Articles and Features (published quarterly) about Corfu and its many attractions
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as to why Tristrata was such a popular, if out-of-the-way place. The band was excellent, rendering one well-known reggae song after another, as well as original tunes.
Couples danced to the happy rhythms underneath the olive tree, as the attentive staff made certain that glasses were filled and re-filled; yet throughout the show, Tristrato remained a relaxed environment, foregoing the frenetic and glitzy aura of a disco or showclub. Indeed, this environment was like nothing else seen on Corfu - or perhaps anywhere else.
Night after night during summer, Tristrato offers unique bands for customers' enjoyment. Whether from Northern Europe or the Caribbean, the music is always first rate. And the environment in which it is presented, as well as the hospitality, is quite unique and welcoming.
But don't expect travel agents - or even most local Corfiots - to know about Tristrato. If you ask you're likely to encounter a blank stare or a shrug of the shoulders. Those who know about this establishment, however, return again and again, sometimes nightly, to hear the sounds of the sweet music played underneath the stars in Triturato's laid-back garden setting.
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New Sandals
(A poem)
New sandals,
Sandals from the Holy Land,
Shoes made of leather,
To walk upon the earth.
I sat one morning underneath a shady tree,
A Eucalyptus tree,
And listened
To the sounds of yet another day.
I, the poet,
A man locked within himself.
And the birds sang,
And the children in the schoolyard played their games,
And the village women swept the sidewalk,
And I had time,
Precious time,
All the time in the world,
All the minutes of my life,
To retreat inside,
To reconnect,
To find the long lost center,
My center of gravity.
Then I happened to glance across the street,
Only to see Yianni the lame grocer
Standing in front of his fine shop
Wearing my new sandals,
Identical sandals,
Shoes from the Holy Land,
Shoes bought at discount,
Shoes made of leather,
To walk upon the earth.
And as I saw Yianni,
Yianni also saw me.
We watched each other
As we watched each other.
In turn, we each looked down at our feet,
Calloused feet,
In our new sandals,
Identical sandals,
Shoes from the Holy Land,
Shoes bought at discount,
Shoes made of leather,
To walk upon the earth.
And we laughed and laughed.
Then we cried tears of joy,
Joy over our new sandals.
-David A. Ross
*David A. Ross is also the author of two novels set on Corfu: Xenos and A Winter Garden. Both books are available from
In Corfu's Ropa Valley, where three seemingly nameless roads meet on the way to Gianades Village, stands a modest stone building - one which one might easily be overlooked when passing. This simple rural structure houses Taverna Tristrato, which, ironically, is only open for dinner in wintertime. Serving hearty and authentic Greek food, it is a favourite among locals in-the-know, but that is only half the story.
During the summer season, Tristrato takes on a wholly different character. Over the past seven years, owner Miltos has created a lovely tiered garden behind the old stone house. Under the shade of a venerable olive tree, he has constructed a bar, and opposite the bar he has build a state-of-the-art bandshell, where musical acts from all over Europe and beyond perform nightly after eleven in the evening.
On the night we visited Triturato, the C1 Band, a multi-racial reggae act from Rotterdam was on the bill. We arrived just after ten and walked up the slight incline to enter the taverna's garden, and instantly we knew we were in a very special and very original place. Set amidst the surrounding mountains, the garden and bar area had a very friendly, if out of the ordinary, feel. Cocktail tables and chairs were arranged throughout the three-tiered, flowered garden, where patrons could relax with a cocktail or a bottle of wine as they waited for the show to begin. In front of the stage, and underneath the canopy of the large olive tree, was a flat area, presumably for dancing, or a close-up view of the band. Miltos brought us a bottle of local white wine, whose character and bouquet was like honey. Underneath a doam of stars, we relaxed for the next hour as we waited for the show to begin and watched no less than 200 people arrive - Greeks and foreigners alike.
Once the featured act was introduced, and the music began, there was little doubt
