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Corfu / Kerkyra
The Emerald Island |
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In 1994 I found a beautiful place: Liapades, a small village in the Northwest of the Island Corfu (known as Kerkyra to the locals). My friend and ex-colleague Angie happened to stumble over the advertisement in the FVW-Travel Agent Magazine during our lunch-brake. As I had only little money to spend, this was an affordable way to get away from Germany for 3 weeks and enjoy the warmth of the Mediterranean Hospitality. |
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To make a long story short� I fell in love with the island, village and especially the people of Liapades. I stayed at the Villa Linea that has just been built by Spiro and Dimitri when I arrived. On the far end of the Building is the Medussa-Bar. A cute Bar, where Dimitri and Spiro play live-music (once a week). I was single then, but in just a little bit they and their mothers (who provided the breakfast at the beginning) welcomed me to their family. |
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In the morning I packed my watercolors and headed into the village to paint.
Early at 6 you see the woman on their donkeys going out to the steep hills to cut clover. The men meanwhile have their coffee and Ouzo and chat. A lot of Greek men are still Fishermen or working half a year on Oil-Tankers other then that there is only tourism as an income. The society is still strongly Patriarchic. But the next generation is changing. |
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During the day, I walked down to the charming Elly Beach Hotel, with a beautiful view over the Liapades-Bay. |
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The manager Alliki allowed me to stay on their lawn as I had dinner there almost every evening. Although I was allowed to use their pool, of course I didn�t�. heck� there was a beautiful sparkling ocean in front of me and I am a free-diver and snorkler! Others may have been disappointed, because there is no sandy beach, just rocks and pebbles, but I was in paradise. The water is clearer and the rocks give fish and sea life a much better chance to hide, so they come closer and can be watched without scuba-gear. I saw Octopus with purple eyes, Scorpion fish with their butterfly-shaped and colored fins and beautiful shells and fishes. Once a little Anchor-fish chose me as a swimming partner, he joined me for a week every moment I stepped into the ocean� Another time I made a trade with a little hermit-crab. I offered him a bigger but duller shell in place of his sparkly pretty shell. And right there in my hand he pulled his vulnerable little �butt� out of the old shell and moved in to his new house. Both of us were happy!
From 1994 until 1998 I spent all my vacation time on Corfu. I got to know others who are addicted to Liapades and the friendships still remain until today (thanks to e-mail), although I did not have the chance to visit Corfu since I moved to the States. Hopefully it will not be too long, until I can see the beautiful skies of Kerkyra again, when the sun is setting and sip on an ice-cold glass of Retsina-wine.
If you are interested in visiting Corfu and Liapades... I strongly recommend Active Travel (they are friendly, professional and caring) for best prices and accomodations. |
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Back to my favorite Countries |
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