Corfu

The Citadel overlooking the old city of Corfu. The name refers to both the island and the city.	The island also has islands. Mouse Island--which only looks like a mouse if you have a VERY good imagination.
The Old Quarter of Corfu City, lined with shops and tavernas, is a pleasant place to spend an afternoon. The Quarter only has two or three major streets.	Corfu makes lots of pots, large and small, many of which are destined to be shattered during the Easter festival, when people throw pots out of windows.
Beaches are a big thing in Corfu. There are major public beaches near the city but lots of lovely small beaches along the coast.	Again, with a good imagination, this is a ship. Corfu legend says that the paradise that Odysseus last landed at (and where his ship sank, so here it is) was Corfu. The King sent Odysseus home on a magical ship.
We visited the Monastery of the Virgin Mary in Paleokastritsa high in the mountains of the island. Getting there requires a bus driver with nerves of steel.	The lovely mosaic above the entry gate gave some indication of the riches within.
Inside the monastery the monks displayed their treasures, including gold and silver and a large array of icons.
While the monastery is not self-sufficient, they do have several garden plots. The whole monastery is very quiet and the views are great.