Corfu, Greece

Corfu is one of those places that seems like a small village instead of a bustling seaport. We decided to walk around and soak up the local color. Once again crumbling buildings with vine draped balconies, worn and warped shutters that are in varying stages of closed, open, gaping, barely cracked open and/or covered with beautiful handmade curtains to let in the light and air but keep prying eyes out.
The downtown area and walled old town are quite a distance from the port and taxis are very expensive even if you share. We heard tales of drivers changing the amount of the fare after discovering 4 people were riding instead of two. So rather than argue we walked around the neighborhoods near the port.
The atmosphere was relaxed and quiet. We visited tiny local markets with fresh fruits and veggies for sale plus a meat market filled with chickens, beef, veal and tenderloin, all ready to be cut and wrapped at the customers request. Of course, being near the port there was an abundance of pizzerias, coffee shops and restaurants all boasting what they think the average tourist will want. We on this windy but sunny day, however, were more impressed with the little open air places a few blocks inland. Here, it seemed all the local old men were gathered round tables with their dogs at their feet discussing whatever old men with dogs who live on Corfu discuss every morning at their local coffee house. We figured they were probably speculating on how strange we were to be walking around taking pictures of abandoned factories and broken tiles and shutters. But what they don’t know is I have a motive for wanting pictures of all this stuff. I just haven’t quite figured out exactly what yet. But give me time and I will have an epiphany I am sure.
After a few hours my legs were starting to get tired so we reversed our course and headed in the general direction of the sea. It didn’t take us long to get back where we had started from.
We were surprised that there were no vendors hawking their wares outside the port entrance so we ended up shopping in a very reasonably priced duty free shop just before boarding the ship. Here we bought kumquat jelly, olive oil, soap, several other gifts and the worst bottle of red wine I think I have ever tasted. In the past we have had very good luck purchasing inexpensive local wine, but this was an exception. I can’t even give the excuse that it was only E5 since we have had E5 wine that was quite palatable. So, lesson learned? Don’t buy E5 wine in Corfu at the duty free store.