Stay through the daytime
safe in the sunshine
stay till the daytime
turns into night……..”
After our foggy day’s adventure with P&L to the Monastery, we decided to make full use of the hire car & sat nav, but in beautiful sunshine! We set off to explore the west coast of the island. We had already done the Afionas walk on our own but decided to give our visitors the “Greek village experience”
After our foggy day’s adventure with P&L to the Monastery, we decided to make full use of the hire car & sat nav, but in beautiful sunshine! We set off to explore the west coast of the island. We had already done the Afionas walk on our own but decided to give our visitors the “Greek village experience”
Liz and Loraine run the gauntlet past some villagers
Paddy and Lorraine were just as enchanted as we were by this beautiful village.
This time we got up close to the goats and goat herder, as we attempted to do the tricky coastal walk beyond Afionas village. We soon gave up the idea as the terrain proved to be tougher than we first thought and Lorraine had only flip flops on her feet so we abandoned the walk and got back into the car.
The next resort round the coast from Afionas is Agios George and we found a new route down to the beach via the house that Paul & family will rent in the summer!
The next resort round the coast from Afionas is Agios George and we found a new route down to the beach via the house that Paul & family will rent in the summer!
We parked on the sea front and walked the length of the beach; the day was extremely hot so it was a treat to be up to our ankles in cool seawater. This resort is more of a cosmopolitan mix, as many German, Dutch, Russian & Italian tourists visit here each summer & many of the tavernas cater for a more Germanic taste, which seems to better quality than you often find in Corfu.
We had decided to eat lunch in a small taverna in Arillas (near to home) but thought, as it was still a bit too early we’d take the scenic route back to it!
We had decided to eat lunch in a small taverna in Arillas (near to home) but thought, as it was still a bit too early we’d take the scenic route back to it!
View of Agios George and Arillas bays
So back into the car & out of the other end of the marvellous horseshoe shaped bay of Agios George, we followed the coastal road using the satnav towards a village called Pagni. We turned upwards in the direction of Paelokastritsa, zigzagging up a steep cliff face, as we climbed, the view below us became increasingly spectacular and near the crest of the hill we pulled over and took full advantage of the photo opportunity. Onwards and upwards we headed a bit deeper inland through an area where much farming was going on. One would think that crops would be better grown at sea level but up here fruit veg and wine crops seemed to be in every available plot of land.
There were road side sellers of local produce, mainly old people, who would leap out of their standard issue white plastic chairs and run into the road to flag us down (just like mad dogs chasing cars), Paddy managed to swerve around them and we carried on. Paddy used his satnav to mark points of interest to follow up later in the week, when he and Lorraine went out on their own in the car.
We eventually arrived back in Arillas 2 hours later & having detoured about 30 miles, to a superb mixture of local spinach pie, Squid, beer, local wine & Paddy had the chef’s salad, which seemed to increase in volume with every mouthful he consumed. The rest of the day was a mixture of poolside resting for Keith & Lorraine and Internet for Liz & Paddy, where a plan was hatched for them to hire scooters & blaze a trail across the island (another blog to follow on that).
Paddy & Lorraine had a couple of days exploring on their own in the car & found many hidden gems that we hadn’t discovered but we will visit in the coming weeks.
On Sunday Paddy had to give the car back, so they came with us for Keith’s nighttime gig in the 5 star hotel.
There were road side sellers of local produce, mainly old people, who would leap out of their standard issue white plastic chairs and run into the road to flag us down (just like mad dogs chasing cars), Paddy managed to swerve around them and we carried on. Paddy used his satnav to mark points of interest to follow up later in the week, when he and Lorraine went out on their own in the car.
We eventually arrived back in Arillas 2 hours later & having detoured about 30 miles, to a superb mixture of local spinach pie, Squid, beer, local wine & Paddy had the chef’s salad, which seemed to increase in volume with every mouthful he consumed. The rest of the day was a mixture of poolside resting for Keith & Lorraine and Internet for Liz & Paddy, where a plan was hatched for them to hire scooters & blaze a trail across the island (another blog to follow on that).
Paddy & Lorraine had a couple of days exploring on their own in the car & found many hidden gems that we hadn’t discovered but we will visit in the coming weeks.
On Sunday Paddy had to give the car back, so they came with us for Keith’s nighttime gig in the 5 star hotel.
They booked into the very posh restaurant there and dined whilst Keith played & Liz glued her face to the restaurant window and watched their a-la-carte experience with great envy. Apparently the food was as good as Keith’s playing?!? Or maybe even better, they highly recommended it anyway (the food that is)
The view from the 5 star restaurant
As a final full day out for them, the five of us, including, Martina, (as Paddy calls her) as in (Sat-nav-all-over) set off for a Corfu town adventure. We parked close to the “Mon Repos” area and walked back into town via tree-lined streets & into the main town.
As it was close to midday the heat was intense, so we meandered through narrow shady lanes occasionally wandering into the air-conditioned shops. Whilst the girls browsed in a shoe shop, (Liz was trying to persuade Lorraine to buy some bright pink “fake” Crocs), the boys spotted a back street giros bar & promptly tucked into a beer & giros pitta fest!!!!
After this brief fuel stop we did some more sightseeing, up around the old fortress into the fish & fruit and veg market; and we went back into the narrow streets that lead to the main square. Corfu Town takes its siesta time seriously and even most of the churches had shut up shop for a sleep, but we managed to show P&L the inside of the St Spiridon Cathedral and as it was not the height of summer the air con wasn’t switched on, so it was no cooler in here than in the street.
Well nothing else to do but head for the Liston & another beer break (got to keep your fluid levels up in these temperatures). Liz introduced P&L to the delights of the wine meze; a delicious array of local things on sticks with chips and a glass of wine for 50 cents more than just a glass of wine! After this brief but very pleasant stop, only interrupted by the usual street seller of DVD’s and watches, we moved on past 5 star hotels & beautiful properties towards the car, which was now thankfully conveniently in the shade.
We used the satnav to find the end of the spur of land beyond Mon Repos at the end of the airport runway where “Mouse Island” and its monastery can be found.
Through a maze of one-way streets, and past some amazing old Roman ruins we arrived at a parking place overlooking Mouse Island where 2 tavernas have possibly the best views of this much photographed Greek icon!
After this brief fuel stop we did some more sightseeing, up around the old fortress into the fish & fruit and veg market; and we went back into the narrow streets that lead to the main square. Corfu Town takes its siesta time seriously and even most of the churches had shut up shop for a sleep, but we managed to show P&L the inside of the St Spiridon Cathedral and as it was not the height of summer the air con wasn’t switched on, so it was no cooler in here than in the street.
Well nothing else to do but head for the Liston & another beer break (got to keep your fluid levels up in these temperatures). Liz introduced P&L to the delights of the wine meze; a delicious array of local things on sticks with chips and a glass of wine for 50 cents more than just a glass of wine! After this brief but very pleasant stop, only interrupted by the usual street seller of DVD’s and watches, we moved on past 5 star hotels & beautiful properties towards the car, which was now thankfully conveniently in the shade.
We used the satnav to find the end of the spur of land beyond Mon Repos at the end of the airport runway where “Mouse Island” and its monastery can be found.
Through a maze of one-way streets, and past some amazing old Roman ruins we arrived at a parking place overlooking Mouse Island where 2 tavernas have possibly the best views of this much photographed Greek icon!
But we decided to get a better look having spotted a parking area below. It took another 20 minutes of driving back around & through the one-way system to finally arrive on the quay side .. perfect!!!
Although as we pulled away from the top area Liz had to negotiate her way through and past two coaches that were discharging their passengers!!! Yep busloads of Japanese tourists, milling everywhere, and in the time it took us to drive around the streets to reach the foot of the cliff, they had climbed down the steps from the taverna and were moving on mass toward the little island, which was our destination!!!
We waited till most had been there, bought the postcard, taken the pictures, and departed before we dared to explore.
There is a single track causeway that runs across the end of the runway linking this part of Corfu Town to the southern part of the island, just wide enough for pedestrians and of course scooters.
Keith & Paddy went to have a look with the hope that a plane might land or take off, while they were out there!
It was only when they had got back to near the car that a Lear jet landed and some reasonable photos were gained.
We set off back home stopping off at the great bakery we patronise on every trip to & from Corfu Town and several kilos of baklava & ice creams later we made our way home with the satnav twittering away about our destination.
We have had a great 10 days with Paddy and Loraine. It’s fab having people over because it makes us change our routine and do more ‘touristy’ stuff. (Cos most of the time we are locals you know!!)
“…….Dream till the sunrise
We have had a great 10 days with Paddy and Loraine. It’s fab having people over because it makes us change our routine and do more ‘touristy’ stuff. (Cos most of the time we are locals you know!!)
“…….Dream till the sunrise
creeps into your eyes
Dream till the sunrise
Turns on the day……..”
Follow this link to see Paddy's photo slide show!!
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3 comments:
looks divine hope you are all well. We got some more good news Jonathan has just announced his engagement....love to all. Helen (Abrahams)
Now you can't claim that I didn't try to be nice first. Now I'm telling you: get off of my (head)land!
Nice patch, isn't it? We want to try a walk from that bay to where Paddy stayed for your wedding, when we're there. Any takers? Apart from Dan, of course, he's already planned in as sherpa.
Hello Liz
I just love your blogg, it has taken me some time to work it out but hay ho i can blogg yippee.
You look so happy liz. Its so nice to see Sheila, siobhan and Carmel's blogs to.
Can not wait for the next one.......xx
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