Distant Sun.....

"....When your seven worlds collide
Whenever  I am by your side
And dust from a distant sun
Will shower over everyone....."

As we settle down into our work routine it’s nice to take a day out and do something completely different, and last week we had a day off! We took our local friends Keith and Sue to the airport, as they were flying back to the UK for a quick family visit and to collect their car and drive it back to Corfu.  Coincidentally on the same morning our friends from Preston, Lynda and Steve, who are on a Mediterranean cruise, arrived in Corfu Town for the day as part of their itinerary.

On our way to the airport, we made our usual pit stop at the Emeral bakery, which is the best pit stop/ coffee shop/ transport café you’ll ever visit here.  All the world calls in there, either on a lunch/coffee break or to pick up sandwiches/cakes/pastries or a delicious ice cream treat, it’s also a fabulous people watching location.

We had arranged to meet Lynda and Steve at midday on the Liston.  We arrived in town early knowing it was a bank holiday and celebration day, some of the main roads were closed due to the processions being held around the Liston and sea front areas, but with a bit of skill and local knowledge we have picked up over the years, Keith managed to steer us via some back streets to the old port.  Parking was difficult because of the bank holiday and all the car parks were only letting the parade ‘band’ members park.  Luckily we found one small space just outside the car park and in any other city we would've been causing an obstruction and had the car towed away but when Keith asked a policeman if it was OK, he just shrugged, nodded and walked away, so we took it as a yes!  We abandoned the car and set off on foot through the streets of Corfu Town to the Liston.

Fruit and veg shop - Corfu Town

It was ‘Unification Day’; marking the unification of the Seven  Ionian Islands with Greece in 1864. You’d have thought the Corfiots would be ruing such an event, in the current circumstances; however the streets were full of marching bands, local dignitaries and thousands of tourists, all in all a great atmosphere, not quite like the Easter celebrations we witnessed last year but a great sense of occasion.

There was one point when local MPs /officials/high ranking clergy, walked through the main street flanked by paparazzi and police armed bodyguards, followed by hundreds of scouts and guides, it was a scene straight out of the Godfather movies!

We met Lynda & Steve on the edge of all this chaos in a café on the Liston, and after a quick planning meeting over a cheeky red wine and ouzo meze we decided we should explore out of town because it was so crowded.  Lynda & Steve have stopped off in Corfu a couple of times before and we wanted to try and show them something of the island they wouldn't get by following a tour guide off the ship!

This time we went out of town and up to Kaisers Throne. 

Keith, Lynda and Steve

A place of interesting history and some of the best views of the middle of the island, dominated by the 2 huge cruise ships anchored at the port in Corfu Town.  Between 1908 and the first world war, Kaiser Wilhelm II spent his summers at Achillion Palace but his favourite location was the village of Pelekas.   It’s not difficult to understand why.  Standing at his ‘throne’ you have a 360 degree panoramic view of the island and one of the most impressive sunsets.

The Kaiser's Throne

After a few photo opportunities we came back down to the small town of Pelekas for lunch.   The location of one of my all time favourite films, the 1964 film Zorba The Greek, starring Anthony Quinn! Across the road from the taverna is a blue and white painted old 2^nd WW mine which featured in the film!

Pelekas now

Anthony Quinn 1964

After a pleasant lunch we still had some time on our hands before they had to be back on board no later than 5pm.  We checked the map and satnav and decided we could do a quick trip to Paleokastritsa;   ½ hour later we were sat on the waterfront in Paleo, beer in hand, basking in beautiful sunshine, watching people jumping on and off boats and swimming in the sea, which could only be icy water  at this time of year.

Palio Bay

Fixing the windows on the submarine in Palio

Beer drunk and no time for souvenir shopping, we piled back into the car and returned our guests back to their ship!  We made our way home leisurely via the east coast taking in Ipsos, Kalami, Kassiopi and Roda en-route.

We are now looking forward to our next day off, which will be this Monday, 3 weeks since our last one and Keith’s first night off since 22^nd May!
(Keith made me put this.... I think he is looking for some sympathy?) (*shrug*)

Corfu flowers in May

.....You're still so young to travel so far
Old enough to know who you are
Wise enough to carry the scars

When your seven worlds collide……