23 July 2010 Transit to and the start of the Corfu adventure

Transit to and the start of the Corfu adventure

A relatively smooth trip back to the UK and Heathrow airport. It is so good having a UK passport, easy entry through the short line, although the immigration officers give me a funny look when they hear the Aussie accent with the British Passport. With the early start (5.30 flight) out of Gatwick I decided to stay at the Gatwick airport in the airport short term accommodation. How interesting is that down the lift into an automated reception centre (there was a desk person if required) and you are issued with a key to your cubical. You enter into a very sterile (small) room a bed that you step up into, flat screen tv at the end of the bed, fold out desk and chair and a toilet and shower behind a glass partition. Perfect, as long as you are not worried about confined spaces.

Arrived in Corfu and the choice was a 50 Euro taxi ride to Kasiopi or try to sort the bus which had a terminal somewhere in town. So jump right in and after a 10 Euro taxi to the ‘green’ bus station I manage to sort out the bus to Kasiopi which leaves 10 minutes after I get there how good is that ‘Linda luck’. The bus ride is 3.30 Euro soooo cheap. I had forgotten the mountainous road to Kasiopi and the bus charging around the skinny roads with huge drop-offs all, good but.

I arrived in Kasiopi and had a 1K walk up to the Taverna and accommodation; the majority of the folks speak English here so things are relatively easy.

The room I'm in is basic but a nice size with air-conditioning, Yeh ( although trying not to use). About 10 minutes walk into town, I have now gotten some food water and red wine in so I will settle into a routine. The room is connected onto the Tavana (Fish Tavana) yum. It is picture perfect I will take photos over the next few days, but let me describe it if I can It is lunch time I am sitting at the small open bar, a purple flowered tree with a huge group of flowers is just above my head. I can smell the faint sent of flowers,the stronger smell of cooking fish and spices from the restaurant mingled with the salty ocean smell, behind me I can see the white tiled courtyard 20M x 20M with a few scattered tables under large square white umbrellas for the restaurant, directly beyond that (over the balcony) is the rocky beach and the crystal clear waters of the bay I will swim in. There are some small colourful boats anchored close in and a sailing boat further out. In the distance (only about 4 K) you can see the Albanian coast and the majestic hills raising out of the sea.' Honestly, I can’t find all the right words.

Time for a swim
I step down the flight of stairs from my room, turn left there are the three steps up to the Taverna or I keep going straight ahead another 20 paces onto the stony beach, I keep going another 20 paces onto the end of the dock, I drop my clothes place my thongs on the wooden strut near the water line and dive into the crystal clear waters, not super warm like Valencia but no chill, about 23deg. I swim down the beach and back picking up my thongs on the way back, to help me stumble out of the water over the rocks. How good is that. By the end of the stay here my aim will be to swim into the beach on the edge of town and back about 1.5 Ks or so.

A friend 'Rose' She stayed at Kay’s for a while last summer has just facebooked me she lives just up the street we are going for a beer, it will be good to catch up. A good catch up although Rose had to work o she left early (lovely Rose has offered to help out with my washing - I dont think she thought much of the wash in the shower idea). I should have went home when Rose left Grr sore head, throat and feel like crap in the morning must have been bad beer or ouzo.