San Stefanos Online ~ North West Corfu

It's been a beautiful day here in Hull. Blue skies, the merest tiny cloud, golden leaves on the trees down our avenue.

And, hey, it's now a balmy -2C. Joy!

So be it.

June 12 to July 13. Brazil.

Hours may be difficult for evening matches. I suspect some all-night drinking may happen.

So what's new?!!!

According to the Wiki below, Germania have been flying charters for TUI (Thomson) since 1986. They have 18 planes with more on order. They have an excellent safety record.

Currently they fly to Corfu from Bremen and Efurt, so at least the flight-deck know where it is!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germania_(airline)

If it's total Thomson charter I imagine seat bookings will be available later.

Their website comments on the excellent range of soft-drinks they offer, but makes no mention of beer, vino or champagne. Might be wise to drop a couple of swifties down the throat at the airport!

Well, here we are again back in the cold gales and nasty rain. These comments can be a bit repetitive so I'll stick to the main points:

July

Hot and lovely. So hot we didn't make it up the hill to Akrotiri, but enjoyed the wonderful views from Anatoli. This was our first DIY to Agios Stephanos, and transfers were very well-organised by Michalis and Katie.

It was very busy at the north end of the beach (from the stream towards Mango and Havana) but fairly quiet at the "old" end, because there was a bit of seaweed at the edge of the water. We liked that. Wade out twenty feet and have it more or less all to yourselves. Many good lunches with the very nice people at Mistral. As usual, great to meet friends: Lesley, David and Sally, the Little Prince people and the boys and girls at Nafsika.

Had a great haircut and beard trim from Patricia.

September/October

Went with Thomson from Doncaster and stayed at Little Prince.

Bus transfers just over an hour, because they don't drop off in Corfu Town or go via Sidari. The views are actually better than from a taxi. Don't knock the bus!

Little Prince's rooms are wonderfully big. Masses of space. Shower cubicles. Great warmth of hugs from Dimitris, Michalis, Pippina and the lads.

I went looking a bit scruffy because I'd not had a haircut before I went. Patricia waved her magic scissors again, and I lost ten years in a snip. The woman in the next chair was transformed from dinner-lady to goddess, and we looked at each other with a sudden understanding that desire was still possible.

Lovely to meet Tony Cox and Linda, Chris 2, see Gill and Andy, David and Sally, Lesley, Aris and many old friends in the village. Where else do you get a kiss from the lady in the supermarket?

The weather was very mixed. At first warm, then cold wind and rain. October is a gamble: last year was very warm, this year not so. But we walked to Logas near Peroulades, Arillas, had lunch in Elias, where we met some lovely people from Bute who knew one of my friend's father. We did a lot of crosswords!

Had some fun evenings - football at Athens Bar - dancing at Zorbas and Little Prince. Quiz at Nafsika (2nd first week, 1st second week).

I did quite a lot of writing, and Spiros at Nafiska was, as usual, a fount of knowledge and inspiration. Plus the most delicious and tender veal Sofrito to provide fuel.

So - as usual - friendship, warmth, either from the sun or the people or both - and a sense of being in a home from home, plus some time together, made it a recipe for relaxation and simple pleasure.

Tidy-up and beard trim from Patricia the day before leaving. Lightning and lashing rain as we woke up to get the bus, but no problems, and the flight was 20 minutes early landing.

Agios Stephanos is a lovely place to be. It's not cute, it's not posh, it's just itself, and long may it be so!


 

Fine - We can eat the entire contents of the fridge!

Yes - INSIDE - not in the open air. Just like here.