Well we finally clicked the button. Shirley is on holiday next week and we are off to Corfu for seven nights. We'll be staying in a small and fairly humble hotel in St Stefanos on the island's north west coast. It's a three minute walk down to the beach shown in the picture above.
I am so glad that I no longer have to trawl through possible holidays appearing on my computer screen - weighing up a whole bunch of factors. These include overall cost, location, Trip Advisor reviews, swimming pool size, flight times there and back and size and quality of accommodation/hotel. It's enough to make your brain hurt.
It's a long time since we last visited Corfu. Like most large Greek islands its character is multi-faceted. To the south you find Kavos which for many years has held special appeal for young, party animals. Corfu Town - the island's capital - has a lot of historical interest and is quite cosmopolitan. There are inland agricultural villages and while the east coast is shallow and sheltered, the west coast is wilder and more exposed to the open sea.
I recall times gone by when dining out in Greece was amazingly cheap but nowadays typical restaurant prices will often be on a par with England. This is why we have chosen to go "half board" with breakfast and evening meals included. What more can you expect from a tight-fisted Yorkshireman?
Oh. You have reminded me that going to Greece has always been on what we so blithely call our "bucket list." Never been. At this point in my life, I doubt I ever will and if you want to know the truth- that is one of my regrets.
ReplyDeleteTake lots and lots of pictures and share, please.
And I'm sure you have, but have you read the delightful "My Family and Other Animals" by Gerald Durrell? It describes a life in Corfu in the late 1930's.
DeleteYes. I have read that book Ms Moon. In Britain, fairly recently, there has also been an entertaining TV dramatisation of it. So sorry you have never been to Greece. Surely, it's not too late.
DeleteI saw some of the series but somehow it disappointed me horribly after reading the book.
DeleteThe TV series is a delight; but I imagine things will have changed a bit since then.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first visited Greece there were donkeys and old women in black shawls and no hamburgers or chips. It is certainly different now.
DeleteThe book is gorgeous and on my list of all-time favourites and Mr P is reading it at the moment for the first time.
ReplyDeleteI went once with my oldest friend and her family in the mid-90s but can't remember where we stayed. Photo-taking and journal writing never featured in my life as I always foolishly thought I could remember everything. I do remember our hotel had no pool but a work-in-progress. It was comical to watch the lack of action by the "workers" and the lengths they went to to avoid doing anything. One day they dribbled onto the site listlessly, all sporting black armbands. Apparently one of the worker's 90-something year old great-great-aunt had died so they needed to spend the next few days sitting under trees by the hole where the pool was intended so they could properly grieve. The hotel owner had spent some of his life in Australia so was unable to cope with such shenanigans and was driven demented by it all.
Ha-ha! That's a funny story Mrs P. All over the world there are workmen watching other workmen dig holes and in the modern world I wonder why construction workers need to be on their mobile phones all the time?
DeleteWhat beauty there is in Greece, at least from any pictures I've ever seen. Enjoy your holiday. Two meals a day is plenty anyway, isn't it, when you're just lazing around? Ah, but you'll probably spend every day hiking :)
ReplyDeleteI intend to do some walking that is true but I don't know if my beloved will wish to join me. More likely she will laze by the pool with a cocktail.
DeleteWhat a dream vacation! I hope you both have a wonderful time and bring back lots of pictures and interesting stories!
ReplyDeleteI shall do my best to interest you Bonnie.
DeleteSoak up all the sun you can! Two meals will be enough. I believe Greeks, like Italians, have generous food portions. Enjoy your holidays and I will be looking forwards to your photos.
ReplyDeleteGreetings Maria x
Some days we will enjoy a simple Greek salad for lunch with local bread. That is a meal that goes so well with Mediterranean sunshine days.
DeleteI've never taken a genuine vacation as an adult but think I'd like to do an overseas trip next year, and this sort of planning is exactly the thing that gives me anxiety. Going with a reputable travel agency seems like the best bet, but who knows? The beach looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteWhere is Gori Brightened Boy? As a young teacher I think you will have earned your sunshine holiday. Perhaps you will feel more confident if you could holiday with a friend or family member.
DeleteYou and Shirley will have a great holiday, I am sure of that. And I am equally sure that you will let us see some of the photos you take, and write several posts about your time on Corfu.
ReplyDeleteWhen O.K. and I stay at a hotel, we like going half board, too, especially when it is somewhere remote and you'd have to drive into town and look for restaurants otherwise.
When I first went to Greece one of the joys was visiting random tavernas at night for my evening meal but nowadays it's sensible costwise to go for the half board option.
DeleteI have fond memories of Corfu. Went there on an 18-30 holiday back in '79 and recall thinking it would be a hoot to take a pedalo across to Albania.
ReplyDeleteI can well imagine you as an 18:30 party animal Sue. Shaking your golden locks at the sunset beach party and fending off Greek waiters called Kostas. Did you make it to Albania?
DeleteI commented earlier but it has escaped into the ether......
ReplyDeleteWe visited Corfu in 1998 and stayed at the "Nissaki beach hotel". It was really peaceful and beautiful. It was quite remote so we opted for the half board option too.
Hope you have a lovely time.
That is the same hotel we are staying at Christina! I wonder if there will be a blue plaque in memory of your visit with Mr Christina?
DeleteHow amazing is that?
DeleteThey used to run a complimentary bus to Corfu town. We bought a lovely chess set.
I hope the hotel is as good.
I hope I haven't made a mistake...
DeleteCorfu sounds okay for a holiday destination. The only English you’ll need to say is: “we’re from Yorkshire and proud of it” ignore the replies which will probably be “the English think they are great at cricket” they will probably laugh a lot and realise you’re from Yorkshire. This means it’s the first time you’ve seen a seagull that doesn’t say ‘bah gum”.
ReplyDeleteIn Corfu, I shall say Cor! Poo! when I pass a smelly Greek lavatory.
DeleteYay! I haven't been to Corfu yet but it's on my list. You went there before, didn't you?
ReplyDeleteThe last time went there it was around 1990 I believe so I do not believe I have blogged about Corfu before. I think you would find Crete or Santorini more to your liking Steve.
DeleteThe greenest and sweetest of the Greek islands , I love it there
ReplyDeleteI will look out for the Τζον Γκρέι Taverna.
DeleteA wonderful week spent in beautiful area to look forward to. I'm sure you will enjoy the break...how could you not? :)
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to bring home a present for Clint....poor Clint. I hope he doesn't fret!
After reading your previous post...I doubt we have to worry about Clint...I think he and Juanita Golf planned to hook-up while you're away.
DeleteI will have to put a steering lock On Clint while we are away or he'll be mating with Toyotas and Hondas in the airport car park. Those oriental cars are so appealing.
DeleteI'll be interested to hear your comments.
ReplyDeleteTrying to remember when hubby and I went to Corfu, but it must have been sometime in the early 70's. At the time they were filming a James Bond film on the island, and all the hotels were swarming with "glamorous" youngsters all hoping to be picked as extras in the film ! I think Roger Moore was Bond at the time, but can't remember the name of the film. We helped one of the Eon film crew find his way to Corfu town from the middle of nowhere, and gave him our rather "optimistic" map of the island - we often wonder if he ever made it !
Loved the island and always said we'd go back, but never have.
I will ask the locals if they remember you and your late husband CG. Corfu must have been relatively unspoilt in the early seventies. You were lucky to have seen it then.
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