Trip to Greece & Spain - Day 14

We got up early and took the local bus, (1.6 euros), to the town of Zakynthos. People had their grapes out on huge plastic sheeting drying in the sun. Even after 9am the shops still seemed to be closed, (despite signs saying they were open from 9 on a Monday). I did an internet search and discovered it was a public holiday for the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, (one of the most important public holidays here)! In fact it didn't really matter to us, as we just wanted to sight-see, and weren't interested in buying things. We walked from the Central Bus station down to the shoreline, then along and went to the jetty where the Pirate Ship Cruise was departing. 

Some interesting plants growing on the wharf

Confucious in Zakynthos

There were some pretty impressive yachts moored here

We watched the Pirate Ship depart, along with the Killini Ferry. After, we walked back to the square where we saw an old Orthodox Church, then to the Byzantine Museum at the top of the square. In 1953, Zakynthos suffered a severe earthquake. Many people were killed and there were a lot of fires. Most buildings were severely damaged, including all the churches, except for one. They believe it was saved as there is a Saint buried there. The religious artifacts in the museum were rescued from the churches destroyed in the earthquake and fires.

The only church to survive the earthquake and fire - Thesa Church of St Nicholas in Molos

Evidence of the fires after the earthquake

There are almost complete church walls inside the museum

A ceiling plaque

An early passport document

Statue of Zakynthos (I think), the yellow building behind is the Byzantine Museum

WWII Memorial, with the little tourist 'train' behind it

The day we chose to go to the town of Zakynthos, turned out to be a public holiday (so all the main stores were closed), Kimisi tis Theotoko (Assumption of the Virgin Mary), so this church was very popular

The ferry that crosses between Killini and Zakynthos (we came on this)

An interesting, perhaps Greek warship, in the harbour

The hills at the back of the town were mined for the bentonite clay, which is used in cosmetics

My kind of shop! lol

Olives are growing everywhere

Decorations in the cafe where we had lunch

 'Crab' Salad - very tasty but no actual crab, just seafood mix, herbs and mayo

This is where I had my 'Crab' salad (admittedly the waiter warned me 'no crab')

While we were gone, Skyla and Jess walked to the nearby Church for the festival.