My office look-out today is Kontoglialos Beach, one of the less crowded yet sensational strips of golden shoreline that edges the island of Corfu.
The tiered patio deck that stretches out before me is flanked by straw umbrellas that look like mini versions of fancy cocktail decorations. Beneath each umbrella is a pair of shaded loungers which will soon become magnets for beach lovers. And beyond are lapping waves and the inviting Ionian Sea stretching out to the horizon.
There are lots of tourist attractions on this popular Greek Isle. We could have walked a short distance from our cruise ship to saunter through Old Corfu, where its Venetian narrow laneways are infused with beauty, culture and history. There, we could have strolled through the 100-year-old Achillion Palace, a neo-Classic that was built for Empress Elizabeth of Austria, gone through the glitzy church of St Spyridon and maybe even taken in a folkloric show.
We also had our choice of quaint townships beyond these sanctioned city walls.
Paleokastritsa, a pretty little village, just 25 miles northwest of the main hub, boasts crystal clear bays that are rimmed by black rocks.
Pelekas, a mountain village on top of a 270-meter high hill, is home to ruins of the famous Kaiser throne. Nearby Paleopolis is a fascinating archaeological site that’s surrounded by walls from ancient Kerkyra.
All would have, undoubtedly, offered a fabulous history lesson for us first-time visitors.
There are also lots of action-packed options to help burn off the cruise food calories.
We could have explored Corfu via mountain bike and pedalled to the picturesque villages of San Marcos, hiked from sea level up Bella Vista Hill, where we’d be rewarded with a stunning panorama, or zigzagged through olive groves and vineyards in a four-wheel drive.
Yes, there are lots of pastimes to choose from on this beautiful Greek Island. But, after doing so many fabulous tours over the last eight days, we just needed to chill.
“Let’s escape the crowds,” my husband, Brent, had suggested when we disembarked earlier in the day. “There are some pretty awesome beaches here.”
With five cruise ships in port, the decision was an easy one. Choosing which sandy strip to splay out on was not so simple.
The long sandy shoreline of Dassia, just 12 kms from the town core, boasts a line-up of water sports and restaurants. Just a little further is Ipos, where we could even go diving. The pebbled Barbati Beach is fronted with an array of beach bars that lure the locals. And one of the most popular, Glyfada has it all; recliners, umbrellas, water toys and even beach volleyball. It sounded perfect!
While the masses wove their way out of the cruise terminal, the four of us hailed a taxi, bound for the other direction.
“Kontoglialos Beach is just a little further,” our taxi driver, George, informs. “And it’s truly a piece of heaven.” This is one local who would know. His family-owned taxi business has been escorting sightseers like us since 1968.
It’s clear he’s driven this route a few thousand times. While scooting along the pencil-thin streets, he takes short-cuts through neighbourhoods, zips over quiet canals and flies through busy shopping areas. And while getting us safely from our boat to the beach, he shares some of Corfu’s rich colourful past.
“Back in 1815, when the British took control, Corfu was prosperous and our Greek language became official,” he proudly explains. “Roads were built and water was improved.”
In May of 1864, after the Greek Revolution, these Ionian Islands were donated by the British to the new King of Greece but then during the Second World War, Corfu was invaded by Italy who had plans to resurrect the Roman Empire.
“When Italy surrendered in 1943, the Germans massacred masses of occupying Italians and sent thousands of Corfu’s Jewish population to Auschwitz.”
Following the war, emigration continued. Then in the late 1960’s, tourism shed a new light on the economic life of Greece. Over the last forty years, the explosion of tourism, coupled with the island’s natural beauty, has made Corfu one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world.
And after chilling out for the afternoon on our shaded lounge chairs and dipping our toes into the tepid Ionian Sea, we can attest to that fact!
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