Corfu | Explosive Writer

It’s hard to believe that a tornado hit Lefkimi, our Greek village. Add that to a hurricane and you can imagine what it was like.
No. You couldn’t unless you were there. Take a look at the photos, that apparently no Greek news station thought our village was important enough to report on.

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Lefkimi is one of the largest villages on the Island and yet only half was hit. Melikia and Potami. I live in Melikia.

We weren’t at home at the time. We were outside, driving right into it.

11th November is my eldest daughter’s birthday. We were dressed up and ready to go out and eat. It was raining and it was windy. Lightning had been flashing for a while. For some reason, my husband wanted to drive the back way of the village, missing out the cafes and shops. The road was alongside a canal (Potami) we saw the water has risen very high. We passed a man with a torch checking out his boat. The further down we drove, the worse the weather was becoming. It got so bad I asked my husband who was driving, can you see anything out of the windscreen because I can’t.
It was too late to stop and we couldn’t see anything in front or behind. The rain and wind were so fast and heavy that I couldn’t see anything outside. Then we had leaves and branches hitting the screen and the top of the car. We thought it was hail stones. Alexia, my youngest already had a fear of thunder and storms, so she was shaking and crying. We made it to the end of the road and onto the main road, which would take us down to where we were eating. We saw a row of lights ahead and my eldest daughter said it was the Cube, a coffee place we go to often. As we coming up to Cube, we couldn’t see ahead, on the opposite side of the road, or what was behind, so my husband turned into the carpark and we stayed there until it looked safe to move again.
In that time we watched the wind knocking over huge plants, ripping the flags off, tipping over a motorbike and then the electric went off inside and my youngest was crying and shaking again. My eldest daughter was cuddling with her in the back seat. It was a scary time. The rain stopped and the wind abated and so we continued our journey. You have to understand we thought we were in a bad storm and it was over. It wasn’t until we were driving on the main road and saw a tree down and then another that totally blocked our side of the road, that we suspected a tornado. My husband said exactly what I was thinking, what if we had kept going and hadn’t stopped at the Cube?
We continued and arrived at the taverna where we ordered our meal. I was in the toilets with my youngest when my husband came in and said, he had just received a call from his dad, the tornado hit Melikia and there were damages. We took the food to go and rushed back to the house.

Now, this next video is chilling. It demonstrated how close we were and how lucky we are to be safe, together and unhurt.

I have to hand it to the Corfu island fire department and electricity board. My husband pulled over and phoned them as soon as we saw the fallen trees and they were there dealing with it when we came back from the taverna. We were without power and water for less than 24hours. From the amount of firetrucks, cranes and vans from the Electric company, around our area, I assume they came from town.

It’s now 10pm on Sunday evening 12th November. I have no idea what the official cause is apart from a tornado and hurricane. I haven’t heard of any casualties inside the village.

Sadly, there was a death near Santa Barbara of a Greek man whose car fell into a river. His family managed to get out safely but his foot got stuck in the steering wheel and he died.
This information was given to me second hand, so if I learn more of the official facts I will update this piece.

We are on half power now and it may be off again tomorrow as they continue work. Apparently, we could be having the same freak weather on Tuesday. I don’t think Alexia will get over this experience. She jumps every time the light flickers. We’ve been trying to instil in her that rain, wind and thunderstorms are harmless. She had such a fear of them before, now it seems it was warranted.

In conclusion, Mother Nature is a bitch and can suck rotten eggs!

For the Greeks, Easter is not about chocolate eggs, although there are more appearing in the shops every year.

The Greeks live by their religion (Greek Orthodox) so Easter is one of their biggest holidays.

Every town and city has their own traditions, but the beautiful Island of Corfu, where I have lived for over 19 years, is famous for their Easter.

Thousands of Greeks, as well as foreigners, travel to Corfu for the unique celebrations.

For forty days, traditional Greeks will fast, leaving meat, eggs, milk, cheese, and sweets from their diet. The rest of the country fast on Wednesday and Fridays, but all will diet for the last week before Easter.

Lefkimi is one of the largest villages on the Island. The first of the numerous parades begins when the sun goes down on Good Friday. Villagers dressed in black, congregate at the local church. Carrying lighted candles, they walk around the village while a band plays a funeral march. A wooden cross and religious icons lead the parade, while the priest and local villagers join up for the candle mass. Windowsills and balconies are lit up with tea candles, making the narrow village lanes look magical. Even though the parade represents the funeral of Christ, and the villagers are in mourning, it is an incredible sight. The atmosphere, although somber, is awe-inspiring.

On Saturday morning, thousands of spectators make their way to the Liston, in the centre of Corfu town, to see the pot throwing. Red cloths hang from the balconies of the homes above the cafes that make up the stunning French architecture of the Liston. Down below, thousand of Greeks crane their necks in anticipation. At eleven O’clock, once the first bell rings, enormous clay pots, filled with water, are thrown from the balconies. There are many representations for this tradition. Some say it comes from a passage of the bible, others that it derives from a Pagan custom that harvested products were stored in new pots and the old pots thrown away. It is also thought that the custom derives from the Venetians, who threw old items out of the window in order to receive new ones. I’ve also heard it said that the throwing of the pot represents Judas’s betrayal. Whatever the reason, this custom is a spectacular sight. Just make sure you get there before eleven because it’s over quickly.

At Eleven PM on Good Saturday, the villagers of Lefkimi gather at their local church. The children hold decorative candles and lanterns while the adults carry large plain candles. Each candle is lit from the holy flame, which comes direct from Jesus’ tomb. This flame travels around Greece and lights every candle around the country. Again, a candled procession, led by the priest, travels around the village. The atmosphere is exciting and upbeat, even the band accompanies the parade with happy, joyful music. The parade ends at the local church where the priest says a prayer and blesses everyone. At twelve o’clock, the church bells ring out; once the priest cries out ‘ Christos Anesti’ (Christ has risen) fireworks, gunfire, and loud bombs are let off. Everyone goes around kissing and shaking hands, wishing neighbours, friends and family present a happy Easter. At least, one candle must remain lit, so that the sign of the cross can be burnt above the front door of the home.

Back inside the house, the family feast on Mayirista, a soup made from lamb’s intestine. Dyed, hard-boiled eggs decorate the dinner table as the family competes to smash each other’s egg.

Easter dinner is fresh roasted lamb, which has been cooking all morning on a spit over an open fire. Some villagers prefer to leave the lamb for Monday and instead feast on (avgolemono) egg, lemon and rice soup.

Early Monday morning, each church has mass, and then the congregation leaves with their church flag. As the assembly walks through the village, other churches with their priests and flags join in the parade. By the time the parade reaches Portami (the bridge on the canal), the procession consists of Philharmonic bands, a dozen priests with their church flags and icons, and hundreds of villagers, all dressed in the fineries. At twelve o’clock, a priest says a prayer and a blessing, then deafening explosions blast in the cannel water, showering the unlucky spectators.

During the warm sunny days of Easter, you will find the cafes full of Greeks sipping Frappes (Iced coffee) and cold cappuccinos. In the evening, Tavernas and nightclubs open their doors after 11pm for bouzukis (live Greek bands) where the Greeks dance and drink until the early hours.

Corfu, (the emerald Isle) is an amazing place. Easter is exceptionally breathtaking. With flowers in bloom, and the freshly painted white-washed walls, you will fall in love with the beauty of the Island. With unique traditions and countless celebrations, Easter in Corfu is an experience you will never forget.

Originally published in The real Greek Islands Magazine

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