Greece 2021

Saturday6November

It is on the KerkyraLines line that we embark with our car to reach Corfu. It is 6 PM and night has already fallen. In less than 2 hours, we will be able to set foot on the famous island of the Ionian Sea.

Already almost 8 PM, and the ferry docks at the quay of the port of Corfu. All that remains is to get out of the ferry with the car and reach our Airbnb located 10 minutes from the port.

Back in the center of Corfu for lunch and a short walk. Tomorrow, we will start discovering the northern part of the island.

Sunday7November

Let's go to visit the north of the island. We start with Kalami beach.

The beaches are deserted. The average tourist does not come here in November it seems...

At the end of the beach, the "White house" residence of the British writer Lawrence Durrell (brother of the naturalist Gerald Durrell).

Not very far, is the small port of Kouloura.

In the distance, on the other side, on the mainland, we distinguish the Albanian city of Saranda. Yes, northern Corfu faces Albania.

We now arrive at the very top of the island of Corfu in Sidari.

A stele commemorates Zoltán Gosi, a young man of 26 who died here on July 29, 2000 while wanting to save a life... ;

We now pass on the west coast. If on the other side, we were facing Albania, here, it is Italy that is not so far because only a hundred kilometers separate us from the heel of the boot... The pontoon allows you to move away from the beach while enjoying the Ionian Sea and without getting wet, because yes, it must be said that the sea is a little cold in this month of November...;

Our turn to enjoy the bench, before eating opposite at "Kostas on the Beach" to eat a typically Greek French dish, chicken with cream and mushrooms!  

Let's move on now to a little more physical activity to join this fortress perched at the top of its cliff, the Angelokastro castle.

The view from the fortress.

The castle dates from the 13th century. Here, a small discreet chapel dug into the ground.

Last stage of the day, in Paleokastritsa and its setting sun.

The entrance to the Panagia Theotokos monastery. It was founded in the 13th century and rebuilt in the 18th.

We arrive too late because the monastery is going to close... And its inhabitants will soon go to sleep, some have even started.  

Monday8November

Our second day will be devoted to the south of the island. We start with the small port of Mpoukari.

Then we pass on the deserted beach of Gardenos.

Then the rocky coast of Georgios.

And here we are just at the beginning of the reserve of Paralia Chalikounas with its Korission lake where pink flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) stop here during their migrations.

Short passage by the beach of Kauris.

And back in the city of Corfu!

The old fort of Corfu built by engineers from Venice from the 15th century.

Hearty lunch (it's often the case in Tavernas...) at the Alatopipero restaurant.

The new fort, but not so new since its construction dates back to 1572...

Return to the port to buy tickets for the evening ferry.

The cruise ships MSC Armonia, Costa Deliziosa and MS Volendam wait wisely for their occupants to resume sailing, perhaps to the Cyclades, the very popular islands of southern Greece. Given the number of people on the beaches, I wonder where all these little people were hiding...

Return to the foot of the old fort.

At the entrance, the statue of Count Von der Schulenburg (1661-1747) who protected Corfu by leading the Venetians to victory against the Ottoman Empire of Ahmet III.

And hop, barely time to say ouf and here we are already embarked for the return to the mainland!

There is still time to enjoy the beautiful view of the city of Corfu.;

In two hours, we will have reached the port of Igoumenítsa from where we will leave directly to reach our next rental in Neokesaria.

Here we are on the top floor of our Airbnb host's house with a beautiful view of Neokesaria.