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A Warm Happy New Year
from Corfu!
Lets hope that 2003 will be a peaceful one.
Thanks for all the kind emails and cards. Sorry if I have not replied, but I
promised Eleni that I would be 'computer sober' during the festive period
and have abstained from answering my emails and updating the site!
Many of you in your Christmas greetings have mentioned that even in this
troubled world, you find the website a little escape from it all - while you
wait and dream of the next holiday here.
Isn't that why we live and work - so we can enjoy our spare time and lives.
Holidays are often the focus of our 'collected' spare time and many choose
to keep returning to Corfu. With that in mind, I had better make this
newsletter a great one!
A
Corfu Christmas
What a great Christmas we have had here in Corfu. Agios Vasillis (Father
Christmas) visited Christmas night, but without his usual mode of transport
- it was far too warm and we could only dream of a white Christmas.
That aside, Christmas is celebrated in a similar fashion to the rest of the
Christian world. Brightly decorated Christmas trees, coloured lights in the
streets and around the houses and loads of food and prezzies!
Christmas eve, sees the first of the carol singers. The familiar tunes - in Greek of course!
Then off to the Church. Christmas in Greece focuses on religion, with most
going to the regular masses.
Christmas day is spent at home with the whole family. Mum prepared a feast.
While we waited, we nibbled on a light mezze, with dad's homemade wine of
course.
Talking of dad, he was outside
cooking lamb on the BBQ. It was warm and we could just see
a dusting of snow on the far away Albanian mountains.
To start we had soup. A chicken and lemon recipe, which sounds a little
unlikely, but it is excellent.
For our main meal, we had
dad's barbequed lamb and pork, served with roasted potatoes (Greek style
with loads of olive oil) and salad.
No Crackers, Turkey or
Christmas pud on our table!
During Christmas dinner, the
TV is on -constantly as in all Greek homes. Also the phone does not stop
ringing - relatives and friends wishing 'Xronia Polla' - which literally
means 'Have Many Years'. Boxing day was spend visiting friends at Kouloura.
(Tom and Aphrodite playing with their new 'bubble blaster')
The new-year is celebrated in the traditional fashion. That leads me to where
I am now. Typing away - at the 'in-laws' with a large glass of dad's
homemade 'fly' wine (helping to lubricate my creativity), while waiting for
the new-year to arrive. Mother-in-law is preparing even more food and in
true Greek style the TV is full blast.
The last few carol singers have returned to their homes and the clock is
ticking.
Site
News
So while we wait for the new-year to arrive (and I watch the 'riveting news
repeats' of 2002!), let me tell you about the recent site updates.
If you have not noticed the new chat system - then you are missing out. Each
evening is now well attended and an enjoyable social time is had by all -
just make sure you bring a bottle of wine! You can easily tell if there are
people chatting, as the 'scrolly' box thingy above the main menu (top-left) on each page
tells you how many are chatting.
The Corfu Travel Guide part of the site - I have continued to improve, by
adding more notes and photos to each of the resorts with the help of some of
the regular site members. Lots more updating is planned for the new year.
If you are a Corfu regular, then you are sure to be interested in the new
'Greek Life' part of the site. I am adding many aspects of Greek life which
do not fit into a 'tourist' section. Olives, Greek homes, name days and much
more is being added to the section.
Other improvements to the web site include the new private messaging system.
Private what you say? Well basically when you view the site, on the left
side of each page - below the menu - you can see which site members are
online.
By clicking on their name you can send a 'PM' - 'Private Message'. Why would
you want to send one? Well, it is a great way to meet people who holiday
here or own a property. Most of the site members are very knowledgeable and enjoy
helping or advising your Corfu problems. How do you know if you have any private messages?
'Private Message Waiting' is displayed above the 'Who is online box' - just
click to be taken to the message.
Baby News
Why didn't you warn me? She is growing so quickly. There I was thinking that
our daughter would remain a baby for at least a few years - but no - at just
over a year old she is walking, talking (mostly Greek) and exerting her own
personality.
Taverna News
My typical winter days start as follows: Most mornings I wake up early -
correction, am awoken by bouncing baby Aphrodite! After a family breakfast,
I join the locals in our nearby Kafenion. I drink a Greek coffee - unless it
is a Sunday - then we usually drink whisky or ouzo! Later I stagger down to
the Taverna. Our house is just above Agni in Loustri, and it is quicker to walk down
than drive. While at the Taverna, I open up to let everything air. Then turn
my attention to the web cam server making sure that it is fine. If any of
you have 'caught' me in the chat room at this time - now you know where I
am!
The web cams have not been without problems this winter, but I am on the
verge of a breakthrough - more about that next month.
Happy New Year
Well the news
repeats have stopped and Theo has started loading his shot gun - a clear
indication that it is close to midnight!
On that note we wish everyone a warm happy new-year.
Nathan, Eleni and baby Aphrodite.
On new year's eve,
mum makes the traditional donuts - served with honey.
Not more food!
Sunrise
Photos
I am continuing my
'hobby' of sunrise photos. Here are a few of this months collection. If you
would like full size high quality copies for your own use, then just send me
an email request.
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Your Next Corfu Visit
If waiting for your next summer holiday is just unbearable, then why not
consider a winter visit? 'Uncle Bob' our Lafki Correspondent, tells you his
experiences.
There seems to be an increasing interest in people visiting Corfu out of
season. Corfu's normal holiday period is from the beginning of May to the
end of October. During these dates, direct flights from major European
airports can easily be found. There are a few direct flights either side of
those dates, but few and far between.
So I am referring to the rest of the year - the winter - out of season.
How you get there is a little problematic. First you need to get to Athens
and then take a domestic flight to Corfu at a cost of about 75Euros per
person each way.
Before rushing out though and booking your flights, you need to consider
what it is that you will be expecting from your visit, to determine the
best time period for you. The weather is very changeable and unpredictable
during the winter. For me this is an interesting aspect of our visit.
I think the most important thing to realise is that generally the type of
holiday property that you are accustomed to renting in the summer would not
be appropriate for the winter, they just aren't geared up for cold weather.
You would need heating. Either a wood burning fire, with a plentiful supply
of firewood, and some sort of heating in the bedrooms and bathroom or
central heating would be better but not so romantic! My advice would also be
to ensure that there would be plenty of blankets and bedding available, you
can always discard anything that is not needed but it is miserable if you can't get warm.
Our house in the little village of Lafki (above Acharavi) is quite high up
and therefore colder than those on the coast.
If you plan to eat out similar to summer visiting then you will need to
explore which places are open, for instance, in November there were only
three places in Kassiopi serving food, a takeaway kebab bar, a pizza bar and
a music bar that served microwave food! Normally 'Little Italy' is open but
they were being re-roofed. In Acharavi there were only about four or five
places open every day plus some bars, and a couple more at week-ends.
Monolithi and La Rustique being two that were open every evening. The
Pumphouse opens from December onwards, and there was a new restaurant
opening as we left located opposite the Pumphouse. However be prepared to
travel. Gouvia and Kondokali had places open when we passed through.
If you plan to eat in, ensure that a proper kitchen and utensils will be
provided in your accommodation. And if it is necessary, where to change gas
bottles.
I have no information about the possibility of hiring a car as we have our
own here, but some years ago Holiday Autos were prepared to rent us
something but in the event it wasn't necessary. I would imagine that
companies like 'International Renta Car' will have an office open in the
town, and could be pre-booked.
So what is there to do I hear you ask, well much the same as in the Summer
really, except for long days sunbathing on the beach and swimming in the
sea. On fine days you could picnic on the beach with a good book, walk the
coast path that you meant to do in the Summer but it was always too hot or
too many other people doing it, explore the mountain villages, visit the
local kafenion, which will have a permanent card school on the go, complete
with a furnace in the corner and a real fug of cigarette smoke mingled with
wood smoke and damp clothing, moth balls and paraffin, salt, cod and salami.
If its raining play cards or read indoors, or drive to Corfu town, the
old Jewish quarter tourist shops are closed but the rest of the town is open
and bustling.
If you are really lucky you can find a sheltered spot in the sun for a
little sunbathing for a short time.
I find its more an opportunity to recharge the batteries, switch off
from the high pressure style of living at home, catch up with your friends
who are too busy in the Summer to spend much time talking. Looking out the
bedroom window first thing in the morning and you can't see Albania for the
rain, and hopping back into bed with a cup of tea and another couple of
chapters of your book, without feeling guilty, bliss.
Greek Life
A Greek family cannot sit down
for a meal without bread and olive oil!
Their daily supply of fresh
bread is as important as their homemade wine!
The morning ritual of
collecting the bread needs to be experienced. Our local bakery/kafenion is
in the village. "Just popping out for the bread darling," as I stroll across
the road and join the busy comings and goings. The place is always full. After
ordering my usual Greek coffee, I join in on the conversation - usually a
bright mix of local politics, weather and gossip! As the baker does not work
on Sunday's, the baker does not bake! (He makes a double lot on Saturday.)
Instead of coffee, most drink whisky, ouzo or beer - and it is only 8am!
After about half an hour I
return home - sometimes having forgotten the bread! It is a great way to get
out of the house each morning and starts the day well.
Loustri Bakery and Kafenion
Each village has its own
bakery which often doubles as the local coffee shop - a
Kafenion. This is the
case in our village. Chandos and his wife Nafsyka run the Bakery/Kafenion.
Chandos starts his day at 4am.
He uses traditional methods for bread making, including an olive wood oven!
During your next visit to
Corfu why not visit them - they speak some English and are sure to make you
very welcome.
Agni Travel
If you have not yet chosen your holiday accommodation for 2003, then why not
consider some of the following:
Villa Theaya
Loustri, Agni
Sleep: 6-8
Price from: 1995 Euros (per week)
On Boxing day, I visited the newly completed 'Theaya' - what a stunning
villa for a holiday.
Theaya in Greek
means 'View', and the view like the villa is just breathtaking - the
flagship of Agni travel.
The villa enjoys a quite
location with its own large pool. Inside is very well equipped and fully air
conditioned.
If you are looking for one of the very
finest villas in the area - then villa Theaya awaits.
More>>
Geronimos House - Loustri, Agni
Loustri, Agni
Sleep: 4-6
Price from: 700 Euros (per week)
The house is divided into two apartments - The
upper apartment and the lower - each sleeps 4-6 people. The views from the
private verandas are just
breathtaking. Ideal for spending a evening with friends and a bottle of wine
or two!
As you walk inside, you will realise that this
is no ordinary apartment. It is a three bed roomed, spacious apartment with
a huge lounge and kitchen. The focal point though is the stunning veranda.
The master bedroom has a king sized bed with
French doors to the back veranda.
The pool is just opposite, shared by the
other apartments, and enjoys stunning views over Agni bay.
More >>
Maria's
Apartments
Loustri, Agni
Sleep: 2-3
Price from: 476 Euros (per week)
Located just above Agni Bay,
Maria has two apartments. Each has a large private balcony offering
breathtaking views down to Agni Bay and across to the Albanian mountains. -
to be enjoyed with a chilled glass of wine.
The
apartments are spacious and well equipped.
More >>
Search for
Accommodation
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the number of people in your party:
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