Corfu – Island on the Ionian Sea in the top northwest Greece. From the east shore of the island is possible to see the dry mountains of Albania and several boats leave daily to Italy.
The city of Corfu, or Kerkyra as the locals call it, and some interior villages, are the only real Greek stuff. All the other locations in the island are tourism resorts like in Ibiza, Lagos or any other part of the world where the Anglo-Saxon tourist already domains!
Just after landing on the island we felt 2 shocks:
1st – Temperature shock, from 20 degrees in London to 40 degrees in Corfu.
2nd – The massive amount of English and Danish tourists that were in the airport with all the suitcases arriving at one unique place for all flights.
Nevertheless the good mood was automatically restores after being well received by André with his XL smile, our new rented jeep and some beer crane. Cheers for the hosting skills of my host friend that even prepared some snacks when we got to the hotel room.
Previously planned made it happen! Hotel near the discos and far from the beaches. Therefore we explored the island during the day and at night we could walk to the nightlife.
The nights in the city of Corfu were really nice. Greeks are really a beautiful people that take a lot of care of their looks. Girls and boys, very “produced”, flashy and trendy clothes, tanned skins, a great atmosphere. Au bar and Prestige were the names of the places we hanged out. Pretty faces, mainly techno music scene with the occasional local top of the charts.
Generally speaking, Greeks are very similar to Portuguese. The meals schedule, the rhythm of life, the way of being and the nice way they receive and treat tourists.
2nd Day – Exploring the north and centre of the island
We left Corfu in a rush pointing north and there we started our first day on the beach.
Dassia, Barbati (famous English resort with a long rocky beach extension), Nissaki and we start to climb the northern mountains.
Impossible not to make comparisons between Corfu landscape and Arrábida Mountains in Portugal and Portinho beach. The narrow roads on the green mountains, finding down there small white pebbles beaches with amazing blue water. Olive trees and ciprests dominate the flora, as the fig trees and Mediterranean bushes.
And it was finally in Kalami that we made our baptism on the Ionian Sea. Water? It’s more like a warm chicken soup at 26 degrees. But how nicely those rocks and pebbles massage our feet while getting in and out the water…
Arriving to the north coast, we stopped in a sand beach near the port city of Kassiopi. Dark sand and big distance to reach water to waist level.
Going along the north coast we went to check a place recommended by all guides. Sidari! With a peculiar sandy rock formation, there is a legend of the channel of love! A tunnel between the rocks that people say that have the power to make 2 lovers keep together forever if they pass under it.
Once again, what is recommended in postcards and guides, just disappointed us. The channel is so much “touristilized” that there isn’t a piece of rock which doesn’t have someone laying down catching sun.
The day advances really fast and we advance our adventure more to the interior of the island. We arrived at Paleokastritsa and we stop to by fruit. In the photo below the sign informs of 4 minutes to wait for the green light sign that lets us climb to a mountain top in a road with only one way. It worth to wait! On the top, a panoramic restaurant, a church and a cemetery. All with a incredible view at 500 meters high.
Curious and funny the column of bells shape that all the orthodox churches have. And if inside the churches are humble and simple in decorations and gold, the surrounding gardens are extremely beautiful and full of good taste.
The city of Corfu, or Kerkyra as the locals call it, and some interior villages, are the only real Greek stuff. All the other locations in the island are tourism resorts like in Ibiza, Lagos or any other part of the world where the Anglo-Saxon tourist already domains!
Just after landing on the island we felt 2 shocks:
1st – Temperature shock, from 20 degrees in London to 40 degrees in Corfu.
2nd – The massive amount of English and Danish tourists that were in the airport with all the suitcases arriving at one unique place for all flights.
Nevertheless the good mood was automatically restores after being well received by André with his XL smile, our new rented jeep and some beer crane. Cheers for the hosting skills of my host friend that even prepared some snacks when we got to the hotel room.
Previously planned made it happen! Hotel near the discos and far from the beaches. Therefore we explored the island during the day and at night we could walk to the nightlife.
The nights in the city of Corfu were really nice. Greeks are really a beautiful people that take a lot of care of their looks. Girls and boys, very “produced”, flashy and trendy clothes, tanned skins, a great atmosphere. Au bar and Prestige were the names of the places we hanged out. Pretty faces, mainly techno music scene with the occasional local top of the charts.
Generally speaking, Greeks are very similar to Portuguese. The meals schedule, the rhythm of life, the way of being and the nice way they receive and treat tourists.
2nd Day – Exploring the north and centre of the island
We left Corfu in a rush pointing north and there we started our first day on the beach.
Dassia, Barbati (famous English resort with a long rocky beach extension), Nissaki and we start to climb the northern mountains.
Impossible not to make comparisons between Corfu landscape and Arrábida Mountains in Portugal and Portinho beach. The narrow roads on the green mountains, finding down there small white pebbles beaches with amazing blue water. Olive trees and ciprests dominate the flora, as the fig trees and Mediterranean bushes.
And it was finally in Kalami that we made our baptism on the Ionian Sea. Water? It’s more like a warm chicken soup at 26 degrees. But how nicely those rocks and pebbles massage our feet while getting in and out the water…
Arriving to the north coast, we stopped in a sand beach near the port city of Kassiopi. Dark sand and big distance to reach water to waist level.
Going along the north coast we went to check a place recommended by all guides. Sidari! With a peculiar sandy rock formation, there is a legend of the channel of love! A tunnel between the rocks that people say that have the power to make 2 lovers keep together forever if they pass under it.
Once again, what is recommended in postcards and guides, just disappointed us. The channel is so much “touristilized” that there isn’t a piece of rock which doesn’t have someone laying down catching sun.
The day advances really fast and we advance our adventure more to the interior of the island. We arrived at Paleokastritsa and we stop to by fruit. In the photo below the sign informs of 4 minutes to wait for the green light sign that lets us climb to a mountain top in a road with only one way. It worth to wait! On the top, a panoramic restaurant, a church and a cemetery. All with a incredible view at 500 meters high.
Curious and funny the column of bells shape that all the orthodox churches have. And if inside the churches are humble and simple in decorations and gold, the surrounding gardens are extremely beautiful and full of good taste.
And it was in the beach just below the mountain that we had our last swim and we watched the sunset before returning home, where a nap would follow to regain energies for another going out on Corfu Town.
Holidays!
Holidays!
1 comment:
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