Back in Corfu

by Rick Johansen

Well, I made it. Via the National Express from Bristol to Heathrow Airport, an Aegean Airways Airbus A321 to Athens and finally an Airbus A320 to Corfu. As I write, I am in the bar of the Ariti Hotel in Kanoni and what’s more I am the only person in the bar. In fact, I am not far off being the only person in the hotel which isn’t terribly surprising since it’s the middle of winter. It’s a very nice hotel though. Clean, tidy, a TV with a whole load of channels I don’t understand – obviously – and, happily, free wifi.

I did not bump into anyone famous at Heathrow today. The security was very low key and unobtrusive but look a bit harder and there were armed police and countless police vehicles throughout the airport.

My first flight was reasonably quiet and undisturbed. A very steep climb out of Heathrow followed by two and a half hours of cruising with not so much as the merest bump of turbulence. I had an insane amount of leg space, having booked myself into seat 10A which has the added advantage of being next to the emergency exit by the wing. I didn’t need it in the end. My journey flew by thanks to the company of a wonderful woman called Tess who was returning ‘home’ after spending Christmas in the UK with her family. Tess lives near Dassia and it was utterly fascinating to learn about her wonderful life in Corfu. It really is true that when you travel, you meet some amazing people and Tess is certainly one of those.

We arrived in Athens and once we had checked in for the final leg of the flight we sat down and chatted again. Then the funniest thing happened. Earlier, we had been talking about one of our favourite tavernas, Nikolas Taverna in Agni and the wonderful Pericles who runs it. And who should appear but Pericles himself. Talk about small world.

For the final stretch of my journey, I found myself sitting next to a larger than life Geordie called Mickey who runs a bar in Kassiopi in the north east of the island. He came out with a few stories too, almost all of which are unrepeatable on a family website like this one.

And the most exciting bit? We made an over-the-town approach into Corfu, something I have not done in 25 years of coming here, almost brushing the chimney pots, descending rapidly with an almighty BANG! onto the runway, followed by deafening reverse thrust.

I got my first ever Greek taxi to the hotel where I was greeted by a friendly receptionist whom I congratulated for her excellent grasp of English. This turned out to be a somewhat backhanded compliment since she is Welsh! My long-suffering partner Cath would have cringed her way back into the taxi.

And so I am here. It’s far from cold – they are expecting low to mid sixties temperatures this week and I have nothing but winter wear – but things are off to a good start.

Anyway. Can’t talk. I need another Mythos!

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1 comment

Monctonian January 19, 2015 - 12:27

That’s a big hotel.

If you fancy some TV that you can understand
http://live.camposat.tv/

(may take a minute for the picture to settle)

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