village (follow the signs from the square) or by a newly constructed road which starts close to the crossroads below the village.

Corfu (and Pelekas) in 1960

This archive footage was shot in 1960. It shows a very different Corfu, before the onset of mass tourism. The girl getting on the donkey in Pelekas was filmed on the road above the main square. The next shot is of Pelekas Square itself when it still had a tree in the centre. (Subsequently cut down to make room for the bus.) That scene is followed by the descent to Glyfada Beach and a glimpse of what it was like before any development.

Winemaking

Winemaking in Pelekas begins around the end of September. Not many families are able to grow enough grapes so they buy them from trucks which arrive from the vineyards of the Peloponnese and Zakynthos.

The grapes are first crushed and then pressed (as shown here). The resulting juice is stored in barrels and alcohol is produced by natural fermentation - no chemicals are added.The resulting wine is normally drinkable after about three months.

Baptism

On October 17th Nicole, the daughter of Alexandros and Maria Vergis, was baptised at the church of Agios Nikolaos, Pelekas. The baptism was attended by many family and friends, and a celebration was held in a Sinarades taverna later in the day.

Wedding and Baptism

October 23rd saw the wedding of Alekos and Efi Martinis. The marriage took place at the church of Agios Onoufrios, Pelekas and was immediately followed by the baptism of their daughter Vasiliki. (This was actually the couple's second wedding as they were married in a civil ceremony 12 months ago.) In the evening they hosted a reception for around 300 guests which finished at 7.00 in the morning!

Recipe Corner

This section gives you the opportunity to re-create some of your favourite Corfiot recipes at home. This time, Savoro (marinated fried fish).

Ingredients

One kg white fish. Half a glass of vinegar. 4-5 cloves of garlic, sliced. 1 twig of rosemary. 250 grams black raisins. Half a cup of olive oil for frying.

Instructions

Clean the fish and scale if necessary. Salt and leave for one hour. Dust the fish with flour and fry till cooked. In clean oil, gently fry the sliced garlic, then add the vinegar, rosemary and raisins. Bring to the boil and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Place the fish in a tray and cover with the this mixture. Serve when cool. Alternatively, this dish can be kept in a container for several weeks, as the vinegar marinade works as a preservative. (Turn the fish around often so the marinade can cover all sides.)

Archive

Editorial

You may recall a news story back in August about a London woman who fractured her spine in three places when she fell ten metres from a hotel balcony while on honeymoon in Corfu.

The woman’s husband needed £16,000 to fly his wife home by air ambulance but without travel insurance wasn't able to pay the bill. The couple had thought that a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) would cover their expenses if they had an accident – they soon found out that it would not cover the cost of air ambulance repatriation. (An Internet campaign raised the money, the woman was flown home and is now recovering.)

It’s estimated that as many as one in six people from the UK holiday abroad without insurance. When it comes to holidays and travel, things can and do go wrong. Failing to take out adequate travel insurance is an oversight that, for the sake of a few euros, may end up costing your life.

Pelekas.com has links from its Home page for two travel insurers - Insure and Go and Flexicover. With the story above as a warning, it may be worth checking them out before your next trip.

Bar for Sale - Price Reduced!

Pelekas Café has been on the market for some time. (Its current owner, Diomedes Papadatos, is looking to move into a new career.) The asking price has recently dropped from 90,000 to 50,000 euros - which is surely a bargain for anyone looking to take over an existing, profitable business in Pelekas. More information can be found here.

Pelekas Amphitheatre

Here is a recent shot showing the progress at the site of the Pelekas Amphitheatre. (See the last edition of Pelekas News.) The rocks that have been excavated are being crushed into gravel on the site and the hole that is left is getting bigger! We will keep you updated.

Agiotfest 2010

Agiotfest is held each summer in the nearby village of Agios Ioannis. The 2010 festival took place over two days - Friday 27 and Saturday 28 August. Topping the bill on Saturday was the legendary Joe Brown and his band. On the Friday the headline attraction was One Drop Forward, considered to be one of the best reggae bands in Greece. Support acts included folk/rock band 4Square, jazz singer Laura Zakian and local bands Omega 5 and The Good Ole Boys. There are reports and photos of both the 2010 and the 2009 festivals in the Agiotfest Archive. Preliminary planning is already underway for Agiotfest 2011.

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