Monday 6 April 2015

Galaxidi


 
Galaxidi is stunningly beautiful.
 
 
 
 

 The town's public life is played out on the waterfront.
 
 
 

 

A narrow bay,





with the houses, tavernas and bars on the left





and a pine forest on the right





which is beautifully lit at night






and small islands and more of the mainland ahead,





so that the bay has the feel of a lake.




The architecture is traditional - most of the houses are listed and many are at least 200 years old

 



and mountains all around




with the odd snow-capped mountain peak in the distance.


 

The boats in the harbour are modest and that adds to the charm of the place.




The majority of the houses are lovingly restored




but not all.




These two geese are the mascots of the seafront. They untied Ken's shoelaces





when he tried to feed them.




A duckhouse




and a feeder for the three ducks. The town used to have 22 ducks but they got eaten by the stray dogs. The extremely friendly owner of the taverna that became our regular, told us that they have a real problem with stray dogs: at the end of every summer, some holiday makers abandon their dogs and the town people don't know what to do with them. Some get adopted but the rest roam the streets as there are no facilities to cope with so many stray dogs. The English saying of 'a dog should be for life, not just for Christmas', came to mind.




The town has three squares





and palm trees abound.



 
Lots of quaint little alleyways
 
 
 






some of which are beautifully lit at night



 
and some with steps.
 
 

 
 
This gorgeous house was on the way to our hotel
 
 
 
 

 
stone is the most common building material
 

 


but some houses favour a combination of stone and plaster

  

 
while others have elaborate plaster decorations
 




This is too cute for words



 
and the plaque by the door reads 'the little house'.
 
 
 


 
Everything is well cared for
 
 


 
including the drains.
 
 


This gorgeous building
 
 
 


has a plaque at the front that reads 'Virgins' Institute'. It must have been a school for girls, and what to make of the idea that all girls must necessarily be virgins?






 

2 comments:

  1. Picture perfect! I am really intrigued by the name of the place: milk vinegar ...?

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    Replies
    1. Milk vinegar, indeed, Olga. I don't know why it's called that. It is an odd name indeed.

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