The island of Corfu (Kerkyra) is green, lush and beautiful with rolling hills. The Irish we've met here remark it's rather like their emerald Isle, same great beaches, but with warmer waters and better heat.
The views around Corfu are stunning, magnified in the brilliant blue skies. The waters around; esp on the east side, are a boater's paradise. Small villages dot the island.
Corfu town, is a vibrant place. The old part, Venetian- influenced, with narrow lanes, is a hum of activity. Shops & cafes dot the cobblestone streets. This is a cruise ship port; the dreaded tourist hordes embark daily, "to see the island", some with only 2-3 hrs to spare. These floating people movers, the size of small towns dictate a lot of economic activity. From tours, buses, shops etc..$$$ change hands, but little really stays on the island.
Local buses run all over and are easy to use to get around the island. Many of the roads are like the Hardy Mtn switchbacks (for those back home) tight, narrow corners. And, really fun for the tour bus sized behemoths to navigate, as passengers come close to cliff edges.
Some roads have stoplights that allow only one-way traffic up, down, or around corners. Drivers navigate seemingly impossible roads and corners with mere centimeters to spare!! Haha! Just like in Mexico!!
The Adriatic, Ionian Seas that surround Corfu are (for the most part) like molten silver in their clarity. The waters, bathed in brilliant sunlight are smooth against the skin. It feels like being in a giant aquarium, although one sparse with sea life. Swimmers' bubbles glisten, reflect the sunlight above. The bottom, resembles the Sahara desert as if seen from the vantage point high overhead; rippled, clean, devoid of life and vegetation.
Paleokastritsa Beach
In early May, the waters of Corfu feel like early season in our rivers back in our hometown.... cool, refreshing and cleansing.. If you like to swim, the lanquid, clear waters invite one to swim forever.
Here are some more images of the stunning beaches we have been to on this beautiful island...
Food and drinks are expensive here..... (In euro $$) draft beer $5-$8, Greek salad for $7-$10, rum n cokes $8-$12, meals $12+. Our Airbnb was about $60 with breakfasts. We've taken to eating a main meal in the early afternoon (European way?) with a snack in the later evening. Probably eating less this way...
Messoghi Beach meal of grilled sardines, calamari, salad, fries and beer all for $25.
The flora is also quite beautiful! This particular shrub is seen everywhere with its vibrant red bottle-scrubber-style flowers.
Then, there are these 20-30cm wide flowers. All stunning!
The people of Corfu have been wonderful. They smile and laugh as we struggle with a few Greek words and phrases we try to learn and use on a daily basis. While the tourist industry knows their English well, the older shopkeeper appreciate our efforts.
On our last full day, we end up staying in a tiny, seaside village of Kassiopi. The coastline of Albania is clearly seen to the east.
End up finding a great room on the water, 30 seconds from the action. Ours is on the bottom left for $65.
At a monastery
Mosaic on the monastery well
Lemon trees
We move on the next day to catch a ferry for Albania. We want to stay another day exploring the northeast corner where Kassiopi is, but island buses don't run Sundays to any great extent.
We head back to Corfu Town, assured by our research and our B&B hosts phone calls, that, YES!!, there are ferries in the am and pm to Albania. Back in town, and in plenty of time for the pm sailing, we find that the reality is otherwise...no ferry and only one the next morning.... So, what to do...??
With that, we make lemonade... We find out there's a ferry (2hr ride) to mainland Greece, which arrives south of Albania. Then there's an hour bus back to the Albanian border... after that, it's a mystery...haha!
So.....so much for the research and plans we've thought about over the past several days. It would be such an easy 30 minute hydrofoil ferry to Sarande, Albania, then a quick 20 minute bus ride to the coastal town of Ksamil, on the Albanian Riveria, where we had planned to be!
We decide, what @#$%, just do it, and decide to take the ferry to mainland Greece, rather than spend another night in Corfu. We buy a ticket and catch the ferry, literally the last to get on, as crew are untieing lines and waving us on board...hurry, hurry!!!
Goodbye Corfu!!!
Corfu Fortress from the ferry
"Oh, don't go there," people warn us.
"Why, we say?"
"It's not safe, the people are_____, watch out for______!!!!!" (Just fill in the blanks with everything you've heard that's bad about Mexico or Cuba)....
PS....we'll let you know how it really is.....
We welcome any feedback and comments.
The countryside looks absolutely stunning. And you two look like you're having the time of your lives. What a wonderful to retire. Thinking about you.
ReplyDelete