Floating in a salty sea

Our local beach at Benitses is a tranquil spot, with ample shade, a café bar and not too many people. We bought a snorkel and mask, so we take it in turns to spy on the fish. Watching a shoal swim by is a real treat. In the evenings, when it is cool, we have gone down to the little restaurant and souvenir strip and indulged in crepes, waffles and cocktails. Yesterday, we hired a car and drove to Agios Gordios beach, which is set in a beautiful bay nestling beneath rocky peaks. The beach is sandy, crowded and dotted with umbrellas that do not provide enough shade. A few dips in the ocean gave some respite from the 37 degree C sun, but I spent most of the day in the cool of a beachside restaurant, reading and playing solitaire. Today, the plan is to explore the island a bit more and to find another nice beach. We are also debating whether to take a daytrip by boat to Albania on Saturday or Sunday.

Today, we are at Palaiokastritsa beach, a bit of a crowded tourist trade, but with good reason. The bay is cradled by mountains and there is a cave opposite, which looks invitingly dark and cool.

At Palaiokastritsa, I ended up swimming across the bay to the cave. Then [name] picked me up in a canoe and we paddled around the coastline a little. It was a wonderful day. Yesterday, we went to Georgios beach. The scenic drive on the way – via Lakones – was spectacular, with panoramic views from the mountain tops. Today, our last day, [name] and I went for a morning coffee in Benitses, then picked up the kids for a day at the familiar local beach.

I am left to reflect on my first Greek island experience, and it has surpassed my expectations. I had a preconceived notion – perhaps from watching movies like Shirley Valentine – of dry, barren, rocky terrain, where the only respite from the blazing heat is the cool blue sea. Corfu has certainly been hot, but the island is beautiful, with varied landscapes, much of it green and mountainous. The pebble beaches are still not my favourite, but the warm, salty sea made swimming a pleasure. All beaches also have shady cafes where withering flowers like me can retreat to, order ice tea and write a diary.