USEFUL INFORMATION
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION about staying on the island of Corfu.
1. TIME in Corfu is one hour behind Moscow in winter, but the time is the same in summer. Greek time is the same as Kyiv time at any time of the year.
2. WEATHER. The daytime air temperature in summer is approximately + 30 + 35 degrees, in the evening it drops to + 20 + 25. The water temperature is about + 24 + 27 degrees. In winter, the average air temperature is - 9-15 degrees, the rainy season is from October to March. High humidity - up to 98%. The climate is subtropical. Evenings in Corfu are often cool, especially in May-June-September. You need to take warm summer clothes with you for the evening.
3. Emergency phone numbers on Corfu Island:
- Police 100
- Port Police 108
- Police Services 1033
- Ambulance 166
- Tourist Police 1571
- Fire 199
4. CURRENCY. Euro is the only currency accepted for payment in Greece. You can exchange cash only at banks with your passport or at the reception of large hotels. See below for bank opening hours. ATTENTION. Rubles cannot be exchanged in Greece at the moment. No bank accepts them.
5. CUSTOMS. It is strictly forbidden to carry liquids in hand luggage. All liquids (including honey and cosmetics with a capacity of more than 50 grams) must be packed in suitcases.
6. HEALTH. In case of health problems, you should contact your insurance company directly. The doctor will serve you free of charge under the insurance (if the insurance has a deductible, you need to pay about 30 euros) - medicines are free. It is better to discuss all questions about medical insurance when meeting with your guide. Some types of insurance assume that the tourist pays all expenses and the insurance company reimburses the expenses upon returning home.
7. WATER. It is not recommended to drink tap water. In Corfu, the water in most areas is hard, with an admixture of salts, you should not drink such water.
8. SAFE. For your peace of mind, we recommend storing large sums of money and valuables in the hotel safe or in your personal safe in your room. Sometimes this service is paid, you can pay for the safe at the reception.
9. ELECTRICITY. Throughout Greece the voltage is 220 volts, European sockets.
10. RELIGION. About 88% of the population of Greece adheres to the Orthodox faith and are parishioners of the autocephalous Church of Greece.
The Church of Saint Spyridon is the most revered on the island. Saint Spyridon was the Bishop of Cyprus and took part in the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea in 325. After the death of Saint Spyridon, his relics were kept in Constantinople, and when the capital of Byzantium fell to the Turks, the refugees took the remains of their Saint with them. Thus, in 1457, his relics came to Corfu. According to many, including historical, sources, Saint Spyridon saved the inhabitants of Corfu (Kerkyra) from famine in the 16th century, twice from the plague in 1630 and 1673, and from a powerful Turkish siege in 1716.
11. LANGUAGE. The language of communication in Greece is Modern Greek, simplified Old Greek (Katharevousa). English is accepted for communication with tourists. Also, many residents of Corfu speak German, French, Italian.
BRIEF DICTIONARY.
HELLO (TE) – YASU (YASAS)
HOW ARE YOU? - TI CANIS?
THANK YOU, GOOD – KALA, EFHARISTO
GOOD MORNING, GOOD AFTERNOON – KALIMERA (UNTIL 15.00)
GOOD EVENING - KALISPERA (AFTER 12.00)
PLEASE - PARAKALO
THANK YOU – EFHARISTO
SORRY - SIGNOMIES
YES - NO
NO - OHHHH
HOW MUCH DOES POSO KANI COST
HOW TO GET THERE?… – POS PAME?…
1 – ENA 7 – EFTA
2 – DIO 8 – OHTO
3 – TRIA 9 – ENNYA
4 – TESERA 10 – DEKA
5 – PENDE 11 – ENDEKA
6 – EXI 12 – DODEKA
12. FESTIVALS AND HOLIDAYS
JANUARY 1 – New Year
JANUARY 6 – Epiphany (Baptism)
AUGUST 11 – procession with the relics of St. Spyridon
JANUARY – FEBRUARY three weeks of carnival (the last Sunday of the carnival coincides with Forgiveness Sunday – before the beginning of Lent).
CLEAN MONDAY – Beginning of Great Lent
MARCH 25 – Independence Day of Greece and the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Events of Great Lent.
Palm Sunday - procession with the relics of St. Spyridon
Holy Saturday – procession with the relics of St. Spyridon
Orthodox Easter, Lent, all Easter holidays up to Pentecost completely coincide with all Orthodox countries (Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, etc.).
Ascension Day. Celebrated 50 days after Greek Orthodox Easter for three days. Cities organize performances of national dances and songs, various games and competitions.
MAY 1 – Labor Day
AUGUST 11 – procession with the relics of St. Spyridon
AUGUST 15 – Feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary
SEPTEMBER.
A traditional arts festival that includes symphony concerts, ballet, opera and theatre performances.
OCTOBER 28 – OHI Day (Greek Nation Day) – the people of Greece, after the referendum organized by the Greek President Metaxa (1940), said OHI (NO) to the arrival of fascism in Greece and the occupation by Italy.
The first Sunday of November is one of the four great religious processions with the relics of Saint Spyridon.
NOVEMBER 17 – Polytechnic Day – the day of the beginning of the uprising of the Polytechnic University students against the junta of the “black colonels”.
DECEMBER 12 – day of remembrance of Saint Spyridon of Trimythous, small procession inside the church.
DECEMBER 25 – Nativity of Christ
DECEMBER 26 – Christmastide
SAINTS' DAYS
Greeks rarely celebrate their birthdays, but rather invite guests to their name days. The most popular saints' days are:
JANUARY 1 – St. Basil,
JANUARY 7 – St. John the Baptist
JANUARY 17 – St. Anthony
APRIL 23 – St. George
MAY 21 – St. Constantine and Helen
JUNE 30 – St. Peter and Paul
AUGUST 15 – St. Mary
AUGUST 30 – St. Alexander
SEPTEMBER 17 – St. Sophia
NOVEMBER 8 – Arch. Michael and Gabriel
NOVEMBER 25 – St. Catherine
NOVEMBER 30 – Apostle Andrew
NOVEMBER 6 – St. Nicholas
DECEMBER 9 – St. Anne
DECEMBER 12 – day of veneration of St. Spyridon
12. SHOPPING AND SALES. Products of local craftsmen (ceramics, bags, sandals, carpets - all handmade) are traditional souvenirs. Greece specializes in olive oil, olives, cheeses, dried fruits, tea, Greek coffee, wine. On the island you can buy various products from kumquat - a dwarf Chinese orange, which in Europe has taken root only on Corfu. During seasonal sales (mid-January, mid-July to the end of August) you can buy clothes for adults and children, equipment with discounts.
13. TIPS. In restaurants it is customary to leave a tip, as in many European countries, in the amount of 10% of the cost of the order, this is not obligatory.
OPENING HOURS OF SHOPS, PHARMACIES, BANKS ON CORFU ISLAND
SHOPS and PHARMACIES –
Monday, Wednesday, Saturday – from 9.00 to 14.30
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday – from 9.00 to 14.00 and from 17.30 to 21.00
Sunday is a day off.
Supermarkets are open Mon-Sat 09:00 – 21:00.
Tourist and souvenir shops are open 7 days a week and without breaks.
BANKS - Monday - Thursday - 8am to 2:30pm
Friday – from 8:00 to 14:00
Sunday is a day off.
WHAT NOT TO DO IN GREECE AND CORFU ISLAND.
Entering a monastery in shorts, miniskirts, revealing and transparent clothing. Refusing treats in village houses. Despite the fact that Greeks love to criticize their country, they will not tolerate even irony on this topic from a foreigner... And they will not tolerate a single disrespectful word about their favorite saint - the patron saint of the island of St. Spyridon.
