PREPIS/TRANSCRIPT

Summer is approaching/is coming, and you're unsure where to head for vacation this year? Let me tell you about my holiday in Corfu, Greece. It might give you a little inspiration for your travels this year.  

Greece is indeed touristy, but it's still worth a visit. I highly recommend this destination for a few reasons. First, it offers the perfect blend/mix of relaxation and exploration. One day, you could be at a secluded beach, and the next, you could be exploring the old city center. Second, the beaches themselves are stunning; I've never seen such turquoise waters. Lastly, despite being a touristy destination, there's a vibrant atmosphere with plenty of options. There are numerous amazing restaurants and services to enjoy.

Have I convinced you to book your flight ticket yet? No? Okay, let's continue.

We spent around 10 days in Corfu, and it was just perfect. We stayed in a very private accommodation a little bit in the hills, and it was really peaceful, but you can definitely choose something busier if you prefer. Every day we set off for a trip, and we weren't bored one day! The sun was pretty strong because we were there in high season. I recommend going earlier in the summer or at the end of August maybe. Nevertheless, we were able to enjoy beautiful trips. We rented a car for our whole stay there; that is how we usually do it.

One of our first trips was to see some shipwrecks, but when we arrived, a local informed us that the previous year they had been damaged due to a strong winter. I was immediately disappointed and thought to myself, "This is not starting well!" On the way back to the main road, we encountered/had some serious trouble getting the car uphill as it wasn't very powerful. Since there are lots of hills on Corfu, it's better to take a walk if your destination is steep downhill, as you might encounter difficulties getting back up. However, other than this one incident, it didn't happen again, but we were quite careful.

Our second stop that day was a secluded beach. We typically look for non-commercial beaches on various blogs recommended by locals. This one was quite challenging to reach; I would definitely advise against wearing slippers and recommend wearing trainers. If you decide to venture down/go down there, be prepared for a little bit of climbing and the use of ropes. The beach is called Giali/y (Yali). It's incredibly private, so remember to bring your own snacks, plenty of water, and a sun umbrella would be nice as well. 

On our way back to the car, we met some goats. It's a bit amusing now because we didn't know what to expect from such wild goats, but then they decided to climb uphill into the forest, and that was that. I was absolutely exhausted after this trip, as it was more of a hike.

As for beaches, some accessible yet beautiful ones without any services are Rovinia Beach and then maybe Porto Timoni. Be prepared to walk a little bit. The path to Porto Timoni starts in narrow streets with houses, and there are some restaurants where you can eat before heading down to the sea. One city beach I enjoyed was Kassiopi's Bataria, located in the town center. Many times, you can rent a boat if you don't get seasick (unlike me). Definitely avoid Dassia Beach; it was absolutely terrible, with hardly any sand, too many people, shallow, warm water that wasn't crystal clear. I was also afraid that some pickpocketers would grab/steal our stuff.

Corfu is a pretty big island, which might not seem apparent at first, but it does take some time to travel from one place to another. So, keep this in mind when booking a hotel; aim for a location around 25-30 minutes from the airport. We stayed near the town of Gouvia, which I highly recommend for dinners. There are plenty of amazing restaurants offering a variety of cuisines, from Italian and Greek to Mexican and Asian. However, all areas around the island have some nice spots. I particularly enjoyed our location as it served as a good starting point for all the main attractions we wanted to see and all the main beaches we wanted to visit.

One of the must-see experiences, and probably one of the best memories I have, is watching the planes land and take off. You can see this up close from cafes built on a hill specifically for this purpose. We visited Cafe Kanoni and then drove downhill to a pier and a small monastery, where the airplanes flew overhead. From the cafe, you can hear the strong resonance of the planes. We went there at sunset and stayed for a while, checking the radar for planes so we knew when to expect them. It was truly magnificent.

I also loved exploring the old town of Corfu. There's a little fortress you can visit, as well as an Asian museum that is free for those under 26 years old. Another interesting place is Sisi's palace, Achilleon. It's just a short visit but still worth it.

And yes! I forgot to tell that I will be posting some pictures with this blog on my website. So, do not forget to check that as well to see some actual pictures of the places I am talking about (below).

There are definitely some things you should avoid, such as boat trips to Paxos and Antipaxos. These organized boat trips take the whole day, with around 3 to 4 hours journey there and the same thing back, just for a brief stop to swim. They mention blue caves, but honestly, you can live without seeing them. The boats are often overcrowded, with some people not even having a place to sit, and no shade and the journey can get pretty uncomfortable, especially if you get seasick. I took some pills, so it was okay when I wasn't moving around the boat. Then you have a very short stop for lunch at one of the islands that is pretty far away from Corfu, so maybe skip that. The same goes for Nymfes waterfall; it was dried out when we visited. LOL. But it's located in a beautiful olive tree forest. If you go in the off-season, you might have better luck than we did, I think.

One thing you shouldn't miss is watching the sunset at Pantokrator, the highest point in Corfu. The road is winding/curvy and takes some time, but the view is absolutely stunning. Along the road, we saw flocks of sheep, but remember to bring a jacket; it can get pretty cold up there.

In summary, our 10-day adventure in Corfu was a mix of unforgettable moments and stunning scenery. Each spot offered its own unique experience. Despite some disappointments with, you know, overcrowded boat trips and dried-out waterfalls, highlights like watching planes land at Cafe Kanoni and witnessing the sunset at Pantokrator left us in awe. Corfu's beauty, history, and hospitality made our trip truly memorable. And if you do not want to travel out of the EU, it is a great choice.

FOTOREPORT