Corfu – My Ionian Challenge

From the Aegean Sea to the Ionian Sea, it took a ferry, a bus, and a plane to get me there but I finally arrived on the Greek island of Corfu.  As I’d had to hang out in the Athens airport for 4 hours awaiting my early morning flight, I was exhausted.  However, there were no buses to my hotel, Pontikonisi Hotel, and the taxis were exorbitant!  So I hiked for a couple of miles before a helpful store owner pointed me to a bus stop that dropped me at my destination.

After a nice long nap, it was time to see Corfu Town.  I wandered (I really did!) through the romantic cobbled streets and alleys, gazing up at the beautiful church facades, and dodging tourists.  Realizing how hungry I was, I stopped to eat then realized how late it was.  It was late enough that the buses were no longer running!  I headed to the Sea as I figured I’d reach my hotel if I followed it.  Just in case, I stuck out my thumb.  Very quickly, an older man, who spoke no English, stopped and gave me a ride on his scooter.  It’s a long story on the actual getting to my hotel but he did get me there!

Making sure I had the bus schedule, I spent the following day exploring the sights of Old Town.  There are two fortresses, old and new.  I did not venture into the new one but fully explored the old, most prominent, fortress.  It offered up canons, St George Church, a prison, and incredible views of Corfu and the Ionian Sea.

In my wandering, I found a fabulous spot near the port to enjoy the sunset and a beer.  The diverse architecture throughout the city was a pleasure for me.  The beautifully paved Liston Promenade is a fantastic spot for people watching while enjoying a rest and a drink or a gelato!

I have to say that I was tired at this point in my travels.  I had been moving fast and carrying a heavy load for months and it was catching up to me.  This will explain why I was only interested in Old Town and did not take the time to explore the rest of the island.  From what I understand, the numerous beaches are gorgeous and I did see that the clear, cobalt blue of the sea is entrancing!  Mouse Island (Pontikonisi Island) was actually the view from my hotel, and I actually could have swam to it, but I didn’t bother to visit it or the monastery on it.

Probably because of my disposition, Corfu was my least favorite Greek island and a challenge to truly enjoy.  I drank and dined well, had amazing views from my hotel, enjoyed a day of hotel hospitality (private beach, pool, bar, and wifi), and got a lot of exercise.  Maybe I should go back one day to see the rest of the island…just to make sure!