September 2019   The green island of Corfu once played an important role in the economic and political rivalries between ancient Greek cities. Today the cultural leftovers of the island state's heyday can be seen at a handful of sites and in the main town's museums.

In December 1910 local people discovered some ancient stone remains on farmland south of modern Corfu town, and in January 1911 the young Greek archaeologist Friderikos Versakis was called in to investigate. He excavated what turned out to be huge, powerful relief images of the Gorgon Medusa flanked by two lions which once adorned the gable of a large temple, built around 585 BC.

Soon after Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany arrived in Corfu to spend his Easter holiday in the nearby Achilleion, a summer palace he had purchased after its builder and previous owner, Kaiserin Elizabeth ("Sissi") of Austria, had been assassinated in Geneva. Having heard of the excavation he went to visit the site and ended up using his power, wealth and influence to take it over and get Versakis fired from his job. The Kaiser apparently became obsessed with the Gorgon, later claiming the credit for its unearthing, and after the First World War wrote a book on the subject while in exile in the Netherlands.

The episode has been seen as a prime example of cultural imperialism and interference by powerful rulers and states in the affairs of smaller countries. Fortunately, the "Gorgon pediment", as the limestone relief has become known, was not shipped off to the Kaiser's royal museum in Berlin, and is now the star attraction of the Corfu Archaeological Museum.

Update May 2020

December 2016   Silke Haist has been taking photos of urban wildlife in Berlin, Germany for several years, often getting up before the crack of dawn and spending many hours searching for animals and birds in the city's green spaces.

A while ago Silke generously shared some of her photos of Berlin squirrels with the Cheshire Cat, who has now finally got around to publishing them on his blog. Enjoy.

June 2015   The Cheshire Cat is back out of the bag with a brand new photo essay about Dion, the sacred city of the ancient Macedonians, below lofty Mount Olympus.

The Cat and a few friends take a peaceful stroll around the greener-than-green Dion Archaeological Park and enjoy the company of dragonflies, frogs, crabs, fish and, of course, some of those awful old Greek gods.

March - May 2015   As children we sit in rudderless boats headed for the waterfall of puberty which, if we survive it, will leave us learning to navigate in the turbulent, mysterious waters of adulthood. Schools are meant to prepare us for this adventure, but often furnish us with a spoon or a fork rather than a tiller or an oar.

In a memoir of his schooldays Edwin Drood recollects how he escapes for a short while from his educational confinement and dives into this dangerous flow whose depths it will take all the strength and courage his young mind and body can muster to fathom.

December 2014   Poor old Vladimir Putin, eh? As if it's not enough that international sanctions have been imposed on his chums and their political and business empires, that the rouble is sinking with oil prices (or vice versa) while a mild European winter messes with Gasprom profits, and that investment in Russia plummets as prices soar, now even that ******* Mysterious Edwin Drood is having (yet another) dig at him.

Life shows no mercy, Vlad. It is almost enough to put you off your Christmas turkey, or experience phantom pangs of sympathy for the beleaguered Russian president prime minister president. Well, not really, if we are to be honest with ourselves. Turkey is a dish best served hot.

August 2014   If you are in Berlin, Germany on the last weekend in August, come along to Weltfest am Boxhagener Platz, the annual free street festival in the Friedrichshain district of the city.

The theme of this year's World Fest is "Work in Progress - decent work for people worldwide", and members of NGOs will be on hand to discuss the subject at stands around the large green square of Boxhagener Platz.

A variety of international musicians will provide the sounds on the main stage, with the artist Jim Avignon as the headline act. There is also a special place for buskers to perform.

For junior citizens, the South African-German children's musical Inkululeko, the long way from Nonsiki will be performed by Global New Generation, and the childrens' circus Zirkus Zack offer interactive acrobatics.

See It's a small world fest, The Cheshire Cat Blog photo essay about Weltfest in previous years.

August 2014   We reported last year about the annual Full Moon concerts in Pella, Macedonia, Greece, the birthplace of Alexander the Great (see Full moon in Pella at The Cheshire Cat Blog), and this year's evening of music promises to be at least as enjoyable as previous events in the archaeological site.

The title for the open-air gig is "Songs from Greece and other places" (Τραγούδια από την Ελλάδα και όχι μόνο, literally, Songs from Greece - and not only), and the programme will include traditional music of Asia Minor performed by A. Papaioannou (oud, saz), D. Dhaka (vocals, percussion) and A. Machairidi (accordion). The event is organized by the Municipality of Pella and the Public Welfare Enterprise Culture and Development Pella.

Entrance to the concert is free.

See a larger version of the concert poster (in Greek, opens in a new window).

We recommend visiting the excellent Pella Museum and archaeological site during the day, then taking a break at one of the village cafes or tavernas before the concert which begins at 21:30.

Pella is just 40 minutes from Thessaloniki. Buses every half hour, 07.00 - 22.30 hours, fare 3.30 €. see How to get to Pella. A taxi costs about 40 €.

Other full moon events are taking place at archaeological sites around Greece, including Aigai (Vergina, near Veria), Edessa and Athens.

Visit the Pella website: www.pella-museum.gr/informations/news

June 2011   We finally get our first video online, thanks to those nice people
at YouTube. And a pretty lively flick it is too, as Köçek dancers go twirling their
skirts through the streets of Istanbul along to some raucous Turkish folk music.
Not to be missed.