Last night Sarah and I went down to the little isolated restaurant on the beach for dinner. We were the only people there. The water was lapping on the sand and the lights of Koroni were glimmering in the distance. Our meal was simple but delicious – Kalamari and a Greek Salad all washed down with Greek wine from the barrel. Across the bay came the sound of chanting, presumably from the Greek Orthodox church in Koroni. It sounded more like an Islamic call to prayer and continued for the whole period of our meal.

Restaurant

My sleep was again disturbed by what is becoming the bane of my nights – the blessed Scops Owl. It seems to drone on all night long, or perhaps it shuts up as soon as I go to sleep. I want to know how it gets enough hunting done if it twooo twooos all night long. Perhaps it so disturbs mice and rats from their sleep that when they surrender to their insomnia and get up to make a cup of tea, Mr. Scops Owl pounces and has them for dinner. I apologise for my Scops Owl obsession, but they are, I assure you, annoying.

This morning Sarah was up early to take the dogs for a walk and came back enthused about how pretty Koroni was. So after breakfast we went for a stroll. Koroni is only a small town but is very attractive in a typical Greek type of way. Whitewashed houses spilling down a hillside to a harbour, these days covered in small restaurants.

Koroni Harbour Front

As with most of the places we are visiting, Koroni has a tumultuous history. Battled over by various Christian and Muslim kings, finally becoming a stronghold for the Venetians who built a huge fortress. At one point the town was invaded by the Ottomans who threatened to slaughter all Christians leading to an immediate mass conversion to Islam. The main item of historical interest left is the Venetian castle, which presumably, when captured, served the interests of the invader, whoever it was, and so was never demolished.

Koroni Fortress

We wandered the streets and walked round the base of the castle walls. Sarah let Mabel of her lead and at one point she chased after a lizard which took off up the fortress’ sheer facade. She tried her best to climb after it, dancing on her hind legs, but to no avail.

Koroni Fortress

There was a small market with local farmers selling their crops. So there was several stalls selling just tomatoes, courgettes and cucumbers, another selling only fresh peas and another specialising in honey. We bought tomatoes, honey and a kilogram of peas. We are looking forward to eating fresh peas, it reminds us both of our childhood, sitting in a kitchen at our mother’s, shelling peas.

Koroni Alley

We have had a relaxing afternoon. I’ve had another go with my birding lens and had a bit more success. I am in a rush to get out to this evening’s Good Friday parade, so I haven’t yet had chance to look at the photographs, but I think I’ve got one or two decent ones. Sarah has improved upong Melek’s improvised crocheted lead.

View from Koroni

Tonight’s parade from the church to the castle starts at 8.30, so we are going to eat a light dinner on the waterfront before it all starts.