"First there is a mountain......."

“ .....then there is no mountain, then there is.........”

While we’ve been waiting for the summer here to kick in, we have been out and about exploring.

We decided to visit the old medieval castle outside Paleokastritsa, called the Angelokastro, perched dramatically on an impossibly abrupt hill around 6miles up the coast from town.

Its been closed for a few years due to ‘renovation’, and we heard it was open again. On the way we passed through a small village called Krini, which was “little old lady heaven” for Liz; there were so many elderly people in the streets, doorways and balconies, that she didn’t know which way to turn. It was a wonderful quaint and unspoilt village with no sign of tourism around.

The weather was cool enough for the hike (we thought). We arrived at the foot of it armed with walking sandals and bottles of water and set off.

We climbed the steep steps, with very little in the way of ‘health and safety’, no hand rails or level surfaces, but luckily there were warning signs strategically placed.

The view over the ropes.....

The ruined castle is a stiff 20 minute walk up a steep, stepped path from the car park, but the effort is rewarded by stunning, almost circular views of the surrounding sea and land - on a clear day, it's possible to see Corfu Town. . Little remains of the fort but it was well worth the climb.

When we started out it was clear blue skies,but as we reached the top the clouds were rolling in. So we didn’t hang around for long.

We made our way back down, in the car and went into Paleokastritsa for a stroll round the harbour. Paleokastritsa is a very popular tourist destination, even with the Corfiots it seems, because as we parked up, a coach load of elderly day-trippers were all just getting back on their coach. Not only did they bring the kitchen sink but their donkey to help them carry everything came too!!


It was so funny, because as they were walking to their coach, the donkey that was grazing in the nearby field, spotted one of the little old ladies and followed her across the road, much to the amusement of all her friends. It wouldn’t leave her alone, it clearly thought it knew her and had to be persuaded by several of the men to go away!


We have done the usual trips down to Corfu Town (to go to Lidl for cheap toilet paper and washing powder) so while we were there, we popped down to Mouse Island, where we have been many times before with various friends & relatives, to view the sites, watch the planes and of course, watch the motorcycles navigate across the narrow causeway for a 5 mile shortcut out of Corfu Town. But it’s a lot safer now because new signs have been installed, to encourage people to be more responsible when using the causeway.



We saw this sign outside the Thomas Bay Hotel in San Stefanos.......

As we couldn’t see any feathered birds or local live stock, on their starting blocks, we assumed it was formula one racing??

......Bob and Keith out for a quick spin in Bobs kit car

(Ralf and Teds new ‘sit and ride’ rotivator?)

Meanwhile back in compost corner: the upper & lower fields are blooming marvellous!! We have tomatoes everywhere, potatoes & peas that are nearly ready and all the other assorted veg we planted is growing like mad, it’s probably the combination of sunshine & lots of water. And we are eating our own salad and rocket and spinach etc already.



More updates to follow.......

“.....The lock upon my garden gate's a snail, that's what it is....”