The Mysterious Island of Corfu
If you are a sailor with a need for rest and relaxation, interesting things to see, a little ancient history, good restaurants and wine, sailing around the islands of sun, sea and romance could be just the thing for you.
Corfu is an island in the Ionian Sea and a good place to start your adventure. Just off the west coast of Greece it has a warm climate that reaches its peak during July and August and is very green compared to the other Greek islands. The warm dry summers and winter rain creates very lush green vegetation and this one island has over two million olive trees.
The islands history is steeped in myth, mystery and legend, laden with battles and conquests and visible in the castles and fortifications placed in strategic locations all across the island.
Start from is Gouvia Marina and head south down the east coast; remember to take a camera as the views of Corfu fort with it's Venetian ramparts make a spectacular photo opportunity. you can anchor right below the fort, have your lunch and a leisurely swim, if you want to go sightseeing this would be a good time to explore the old town of Corfu and as the sun sets have a cooling drink while watching the swallows swoop their way through the evening sky.
Next day sail south to the small fishing village of Petriti where a small fleet of squidding boats leave every night to fish for the next days calamari, this is a good stop for lunch and if you feel like it, another swim.
Now you can become more adventurous and sail the short distance to Paxos, a perfect island if you want to stretch your legs, it has many enchanting villages and is famous for it's tiny olives which make a very distinctive olive oil. Just south of Paxos is her little sister anti-Paxos, it is sparsely inhabited and Emerald Bay is a superb place to snorkel with it's abundance of sea life, caves and gulley's to explore.
Next is a five hour sail to Lefkas, it gives you a chance to watch the scenery glide by and just laze upon the deck, keep your camera close at hand, the dolphins may pay you a visit. Here you have a choice; will you sail down the Lefkas canal towards the isle of Skorpios, (owned by the Onassis family) a perfect place for to watch a perfect sunset, or go to Maganisi where Spantakhori, an ancient hilltop town looks down on Port Spiglio, an excellent place to spend the evening. It's well worth the walk up to the village to enjoy the the bar looking out over the bay and taste some of it's excellent wine. The sun will sinks slowly west into the sea for a more than perfect sunset, just for your viewing pleasure.
Or you can chose to sail down the dramatic west coast to Ithaca or Cephalonia, both of which attract a great eclectic mix of people, before making your leisurely way back to Corfu.
According to Homer, the wily Odysseus once journeyed across these wine dark seas where monsters, witches and sirens conspired to keep him from home. However much you want to leave he world behind, do something Odysseus couldn't do and be sure to take a radio with you. If you encounter an angry Cyclops you'll be able to radio for help, and while it will mean your wanderings will never pass into literature or legend, you'll live to tell the tale.
"The Mysterious Island of Corfu", was submitted 02/20/2012 under category Travel.