Aside from my favorites parts of Corfu, Kanoni and the beach, I also fell in love with Corfu Town. The pastel-colored buildings, the bright blue sky, the absence of skyscrapers, and even the laundry lines are immensely beautiful. During my week-long stay in Corfu, I went to charming Corfu Town several times, walking around, eating bread from Panetteria, taking in the sights and taking pictures. Heavenly.
Here are five reasons to love Corfu Town {there are many more, but I narrowed it down}
Empress Elisabeth of Austria, lovingly known as Sissi, was a beautiful, enigmatic woman. Her youth, beauty, and mystery inspired arts and entertainment – I particularly like Sissi starring Romy Schneider, and the musical Elisabeth. Because her sheltered life made her feel lonely, she started to go on frequent travels. In 1890, she had a palace built in her favorite place, Corfu, and named it Achillion Palace, after her favorite Greek hero Achilles.
Located in the South of Corfu town, Achillion is easily accessible with bus line 10. If you like royalty, splendor, and neoclassicism, try to visit, but go early to avoid the crowds.
Entrance fee: €7
Audio guide: €3
Achilles heel
Trying to blend in with the muses, but that didn’t quite work
Loved this muse, Thalia, who looks like she is taking a selfie. Thalia represents good cheer and festivity.
You talkin’ to me?
Trying on Sissi’s jewels
Oh, Thursday. Thursday always seemed to be a drag for me. In school, it was always the longest school day (or so it seemed). In college we didn’t have cable TV, and Thursday night was when Maalaala Mo Kaya, the Philippine’s longest-running drama series was on. We weren’t into it, so the TV was always off on those nights, and we found other, more creative ways of entertaining ourselves. Now I wish I had kept a more detailed (aside from the boy drama that makes me cringe now) diary at the time, because those nights were pretty fun. I would have liked to remember every little thing we did and talked about – ironic because Maalaala Mo Kaya means ‘would you remember’. Sometimes we played cards, exchanged scary stories, put on silly hats and took pictures, played with Fluffy the dog. Thanks to a drama series that we didn’t enjoy watching, we actually spent so many hours bonding. So Thursdays didn’t end up so dragging at all. Now that I’ve been living alone for many years, I do miss those moments sometimes.
With the week almost over, but not quite yet, we’ve got to hang on for a little while longer. We’ll get through this! Here’s a little inspiration taken from the streets of Corfu. Daydreaming is encouraged…
Gather ’round because I’ve got a few Corfu food tips for ya. Ready?
❤ Try Pastitsada, a Corfiot specialty made of slow-cooked, really tender beef, tomato sauce, and pasta. Did I mention the beef was really tender? Because it was; it was really tender. This is the ultimate comfort food. Perfect with wine.
❤ Order a Meze, or appetizer plate. There is usually a choice of cold and warm plates, but a combination of both is the best. If it’s not on the menu, ask the waiter if you can get a mixed cold and warm plate – they’re usually happy to mix it up. A mix of meats, cheeses, vegetables, breads, and dips, an order is enough to be a meal for two.
❤ Get a baklava, but ask how big the serving will be. I was shocked to see the pizza slice-sized baklava on my table. Because it is very sweet, it is perfect with Greek coffee. Caution: Greek coffee is rather on the bitter side, so order it to be sweetened – you’ll be asked if you want it regularly sweet or super sweet (okay not in those words).
❤ Oh, and most importantly, enjoy the view while eating. It’s okay if you can’t decide what to focus on, the taste or the view. I know you’re on vacation, but this is a moment to multi-task.
This was my view while I ate the Meze platter.
And this was my view while enjoying the Baklava.
Ahhhh-mazing.
Happy eating!
Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what’s for lunch.
– Orson Welles
Ah, McDonald’s. It’s so familiar, it’s almost like home. When traveling, I try to eat the local delicacies, but there are a few situations when I give in and eat at McDonald’s, like when I’m really hungry and it’s the closest thing, when traveling with kids who insist on eating there, and when I just miss eating something familiar. After all, whether you call it a Quarter Pounder with Cheese or Royale with Cheese, it’s all good. Some travelers, like author Jessica Zafra who chronicled her trips in Twisted Travels, likes to try the Big Mac in all countries she visits. {I haven’t tried that many countries’ Big Macs, but I noticed that the Philippines’ Big Mac sauce is sweeter than Austria’s. The Big Mac in Austria has a rather tangy sauce – I love both}. Others, like Travelling McDonald’s, eats McDonald’s around the world.
In Corfu, I really enjoyed all the Greek food, I never even had a chance to miss McDo. I did love seeing this branch at the Spianada, though. The Corfu branch is located at the ground floor of a hotel building. Low-key without the golden arches and red background, it blended in quite nicely with the pastel hues of the other buildings along the street.
After seeing a lot of postcards with Kanoni, I wanted to see it for myself. This part of Corfu is named after the canons that used to protect the city. From Corfu town, I took the 2a bus and missed my stop.
I should have gotten off the bus when I saw this cannon.
Walking past the cannon, through a café and down the stairs, this view greeted me: tiny Pontikonisi or Mouse Island, and the Vlacherna Monastery.
I quickly went down the steps so I could get closer to the magnificent view.
Soon, I found out that the better way to see it is from an airplane, as Kanoni is really close to the Corfu’s runway at the airport.
{I didn’t notice it on the flight to Corfu because before we landed, there was really bad turbulence. I’ve never been more scared in my life. I needed the whole afternoon to recover.}
The Vlacherna Monastery of Panayia looks so serene against the background of the bright blue sky.
Like a gate to paradise.
The obligatory selfie.
Mouse Island! You can rent a boat to take you there.
After feasting my eyes on such beautiful sights, I had to feast on great food as well.
Trying the local beer – ice cold on hot days – is a must for me.
I highly recommend going to Kanoni in Corfu – it is a picturesque place that is simple and serene. Truly a postcard-worthy view that you have to see for yourself.
Summer is in high gear here in Vienna right now, so it’s fun to spend time outside. Today, I’m visiting a Filipino food festival in the morning (it’s an all-day fiesta, but I like going in the morning to avoid midday heat and the crowd), and watching Shakespeare in the Park: Romeo and Juliet. I’ll be arming myself with a fan and sunglasses.
What are you up to this weekend? Hope you have exciting plans (although two days of doing nothing sounds good, too). I’ll leave you with these photos of white and blue Corfu. Happy weekend!
Friday!!! Yes! I took the day off today to for a little rest and relaxation. I’m looking forward to having a long, leisurely lunch, a bit of window shopping, people watching, and walking around. But maybe I’ll just do a whole lot of nothing.
I found that doing nothing is the ultimate luxury, and I got to experience it for a week in Corfu in May. Corfu, or Kerkyra, as the Greeks call it, is a Greek island on the Ionian Sea. Surrounded by the deep blue, that faded into turquoise sea, and lush greens, Corfu is a beautiful paradise perfect for a retreat.
The Grecotel Eva Palace has a pool with seawater, but I was more drawn to its private beach. Almost everyday, I went to there with a bag filled with a book, a camera, my phone (which I barely checked – a miracle! I posted on instagram once in a while), sunscreen and a snack. During my reading breaks, I would either swim, sleep, or sunbathe. It was perfect. It was like a really, really long weekend. The sun’s warm rays against my skin, the gentle sound of waves crashing, and the feel of sand under my feet were just what I needed to recharge. *starts daydreaming now*
My view for a week in Corfu. Back in May. Sigh.
No Stopovers 