Old Perithia 10 Years On

One of the most popular posts on my blog is one about Foros Restaurant in Old Perithia, Corfu.

We last visited in 2014, so it was very interesting to see the changes. 

Funnily enough it was spitting around a bit as per last time. This was much to our advantage as wild cyclamen and colchium crocuses were growing alongside the ancient road edges. But it put an end to the efforts of the water colourists dotted around the main square.

 

We set off on a long walk right round the outer reaches of the village. We did not walk so far last time and I think perhaps part of the road we walked was newish. It skirted the village giving beautiful vistas of the old buildings. Unfortunately some viewed through burnt trees. There had been a pretty bad fire close by though I haven`t established quite when, though obviously some time ago.

At the highest point of the walk, we were delighted to come across the bee man with some of his 400 beehives, in a beautiful garden.

 

We had a good chat with him and he told us that he had lost 70 hives in the recent fires. His mother looked after the garden. It was full of French marigolds and zinnias.

We bought some of the thick spring flower honey and bee balm and set off once more.

As we trod the ancient road my mind was full of the people and the lives of those who had walked before. What was it like for them so far away from the coast. Safer? The long twisting road to the coast is miles away. And what about supplies? Were they completely self-sufficient?

Here are some of the ancient buildings which I now gather are listed.

Making our way back to the main square where we had earlier booked a table at the Foros restaurant, we were very happy to see Tomas, who we met last time. I was sorry not to be able to show him the blog entry which had proved so popular but on reminding him of our last visit, he promptly brought us a raki each ..... fire-water!!

We had a delicious meal .... lemon lamb and rabbit stifado.

We made our way back to the car park, where we found ourselves all but wedged in by a jeep safari. Steve managed to back out with our huge old, geared (!!) car, with me and Paula on either side directing.

The changes we saw ....

lots more people

the bee man

walking groups 

painting groups

BUT

the car park was as bad as it was 10 years ago!!

 

I wonder if we will ever visit again.