Saturday 16^th April – Messolonghi (It’s wet)

38:21.668N 21:25.004E

Overnight the threatened wind and rain arrived.  Although the wind dropped during the day, the rain has continued heavily on and off.  We don’t do cold and wet and so have stayed aboard Pyxis.  The weather was better in the UK before we left!  This evening, the rain has eased but the wind has got up and is now quite blustery.

Today there have been more events to commemorate the ‘Exodus of Messolonghi’ in town along with a sailing regatta from Patras to Messolonghi.  Sadly the weather hasn’t been kind to them. 

This evening there was a parade from the church of Agios Spiridon through the town to the Heroes Garden, to be followed by speeches and the representation of the blowing up of Kapsalis rehearsed last night.

Around 8pm Richard went as the advanced guard to check out what was happening.  He called me to say that there was quite a gathering so I battled into the teeth of the wind like one of Lowry’s matchstick men to join him.  Fortunately the buildings in town provided some shelter from the elements.  The town was absolutely full of people dressed in traditional costume (complete with knives and guns), together with uniformed soldiers and a number of military bands, all preparing to march. 

The procession started and slowly wound its way past the dignitaries seated in the square outside the church.  We watched from a good vantage point on the corner by the entrance.  There were a lot of people marching and it went on for some time.  The end of the procession was marked by the carriage of a historical picture of the Exodus from the church through the streets. 

We followed the procession into town and then made our way back to Pyxis to thaw out and have a late dinner.  As we walked we could hear the sound of cannons and gun shots from the Heroes Garden.

Messolonghi:  ‘Exodus of Messolonghi’

© Pyxis 2011